Hopefully the fact that Pittsburgh has not only weathered the real estate market “burst” but improved during a time when other cities are suffering will assure current home owners that their investments are secure and encourage potential home buyers that this is a great time to enter the real estate market.

MY FIRST PLACE, HGTV’s hit series, is coming back for a tenth season and we’re looking for first-time homebuyers (and their agents!) in the Pittsburgh area RIGHT NOW!

We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the home-buying process for their first place and would like to share their story with HGTV! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying your first place.

Taping takes place this spring. Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic buyers with a unique story to tell and a desire to share their experiences! Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!

Email or call me for an application!

Marybeth Brush

HGTV’s – My First Place Pittsburgh, Pa

(o) 303-872-8575

mbrush [at] highnoontv [dot] com

 

When I moved to Pittsburgh I was excited for what I imagined to be a gray, overcast city with 11 month winters. I am here to tell you that…this is not the case. The truth is that the weather here is really quite moderate and for the most part, quite lovely. There are many, many, beautiful sunny days. Summer days are hot and sunny and perfect for those who wish to enjoy swimming in one of Pittsburgh’s many public pools, boating on one of its three rivers, or hiking in one of its numerous, shady recreation areas. While a typical winter does involve snow, it’s really not that bad. For the most part, the city is prepared for snow and life just goes on. And the quantity is not as much as you might think. Did you know that the 2010-2011 snowfall total for New York City is 57.7″, compared to just 40.8″ for Pittsburgh (as of 2/21/2011)?

Of course I was personally disappointed to find myself in such an unexpectedly lovely climate. But if you are contemplating a move to Pittsburgh and are hesitant about the weather, well…my loss is your gain.

The Mellon Arena is famous for its revolutionary architectural design which features the largest retractable, stainless steel dome roof in the world–170,000 total square feet and 2,950 tons of Pittsburgh steel. The roof, which has no interior supports, is divided radially into eight leaves and is supported by a huge cantilever arm that arches 260 feet.

That dome is a part of Pittsburgh, a landmark, instantly recognizable as you approach downtown Pittsburgh by car or foot or as you gaze at it from above. Everyone seems to agree that the brand new Consol Energy Center, finished in 2010 and meant to replace the aging arena, is a fantastic, amazing new home for the Pens, but it certainly does not seem as special as Mellon Arena did.

Now that the new home of the Pens is complete and ready to go a debate has raged about what to do with “the Igloo”, as it is affectionately called. One party wants to tear it down, to move on, to make way for progress. The other wants to preserve the arena, to honor it for what it was. It seems that the former party might win and that Mellon Arena might go the way of the wrecking ball.

The folks over at the Pensblog have unearthed a touching idea that might serve as a compromise. The Consol Energy Center stands right across the street from Mellon Arena. Were Mellon Arena to remain upright, it would be visible from one of the new venue’s large picture windows. The suggestion is to etch an outline of Mellon Arena in the picture window, so that even when it’s gone, the Igloo will still be there, visible to all.

We think this is a great idea. It would go a long way towards making the Consol Energy Center more than just a geat venue – it would help to make it special. Like the Igloo was. We hope this idea will be considered by those in charge.

A lot of people know that Pittsburgh is currently a major player in the field of medicine. Biomedical technology is a major industry and The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the city’s largest employer. But did you know that the first simultaneous heart, liver and kidney transplant was performed at Pittsburgh’s Presbyterian-University Hospital in 1989? And back in 1953, the Polio vaccine was developed here by Dr. Jonas Salk, a researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Both of these things were obviously major accomplishments, but they aren’t the only things Pittsburgh has given the world – not by any means.

The first pull tab was put on a can here in 1962 by Iron City Brewery. In fact, for many years pull tabs could only be found in the Pittsburgh region. Around 1892, a Pittsburgher invented the Ferris Wheel. The Banana Split, Zippo Lighter, and Big Mac all made their first appearances in and around Pittsburgh. The first bingo game was played here in the 1920s, the first U.S. commercial radio station appeared early in that same decade, and the first gas station opened its doors in 1913, right on Baum Boulevard. Forbes Field was the nation’s first baseball stadium. And in a move that is obviously near and dear to all of our hearts, the emoticon was born here in 1982 – the brain child of a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist :)

The list of things that were invented or first occurred in Pittsburgh goes on and on. I have often wondered why this might be. Does Pittsburgh produce or attract a disproportionate number of creative people? Is there something about the environment here that encourages people to come up with novel ideas? Perhaps the city and people just have a pioneering spirit. Regardless, Pittsburgh is a good place to be because of its rich and interesting history but also because when the next big thing is invented here, the locals will all have a front row seat.

