If you are looking for a place to buy a home there are numerous places you could look to purchase. However, what really makes Pittsburgh a great place to call home? Numerous reasons all come to mind when people are looking for reasons to call Pittsburgh home. When you are looking for a perfect area to call your home, there are numerous things to consider.
First, consider that children in Pittsburgh have numerous great schools to choose from. With so many great schools ranging from elementary up until colleges there are plenty of great options to explore to have a great education. While many students still choose to attend schools in other parts of the country, it is certainly not because Pittsburgh lacks good quality schools.
Next, you should consider that Pittsburgh has a low national average for the cost of living. While most areas are climbing higher than 100% Pittsburgh is holding firm at only a 93% cost of living compared to the national average. This national average means that Pittsburgh is affordable to the average family, and is certainly much cheaper than other major cities that are comparable such as New York City and even Boston.
Buying a house in Pittsburgh is also very affordable. With many of the other major cities such as Boston and New York or even Las Angeles costing around a million dollars just to find a decent place to live Pittsburgh comes in at a fraction of the price with a median home price of only $118,000. This median home price is lower than many other areas in the country and helps to keep people coming to Pittsburgh year after year.
Add to the attractive financial situation the fact that there are plenty of jobs and a plethora of entertainment options and it is easy to see why Pittsburgh has quickly become a very popular destination for people who are looking to move in the hopes of bettering their lives. Plenty of transportation options for the Railways, to the subways, cars, buses, and even taxis ensure that everyone is getting around smoothly and without any major delays.
Pittsburgh is quickly emerging as one of the top cities in the United States overall, with the largest number of green buildings, nationally high ranked museums and schools and even one of the best airports Pittsburgh truly aims to pull in top marks in all aspects and areas of life. As you can see Pittsburgh is a great choice to explore when you are looking to move, look at the prices, the culture and even the lifestyle and you are sure to fall in love with the city.
I recently received a newsletter from one of my favorite stock gurus. His name is Alexander Green, Chairman and Investment Director for the Oxford Club, a private investment club. In the newsletter "Real Estate: Why Greenspan Is Right This Time", Alexander Green comments on remarks made by Alan Greenspan regarding falling home prices. Mr. Greenspan had said that home prices were nowhere near the bottom.
I don't have credentials like Greenspan and Green whom I greatly respect. I am a mortgage broker by profession. Prior to that, I sold real estate. Before that my husband was a real estate agent. Jointly, we have been professionally involved in over 3 consecutive decades of real estate markets and more than 5 decades in totality.
The reason I share this is to let you know that I have passed through every financial cycle and survived to tell about it.
When we first became involved with real estate, we were living in Long Beach, California. It was 1979 and we were in the middle of the Savings and Loan Crisis, a crisis that was just as devastating to the real estate market as the Credit Crunch we are experiencing today.
Here is what I learned. Timing the market can be frustrating and discouraging. But this is a fact. When news of doom and gloom overtake TV, radio and the internet, know that the worst of the credit crunch has passed. I have seen many people try to determine the exact time to buy a house, believing that they could pick the perfect low point in the market. It was seldom successful and ended up in frustration.
Here is what I think. In spite of what some professionals claim, the home you live in is not an investment. I tend to follow Robert Kiyosaki's view in this regard, the author of "Rich Dad Poor Dad". When he explains in his book that a house is not an asset, he is saying an investment is something that puts money in your pocket. The home you live in is primarily an expense.
Long term, though, good news bears out that owning a home contributes to financial well being assuming the monthly payments are affordable. In addition, if you look at home ownership statistics over a 20 year period instead of a 2 year period, it is almost impossible to lose.
So, here is my recommendation. First stop waiting for the media to tell you it's okay to buy a house. They don't know how to time the real estate bottom or the direction of mortgage rates. Honestly neither does anybody else. Even the so-called financial gurus received a surprise by the magnitude of this present crisis.
Second, begin a closer look into your market today. Start by deciding which areas that you would prefer to live in. Study the prices. Use real estate websites to request notification every time a new listing comes on the market. You can even hunt for a good real estate agent using this service.
Third, on weekends take a little time to relax by visiting open houses. This can be fun. Talk to real estate agents. Get the lay of the land, so to speak. Educate yourself well in regards to your area.
Fourth, get pre approved by a mortgage lender. The most important part of buying a home is knowing how much you are qualified to borrow. Don't wait until you find the house of your dreams to consider what you can afford.
Fifth, save, save, save. One of the most important reasons for mortgage pre approval is to determine how much money you are going to need for down payment and closing costs. These are important numbers to know before shopping for a home, not after you make an offer. The safest way to eliminate surprises and remain realistic while searching for your new home is mortgage pre approval.
In truth, no one can predict exactly when the housing market will recover. No one knows.
However you can count on this. This housing downturn will end. But don't wait to prepare. The buyers who do their homework now by following these 5 steps will be ready to strike.
Both Josh Stone & Kate Ford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Josh Stone has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food And Drink, Social Issues and Cooking Tips. Precision Brush Painting is quality work at its finest! We serve the local Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area, from Squirrel Hill, Robinson Township, Mt. Lebanon, and Wexford.. Josh Stone's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Kate Ford has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Finances and Family. For the starting point to owning your dream home, meet Kate Ford the mortgage insider at . Kate Ford's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.