Knowing the towns

What Do I Need to Know Before Relocating to Pittsburgh?

By Aubre J. Stacknick, Global Real Estate Advisor, Piatt Sotheby's International Realty. Originally published on aubrestacknick.com.

Before choosing a Pittsburgh home, understand the relationship between your workplace, commute, municipality, school district where relevant, taxes, housing style, lifestyle and long-term plans. Pittsburgh is a collection of distinct neighborhoods and surrounding municipalities—not one uniform housing market.

That's why I created:

A relocation decision shouldn't begin on Zillow.

It should begin with your life.

Where Will You Actually Be Going?

Pittsburgh geography matters.

A location that looks close on a map can feel very different depending on commute patterns, bridges, tunnels and the direction you're traveling.

Tell me:

Where will you work?

How often?

What time?

Where does your partner work?

What Kind of Pittsburgh Experience Do You Want?

Urban?

Walkable neighborhood?

North Hills suburb?

New construction?

Acreage?

Luxury community?

Condo?

Older character home?

Your answers can immediately change where we look.

Understand the House

Western Pennsylvania has everything from century-old housing to brand-new construction.

Different housing eras create different considerations.

That's where my construction background becomes part of the relocation process.

Understand the Total Cost

Don't stop at purchase price.

Consider applicable:

property taxes HOA/condo fees insurance commuting maintenance anticipated improvements.

And What Happens When Pittsburgh Isn't the Destination?

Relocation works both ways.

Through the Sotheby's International Realty network, I connect clients with real estate professionals in markets across the country and around the world.

Pittsburgh → Anywhere.

Know where you're going.

Know what you're buying.

Know Before You Move™.