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That's true... but I think it just depends on the market. I lived one year each in Mountain View and in Hillsboro, OR (a Portland suburb near Intel's campus), a

by cfallin 11y ago

That's true... but I think it just depends on the market. I lived one year each in Mountain View and in Hillsboro, OR (a Portland suburb near Intel's campus), and while Mountain View was competitive, Hillsboro had oodles of nice, modern places ready right away. I ended up in modern (< 20 yr) construction in both cases. I'd still say average housing quality in both markets is much better than in Pittsburgh, at least in the neighborhoods near CMU (Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, etc). My current place was built in 1916, still has knob-and-tube wiring, and I considered it a good find. I'm moving to a 1950s building in August and I'm looking forward to having enough electrical capacity for a microwave. All that said -- everyone should still consider moving here -- it's a beautiful city, with a lot of culture, and the housing market will eventually come to a better equilibrium!

dgacmu 11y ago
A core difference is that in Pittsburgh, you can afford to renovate the knob & tube. In MTV, you can't afford the house in the first place. :) In Hillsboro, you get very reasonable, new blah blah housing, but when you decide to walk to the region's major employer, it's four miles away with half your commute on a fairly bleah road that goes around the airport. And, ah, it's a little culturally isolated unless you drive the 45 minutes to Portland.
- cfallin 11y ago
  No doubt, Hillsboro is not for the young and hip, nor anyone with a possible allergy to suburban un-culture or parking-lot-sprawl. A number of my coworkers commuted from downtown or the eastside (and MAX light-rail makes that pretty easy, modulo the time commitment). But, eh, I didn't mean to turn this into an ad for PDX! One thing I do appreciate very much about Pittsburgh is the walkability. It's hard to beat a 45-minute walk through Schenley Park as a morning commute, at least in summer, and I have... 5?... coffeeshops and as many pizza places within a 15 minute walk. And, yes, if you're in a position to buy a house, there is a lot of character to be had. Anyway, my views on the housing market may be slightly colored by PhD-student glasses (and the two-year west coast industry detour...). To anyone reading, do consider it here -- it's a very unique city.

by cfallin 11y ago

dgacmu 11y ago

A core difference is that in Pittsburgh, you can afford to renovate the knob & tube. In MTV, you can't afford the house in the first place. :) In Hillsboro, you get very reasonable, new blah blah housing, but when you decide to walk to the region's major employer, it's four miles away with half your commute on a fairly bleah road that goes around the airport. And, ah, it's a little culturally isolated unless you drive the 45 minutes to Portland.

cfallin 11y ago
No doubt, Hillsboro is not for the young and hip, nor anyone with a possible allergy to suburban un-culture or parking-lot-sprawl. A number of my coworkers commuted from downtown or the eastside (and MAX light-rail makes that pretty easy, modulo the time commitment). But, eh, I didn't mean to turn this into an ad for PDX! One thing I do appreciate very much about Pittsburgh is the walkability. It's hard to beat a 45-minute walk through Schenley Park as a morning commute, at least in summer, and I have... 5?... coffeeshops and as many pizza places within a 15 minute walk. And, yes, if you're in a position to buy a house, there is a lot of character to be had. Anyway, my views on the housing market may be slightly colored by PhD-student glasses (and the two-year west coast industry detour...). To anyone reading, do consider it here -- it's a very unique city.