Believe it or not, says Lu Ryan, people do buy houses at Christmastime — even in a city as traditional as Pittsburgh.
“People are buying things and want to be able to get into the house before the holiday, so they’re having quick closings,” says Ryan, a Howard Hanna Real Estate agent.
This time of year, “people are coming to visit their families, so you always get the out-of-town buyers looking at houses,” she says. “Pittsburgh’s a pretty conventional market — we mostly have people who are upsizing, getting married and looking for a bigger house, or downsizing. We’re not a very transient community.”
The metro area remains a hot buyer’s market, Ryan and other real estate agents tell NEXTpittsburgh.
In Allegheny County, the median sales price for single-family homes ranged between $175,000 and $200,000 during much of 2019, according to the West Penn Multi-List. Homes typically receive more than one offer and sell within 30 to 60 days, if priced correctly.
Though real estate agents say the city has a low inventory of homes, largely because new construction hasn’t caught up to demand, there are plenty of options at all price points.
If you’ve got $300,000 to spend, for example, you’ll find lots of homes for sale in the city and suburbs, including this sampling of current listings:
WEST
Neighborhood: 2012 Croghan Dr., Carnegie
Asking price: $299,900
Style: Townhome
Description: Built in 2007, this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath brick home listed by Dana Block with RE/MAX, has a main-floor master bedroom with walk-in closet and full bath. The kitchen opens to a great room with a vaulted ceiling, skylights and a gas fireplace. The backyard has a deck and patio. The second floor has bedrooms, a large loft and a storage room. This Neville Manor neighborhood has little traffic, Block says.
Neighborhood: 112 McKenna Ave., Green Tree
Asking price: $287,900
Style: Two-story house
Description: With four bedrooms and 2.5 baths, this home built in 1950 has one-floor-living potential, says Ryan, the listing agent. The living room could include dining space, and there’s a pass-through to the kitchen. An open room next to the kitchen could be an office or sitting room. This property has been completely renovated and includes finished downstairs space, a new driveway and a deck.
EAST
Neighborhood: 4828 Blackberry Way, Central Lawrenceville
Asking price: $319,900
Style: Row house
Description: This end-unit row house, built in 1900, has 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It’s located within walking distance of shops, restaurants, breweries and more in Central Lawrenceville. Listing agent Joe Yost with Berkshire Hathaway notes its exposed brick, decorative fireplaces, bamboo flooring, custom wallpaper, eat-in kitchen and bathroom with heated floor. There’s a partially finished private patio.
Neighborhood: 119 Harlow St., Edgewood
Asking price: $290,000
Style: Colonial
Description: This home, built in 1928, has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a fenced side yard and a one-car garage. Located near the Regent Square business district, the home listed by Pia Colucci with RE/MAX has a center hall design. The living room has hardwood floors, built-ins and a gas fireplace, and leads to a screened-in porch. The updated kitchen has plenty of storage and access to the yard.
NORTH
Neighborhood: 3709 Atkins St, Brighton Heights
Asking price: $299,000
Style: Three-story
Description: (See exterior photo at top of page.) This 4-bedroom home built in 1900 is quintessential Pittsburgh, with high ceilings, a living room with fireplace and a walkout basement. The house has new flooring, new HVAC and new bathrooms. There’s a detached garage and big backyard. Living here puts you within a quarter-mile of Riverview Park, listing agent Jean Ou with Keller Williams Realty notes.
Neighborhood: 850 Tripoli St., East Allegheny
Asking price: $294,000
Style: Two-story
Description: This home near Allegheny General Hospital and the Allegheny River Trail has been completely remodeled, according to the listing by Steve Foltz with Century 21 Frontier Realty. It has hardwood floors, neutral paint throughout and a large master bedroom with a spacious bathroom. There’s a deck, a level, fenced yard and off-street parking. There’s also easy access to I-279 and Route 28, Foltz notes.
Neighborhood: 114-116 Sunset Lane, Glenshaw
Asking price: $305,000
Style: Two-story
Description: How about two homes for the price of one, on a lot that’s nearly an acre? This property is tucked away on a quiet street, says listing agent Dan Kite with Berkshire Hathaway. The main home, built in 1925, has a new roof, hardwood flooring, five bedrooms and a formal dining room. The second home has two bedrooms, a small kitchen, spacious living room and one bathroom.