The deck and slide that stole our hearts.
When we were moving back to Pittsburgh from New Jersey, we were sure that we knew exactly what we wanted for our third house. Our “must haves” were pretty practical and typical for a family with three kids—four beds, two baths, off-street parking, and central air.
We went through dozens of houses on the Pittsburgh market, and slowly noticed that what actually grabbed our heart the most was good outdoor space. It hadn’t been a priority when we started, but we grew to understand how important it was for our kids to have a good play space outside. Also, from doing so many renovations ourselves, we had an appreciation for quality renovation and good character. The more houses we saw, the more we learned this was tough to come by!
A couple months in, we finally found the house we are in now, and we knew when we walked through the door that it was “the one.” From the beautiful craftsman woodwork and open living/dining room, to the huge backyard with a slide off the oversized deck… we hadn’t expected to find such a well-finished home in our ideal neighborhood.
We wound up in a three-bed, one bath-house with radiator heat and on-street parking. It may look like we missed our list entirely, but the reality is we found what was important to us, and learned where we were willing to compromise!
Compromises With Reality
Like every other economic market, Pittsburgh real estate is subject to supply and demand, leading to simultaneous fluctuations in both price and availability. Unless you strike out to build your dream home from the ground up, you’re at the mercy of what the market can provide.
As many can’t afford to build from scratch, finding exactly what you want is a difficult task. For example, a recent survey found the majority of prospective home buyers wanted a master bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a gourmet kitchen in their first home. The reality is, most people don’t wind up with these amenities. That same survey found only 26% of current homeowners have a master bedroom, only 35% have walk-in closets, and a mere 9% have gourmet kitchens.
With this in mind, it’s important for home buyers to remain flexible.
Tips for Balancing Your Priorities in Pittsburgh
Before you go searching for your perfect home, here’s how to remain realistic in the buying process:
Share your desires with your realtor, but try to be flexible. Describe to your realtor exactly what you’re looking for in a house. While all of these features might be impossible to find under one roof (or under a roof in your price range), it’ll give your realtor a detailed starting point. Because finding that perfect combination is rare, stay open to suggestions.
Keep an open eye when touring other houses. This may come as a surprise, but many of the home buyers we work with aren’t actually sure what they want in a house. They often think they want something, but then they see it in person and realize it’s not that great. Similarly, many people don’t realize how great a certain feature can be until they see it in person. When we were shopping around for our current house, for example, we didn’t realize how great a back porch could be until we experienced one for ourselves during a tour.
Keep saving and look for deals. Many home buyers find that the homes they want right now are often out of reach. That’s OK! Similar houses will be available in the future. For now, focus on your options. This could be a great opportunity to continue squirreling away cash for a future downpayment or it could be a good time to discuss the financing options available to you. You could qualify for options starting at 3.5%, and some first-time home buyers are eligible for loans as low as 3% down! You could also adjust where you’re looking in the Pittsburgh region. Instead of focusing on expensive neighborhoods like Squirrel Hill or Mount Lebanon, you could look into emerging markets like Wilkinsburg or Sharpsburg, which you can find low-priced inventory that will quickly appreciate in the coming years.
We’ve been in your shoes, and we know exactly how hard it is to balance competing priorities when you’re buying a home. That’s why we take so much pride in helping people find the best real estate match in Pittsburgh! If you’d like to start your search today, reach us at theblocks@theblocksintheburgh.com or call us at 412.926.7976.
Cheers,
Julie & Ted