Pittsburgh area question for TBNers

[RoyJackson]

We're looking into moving to the Pittsburgh area.
We're looking for a 3-6 acre place. Just my wife, dog and I...doesn't have to be much of a house (not even interested in a MacMansion!!). Square footage should be no more then 2000 sq feet.
So, what advice can you folks in the Pittsburgh area offer me? What areas are "reasonably" priced? Wooded is good...fairly level is preferable too.

As far as commute time...up to an hour is OK with me (30-40 miles).

 

[bearhawk]

Check out City-Data, you can get a lot of info about an area you want to move to..

Pennsylvania Smaller Cities, Towns, and Villages (between 1000 and 6000 residents) - Real Estate, Housing, Schools, Residents, Crime, Pollution, Demographics and More

 

[showcattle]

We're looking into moving to the Pittsburgh area.
We're looking for a 3-6 acre place. Just my wife, dog and I...doesn't have to be much of a house (not even interested in a MacMansion!!). Square footage should be no more then 2000 sq feet.
So, what advice can you folks in the Pittsburgh area offer me? What areas are "reasonably" priced? Wooded is good...fairly level is preferable too.

As far as commute time...up to an hour is OK with me (30-40 miles).

Look towards the west to WVA or eastern Ohio. I'm only 35 mins from Pittsburgh, taxes are lower, housing is cheaper, wooded areas. I like it.

 

[RoyJackson]

Look towards the west to WVA or eastern Ohio. I'm only 35 mins from Pittsburgh, taxes are lower, housing is cheaper, wooded areas. I like it.

Thanks for that info...I didn't think about moving out of state.
I know Ohio state cops are pretty tough...how are the gun laws there (concealed carry and such?)

 

[QueBota]

I would look in southeast Westmoreland or Fayette or Somerset counties.

Price range varies depending on proximity to prime locations (ski areas, Ohiopyle, PA Turnpike etc).

Prices are reasonable and there are normally more than a few properties to choose from.

Very nice area, close enough to Pittsburgh to be close but many very rural areas.

Close to PA Turnpike, I-70 and I-68.

Winters can be a little rough and snow accumulations can be surprising, especially above 2,000 ft.

Great hunting and fishing area.

Dave

 

[polo1665]

Thanks for that info...I didn't think about moving out of state.
I know Ohio state cops are pretty tough...how are the gun laws there (concealed carry and such?)

The state cops here have always been good to me. We have concealed carry. I'd judge the gun laws to be pro-gun.
You actually wouldn't have to leave Pennsylvania though. The corridor along route 30 west of Pittsburgh is pretty rural, hilly as heck, but rural.

 

[Code54]

Also out around 84 pa is wooded and can be fairly rural. Have to look around as that area has rising prices but the nice thing is you can be rural but still fairly close to everything you could ever need

 

[LBrown59]

We're looking into moving to the Pittsburgh area.
We're looking for a 3-6 acre place. Just my wife, dog and I...doesn't have to be much of a house (not even interested in a MacMansion!!). Square footage should be no more then 2000 sq feet.
So, what advice can you folks in the Pittsburgh area offer me? What areas are "reasonably" priced? Wooded is good...fairly level is preferable too.

As far as commute time...up to an hour is OK with me (30-40 miles).

Why are you wanting to leave your present place ?
Just wondering!

 

[RoyJackson]

Why are you wanting to leave your present place ?
Just wondering!

Looking into a job, that's all... Not much manufacturing in the York/Lancaster area now.
Although we've wanted to move out of York for a few years now. When we moved here, it was mostly farm and wooded. There's quite a few developments now.

 

[S. Shaner]

If you want to start looking, I'd suggest the Howard Hanna website: Real Estate in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Harrisburg, Central Pennsylvania, Akron, Canton, Erie, Youngstown, West Virginia, New York - Howard Hanna Real Estate . The "advanced" search allows you to pick property type, ie farm or acerage, and you can also select the size of the lot. Good luck. We live on 20 acres near Burgettstown and love it. Less than a half hour to downtown and as private as could be wished for.

 

[RoyJackson]

If you want to start looking, I'd suggest the Howard Hanna website: Real Estate in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Harrisburg, Central Pennsylvania, Akron, Canton, Erie, Youngstown, West Virginia, New York - Howard Hanna Real Estate . The "advanced" search allows you to pick property type, ie farm or acerage, and you can also select the size of the lot. Good luck. We live on 20 acres near Burgettstown and love it. Less than a half hour to downtown and as private as could be wished for.

Thank you all very much!

 

[joemd11]

Take a look at Lawrence County. It is northwest of Pitt about 1 hour on I376. Nice area and housing is reasonable. Easy commute to eastern Ohio also.

 

[cdaledave89]

If you want to start looking, I'd suggest the Howard Hanna website: Real Estate in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Harrisburg, Central Pennsylvania, Akron, Canton, Erie, Youngstown, West Virginia, New York - Howard Hanna Real Estate . The "advanced" search allows you to pick property type, ie farm or acerage, and you can also select the size of the lot. Good luck. We live on 20 acres near Burgettstown and love it. Less than a half hour to downtown and as private as could be wished for.

Another vote for Burgettstown. Although my experience is that it's about 40-60 minutes to downtown from here - depending on the traffic and time of day.

Any place in northwestern or southwestern Washington County would be nice. Try to stay away from southern Butler county - it's becoming too developed (and expensive) around the Cranberry area.