Luckily for residents of (and visitors to) Pittsburgh, parking here is not nearly so complicated. In most neighborhoods there are plenty of spots available. Street cleaning generally takes place only once a month. But the really fun thing about parking here is observing all the interesting ways that other Pittsburghers have parked. The general consensus of the natives seems to be that if a spot is not available it’s no problem, because one can be created.

Let’s take a look at several common reasons why parking spaces may not be available, and examine the ways that industrious Pittsburghers overcome these impediments:

1. Problem – Street is too narrow to park. Solution – just borrow a little space from the sidewalk. Go ahead, drive right up on the curb. Problem solved.

2. Problem – Street is really too narrow. Solution – See above, but park entirely on the sidewalk. Who said pedestrians have the right of way?

3. Problem – There is a parking spot on the left side of the street but my vehicle, since we are in America, is traveling down the right side of the street. Solution – Simply cross over from the right side to the left side and park. Do not bother to make a U turn so that your car is facing in the proper direction. Do not bother to yield to oncoming traffic.

4. Problem – All the parking spaces on the right and left sides of the street appear to be full. Or, they are marked by pesky meters. Solution – Be a pioneer! Simply create a new parking settlement in the middle of the street.

5. Problem – I have a great parking space but need to take my car on a jaunt. Solution – Not a problem at all. As anyone knows, a parking space can be reserved indefinitely simply by filling it with any common household item.

Let’s face it, parking can be a total pain. But in Pittsburgh, not so much. Almost any parking-related problem has an ingenious solution. And those of us not bold enough to try the solutions ourselves can still be amused by the ingenuity of others.

Why is this the case? As discussed elsewhere on this site, compared to other major metropolitan areas, the average price of a home in Pittsburgh is quite low. There are great houses to be had for very reasonable amounts of money. Combine that with a strong rental market, low interest rates and government incentives such as the $8,000 first-time home buyer federal tax credit and voila! A home buyer’s paradise is born!

Obviously, this does not mean that everyone should rush out and buy a home. There are many things to consider and many factors to weigh. Home ownership involves a lot of expenses that renting does not – insurance, taxes, maintenance and repairs, to name a few, and these must be factored into any decision. At the same time, home ownership can involve a lot of benefits that renting does not. Assuming you are content to stay put for a reasonable amount of time, real estate can be a good investment. You might wind up seeing a return on your money that you would not see if you were renting. There are less tangible benefits as well. As an owner, you can feel free to customize your home in any way you see fit. Maybe you want to paint your home in custom colors, upgrade a kitchen, or do some landscaping. These activities might be prohibited by a landlord, or might not be worth the time and expense when the property does not belong to you. But when the home is yours, you have free reign to let your home-making juices flow.

The bottom line is this: In most cities the cost of owning a home is more than the cost of renting. Consequently, home ownership is an option only for people who have a bit “extra” to spend each month. Pittsburgh is one of a mere handful of cities where owing a home is a truly viable option for a wide range of people, including those with more modest monthly budgets.

OK, to elaborate, Pittsburgh is home to a famous and extremely beloved restaurant chain called Primanti Brothers. Since 1933 Primanti’s has been serving up their signature item – a huge sandwich consisting of a filling such as grilled meat, fish, or egg, topped with vinegar based cole slaw, tomato, and french fries, and enclosed within two fluffy, fresh slices of Italian bread. Whether dining in or eating out, the sandwich is expertly wrapped in white deli paper. When you unwrap it it’s just like Christmas. If Christmas were topped with french fries.

To eat a Primanti Brothers sandwich is to take a bite of Pittsburgh history. The sandwich was invented during the Great Depression and legend has it that its original purpose was to feed the blue collar workers in Pittsburgh who needed a filling lunch but who lacked the time and utensils to eat a meal consisting of different components. Joe Primanti created the sandwich and along with his brothers, opened the first Primanti’s shop on Smallman and 18th, in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. You can still eat there today.

Because it is a Pittsburgh tradition, and open late, Primanti’s can be a bit of a scene. If you are visiting from out of town, or are a newcomer, you should definitely make a point of checking it out. Stop in on any evening, sit down at the long counter, and enjoy the pleasant bustle. You will find customers lined up and busy chefs cooking up food and assembling sandwiches at a breakneck speed.

The impact of Primanti Brothers can not be overstated. Even outside of Pittsburgh, you fill find menus featuring a “pittsburgh-style sandwich”. That is, a sandwich topped with fries and maybe slaw. And within Pittsburgh I have encountered various non-sandwich foods topped with fries. Foods that do not normally involve fries. Such as Pizza.

A sandwich topped with french fries. Just one more answer to the question, “Why Pittsburgh?”

