People are Running To Pittsburgh

People are running to Pittsburgh, PA. Not just literally, with the Pittsburgh Marathon returning this weekend, but with people coming to live and invest in our city. Many have found that the buy-in is more conducive than many other more saturated markets. And this city offers strong returns on those investments. Those seeking to live here find the friendliness of a small town with the amenities of a larger city. Continue reading my blog and, you too, may find yourself drawn to "The Burgh".

Pittsburgh is historically a very affordable city in which to live and invest. And while the buy-in may be great, as Pittsburgh grows one needs to do a lot of research to find that great cash flowing property with a strong return on investment. That's where employing a local real estate advocate may be beneficial. This is especially true for out of state investors and out of the area home buyers. You will find that our neighborhoods can change dramatically from street to street and sometimes on the same street. It's all about what you are looking for though...that fix and flip, that hot rental, AirBnB, a house hack or a single family home. Currently the Pittsburgh market is tough, leaning toward sellers, both on the residential and investment property sides. however with perseverance, a buyer can find and acquire a property that fits their needs.

PLEASE NOTE: I can't stress enough though that when you find a property that works for you, don't delay in making a strong offer. I recently had a listing that within 2 days had 12 showings, 11 offers where of course only 1 got accepted. And a colleague of mine had 37 offers. Try not to despair, remain diligent...it is out there!

Weather. Our weather can certainly change, sometimes 3 seasons in 1 single day. I grew up here and many of us with more years behind us than in front of us remember and see the changes. (Can you say "Global Warming?") Winters are less severe, summers are hotter and more humid, and Spring and Fall are delightful. But the clearly defined four seasons gives us the opportunity to enjoy sports, outdoor activities, gardening and so on in all types of temperatures and hazards (aka, snow and ice which are a little challenging, but we accept those as part of our lives here.)

Sports. Yes, it's in our DNA. Steeler Football, Pirates Baseball, Penguins Hockey, River Hounds Soccer and more And add all the college, high school and up and coming youth programs helping to keep us all moving toward the goal of making Pittsburgh even more competitive in sports. Heck, I know families who bequeath their season tickets to keep the seats filled by their heirs. If you've ever traveled to other cities in the US...and even beyond...watch for the Steeler Nation flags flying on Sundays in the fall and winter...that'll tell you how important sports are to us Burghers.

Culture. Ok, so many of us are native Burghers, but certainly not all. And some of us like to use the term "Yinzers", but again, not all. We have that small town community feel with the big city amenities. Who needs a huge city when Pittsburgh has a world-renowned Symphony? Or performance venues like Heinz Hall or the Benedum Center and other stages that attract traveling performers and local talent, too. And if you prefer outdoor concerts or performances, Heinz Field isn't just for football and neither is PNC Park solely used for baseball....and more like PPG Paints arena. And let's not forget that you Foodies can spend months eating your way through some of the finest restaurants in the country. (Remember: Fries with that sandwich from Primanti Brothers means open wide...the fries are ON the sandwich!)

Education. The likes of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Carlow University, Robert Morris University, Point Park University and many more are at home here. The draw of these institutions brings brainiacs from around the globe. And in years past, they came, got a diploma and went home. Now, thanks to this amazing City and its amenities, they stay! A great example is the CMU offshoots in robotics that have helped transform Pittsburgh into a high tech city. Pittsburgh has also been in the news for it's clinical trials associated with Coronavirus vaccine development and cancer research.

Business. Yes, major corporate headquarters are still here such as the likes of PNC Bank (old photo of unfinished PNC Tower depicted), Alcoa, PPG, Kraft Heinz, American Eagle, GNC, and others. I remember 14 from my past and, frankly, I would have to go back and count again. But let's not forget our friends from Google who set up shop, as did Uber, Argo AI, Duolingo, Amazon and others.

Healthcare and Technology. These kind of overlap as one interacts upon the other. Think Salk Vaccine and the Jarvik Heart from years ago, but UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), AGH (Allegheny General Hospital and the Allegheny Health System) are growing every day with industry leading treatment and research centers. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is world renowned and holds a special place in my heart, as many years ago, they saved my son's life.

Growth. All you have to do is look around our City. It has been through several renaissances, each working its way farther from the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers forming the Ohio. It has spread through Downtown to Lawrenceville and South Side, up to Mt Washington and over to the North Shore, close in suburbs, out to Greater Pittsburgh International Airport...and beyond. The T-Line stretches to the North Shore from down in the South Hills with future expansion planned. This is extremely attractive to renters. The old produce yards, The Strip District, is in the midst of a major redo, yet will keep its old charms. And look down the Ohio, just beyond the West End Bridge for the acres soon to redevelop into Esplanade. The hotel next to the Rivers casino is already under construction. Wow, such continued, fantastic growth!

Easy Living. Downtown, North Hills, South Hills, East Hills, West Hills (see a pattern here??)..no matter where you are, Greater Pittsburgh is an easy place to live. We aren't just a city, we're a lifestyle. Sure it's a great place to buy/sell real estate, but also a wonderful area to enjoy life. The City of Pittsburgh is always expanding bike lanes in the area. Take it from someone who sees the Region day in and day out and who has watched it grow from Steel Town to a reborn Tech/Medical Hub with Flair, Exuberance and Classy Residents. It's progressive, open minded and very diverse. It's an easy place to live, love, invest in and work. If you haven't seen us in person, Would you like to?

"Yinz C'mon Dahn!!!