9 Tips for Buying Your First Home in Pittsburgh

Ted and I began our journey as homeowners almost a full decade ago. In 2010, we were graduating college, getting married, and knew we wanted to establish roots in Pittsburgh, so it only seemed natural to buy our first house! We set out on the journey about as naive as we could be, and way back then, we didn’t even have Zillow to guide us.

We explored many neighborhoods and toured dozens of houses, only to find that we still couldn’t get everything we wanted even at the top of our budget. Discouraged and worn out, we felt that buying a home would be out of reach, and settled on renting an apartment on Beechwood Boulevard in Squirrel Hill. Our landlord warned us it was a busy road, but we thought, “We’ve been living off Fifth Ave, so it can’t be bad, right?” Oh, how much we had to learn!

Our apartment was a wonderful place to learn and grow, and we turned it into Our Home while we were there, but several months in we couldn’t fight the itch to own our own place. From the teeny tiny kitchen to the apparent truck route (there were 18-wheelers going by at all hours of the night), we started educating ourselves on the options and process more intensely.

As we set out to look for a new home, we scaled back our budget from our max approval by 30% and prioritized what we wanted. Instead of looking for an updated home with space to grow into, we looked for a classic starter. When we reached back out to our realtor and shared our updated vision, she told us, “I have a cute house in Greenfield that may be just the thing.” Sure enough, we stepped into that sweet little home on Coleman Street and knew our search was over. The house was well maintained, with blue carpets and ivy wallpaper. We had a vision for what it could be, and it was the perfect place for us to grow as homeowners.

For our transaction, we were lucky to be well supported by family, friends, and an understanding realtor that guided us through what felt like an endless set of “next steps.” In the 45 days following our offer being accepted, we had to deal with everything from structural concerns to replacing a water line to finding insurance. We had so many questions and didn’t know how much we didn’t know. We were shocked to find that buying a house was about so much more than finding the right house.

Looking back, there are many things we wish we had known. We’ve picked up many tips and tricks since then, and it’s always exciting to share this information as we’re helping others in the journey to becoming homeowners.

Read on for some of our best advice!

Tips for Buying Your First Home

1. Start saving early (and budget for closing costs and after move-in expenses). For many of us, buying a house is the biggest investment we’ll ever make. Start saving early on so you can pay as much money as possible for your down payment. 20% is a great goal, but there are options starting at 3.5%, and first-time home buyers may be eligible for loans as low as 3% down. However, be aware of mortgage insurance and higher monthly payments. The less you pay upfront, the more you’ll pay down the road.

You should also budget for those expenses that aren’t in the price of the house. Closing costs in Pittsburgh often run between 5%-9% of the purchase price. That’s not something most people have just sitting around! In addition, you should try to set aside money for after you’re moved in. Will you need new flooring? What about a fresh coat of paint or appliances? As expensive as a house is, turning it into your home can cost a little more.

2. Go in with an open mind, but have a list ready. Giving your realtor a list of features you’re interested in will give your guide a valuable starting point for your journey, but always keep an open mind. In our experience, many people don’t know what they really want until they see it right in front of them.

We’re the perfect example. When we were shopping for our current home, we wanted central air conditioning and four bedrooms. Guess what? Our house has three bedrooms and lacks central air, but it has a big porch that overlooks the backyard. That porch (and a few other features) sold us on the rest of the house, and we didn’t even know it was something we were interested in when we started looking!

3. Get an inspection, and know what it covers. You’ll need an inspection before you move in, but check to see what your inspector is looking for before he or she steps foot onto the property. Not all inspections are the same, and some don’t cover elements like radon, mold, or pests—all of which are important to check in the Pittsburgh region. You should also ensure your inspector has access to the entire house, so check that the crawl space, roof, and attic are all accessible.

4. Shop around for home owner’s insurance. Today’s insurers love to bundle packages together, and it’s likely your car insurance provider offers an option for bundling home insurance in with your car insurance. This isn’t always the cheapest or best option for your specific needs. Before making a purchase, shop around for at least three quotes. You should also take a close look at what will actually be covered. Once you have all the most important information in hand, you can make an informed decision.

5. Start planning early in the year. This is the season when people are starting to get ready to sell, as most people want to move out in the summer. That’ll give them a better opportunity to transition during a work vacation, and it’ll prevent a mid-school year disruption for the kids. Now’s the time to start talking to a realtor and getting your finances in order.

An important note to keep in mind: The later in the year, the better the price you’ll typically get. The longer a seller has to wait, the more likely they are to bend in pricing. However, you’ll also have less inventory to pick from.

6. Talk to multiple lenders. Just as we should talk to multiple insurers, we should talk to multiple lenders. Three to five is a good range for getting to know what you qualify for and the rates at which you’ll need to pay everything back. Pay close attention to rates, fees, and terms.

7. Qualifying doesn’t mean you can afford it. You might get approved for up to $400,000, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can afford a $400,000 house. For that matter, you may not be able to afford a $350,000 house. Before making a final decision, consider all your financial obligations and lifestyle goals. If you like to take a nice vacation every year, a $400,000 house may mean you have to sacrifice your yearly trip in order to pay your mortgage.

8. Pick a neighborhood, not just a house. As we said before, there may be certain features you may absolutely want in a house, but don’t forget that the location of the house is just as important. The Pittsburgh neighborhood you select has a major impact on your access to public transportation, grocery options, tax rates, investment projections, school choices, and much, much more. Before picking a house, consider what’s important to you.

9. Find a realtor you like and trust. Buying a house for the first time is a daunting task! Your realtor should patiently guide you through the process and answer all your questions so that you’re 100% satisfied with your final decision.

As Pittsburgh realtors, we take pride in helping first-time home buyers find a house they absolutely love. That’s why we always start by getting to know you and your priorities, from location to space to features to price to the community. In addition, we’ll lead you through loan applications, home inspections, title insurance, and every other detail along the way.

If you’d like to get started today, you can reach us at theblocks@theblocksintheburgh.com or call us at 412.926.7976.