According to this 2006 New York Times article, our fair city is the “Galapagos Islands of American Dialect”. You might not hear the bark of the sea lion, the squawk of the red-footed booby, or the harumph of the giant tortoise, but you will hear some of the most unusual speech found anywhere in the United States. In fact, the way Pittsburghers talk is unique enough to warrant its own name – “Pittsburghese”, its own entry in Wikipedia, and the ongoing interest of researchers at institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University.

For Pittsburghers, Pittsburghese is without doubt a popular topic of conversation. Ask a group of locals for some examples and they will enthusiastically oblige you. People here take pride in the way they speak. There is no stigma associated with talking like a native, which is very refreshing and is typical of the way the city views itself. People from Pittsburgh are proud to be from Pittsburgh. And they have reason to be! Peculiar speech sounds can be found in many populations within the United States but in general, they are not restricted to one small geographic location. Usually, they can be found over a large area or region. But there is one peculiar pronunciation that truly seems to be found only in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Meet the /aw/ monophthongization. Put in layman’s terms, people here pronounced “ow” as “ah”. No one in Pittsburgh ever goes downtown. They go dahntahn! And that’s a place you will only find in Pittsburgh, PA.

Here are some other examples of Pittsburghese:

Phonology

• Cot sounds like caught, not sounds like naught.

• Feel sounds like fill, fool sounds like full.

• Towel and tile sound the same.

Vocabulary

• Gumband – rubber band.

• Jag – to prick or stab.

• Jagger – a small, pointy object such as a thorn.

• Nebby – nosey.

• Redd up – to tidy or clean up.

• Slippy – slippery.

• Yinz – second person plural pronoun – “you ones”.

• Yinzer – speaker of Pittsburghese.

• N’at – along with some other stuff. Reduction of “and that”.

Why do Pittsburghers talk the way they do? No one can say for sure. It might have something to do with the fact that Pittsburgh is a city of many distinct neighborhoods, each settled by a different immigrant population. It is believed, for instance, that “yinz” came about as Irish-speaking immigrants learned English. In Irish, there is a distinction between the singular and plural form of “you”, but in English there is no such distinction. “You went dahntahn” could just as easily refer to one person as it could one hundred people. To make up for their lost second-person plural, the new speakers of English said “you ones”. Over time, this became you’uns and then youns and then yunz and then yinz. Incidentally, the same thing happened in the South (y’all) and in New Jersey (yous).

The most fun thing about Pittsburghese, and about dialects in general, is that they shouldn’t exist at all. Different ways of speaking make it harder for us to communicate with one another, not easier. And yet they persist. And it’s a good thing, or we would have one less answer to the question of “Why Pittsburgh?”

But the price of a home is not the only thing to consider, even if you are getting very good value for your money. You also want to be satisfied that you are making a good investment, something that can be tricky given the current uncertain state of the real estate market. Luckily for those considering investing in a home in Pittsburgh, the real estate market here is fairly strong or at the very least, stable. According to ABC news and Forbes, as of 2009 Pittsburgh sits near the top of the list of the country’s strongest real estate markets. Ironically, the reason for Pittsburgh’s current stability might lie in the fact that it wasn’t a beneficiary of the real estate “boom” experienced by many cities over the past few years. Real estate values here did not explode the way they did in some cities during the dawn of the new millennium, but by the same token, they are now avoiding the “bust” which is the flip side of most “booms”.

Another reason for the stability of the local real estate market is that Pittsburgh is experiencing growth in industries such as education, health care, and technology. This growth results in new jobs, which results in greater demand for housing.

While Pittsburgh real estate appears to be a good value and a good investment, there is also something less tangible to be considered when contemplating living in, and buying property in, a particular city. Specifically, it’s important that the neighborhoods and types of homes available suit your desires and needs. Luckily for anyone interested in Pittsburgh, there is such a wide variety of neighborhoods and homes available that it would be impossible to not find something you like.

Pittsburgh is made up of approximately 90 neighborhoods – yes I said 90 – and each one offers a unique mood and style. From transitional to well-established, from bohemian to posh, from hipster to prepster, from bustling to tranquil, Pittsburgh has it all. In terms of types of homes, again, you will find all types. The city offers a high percentage of older construction, which means you will find a lot of beautiful restorations. It is not unusual to find churches and warehouses, along with more traditional houses and buildings, that are in excess of a hundred years old and which have been turned into beautiful, modern living spaces. Older construction also means that bargains can be found if fixing up properties is something that gets your creative juices flowing. For those who prefer more contemporary construction, the demand for housing in Pittsburgh means that many modern condos and houses are available both in the city and in surrounding areas.

In conclusion, Pittsburgh is a great place in which to live and buy real estate for the simple reason that it offers great value. You can get a lot for your money, you are reasonably assured that you are making a good investment, and it is a safe bet that you will be able to find a home that appeals to you and meets your needs.