We're looking at purchasing a home in the Shadow Shuttle area of Penn Hills. My wife is from Freeport, I'm from Florida so neither of us really know anything about the area. We do have a two year old son.

The house we're looking at is right at 1000 Sq ft sitting on a quarter acre for 120k. My two biggest concerns are future property value, and crime in the area. I don't want to buy this house and lose a ton of money or not be able to sell it for what we have in it a couple years down the road, and I need the area my family is in to be safe.

Do you guys have any input for this neighborhood? We're stuck between buying this house to live in for a couple years and saving some money or renting somewhere else until we can get somewhere we really want to be. I travel for work so that doesn't effect anything

Comments

timesuck t1_ja03xyi wrote on February 25, 2023 at 9:05 PM

#2,004,659

I don’t know a ton about the area, but I can tell you that I have big regrets about buying a starter home in a neighborhood I didn’t love because it was what I could afford at the time.

In hindsight, really should have continued to rent until I had more of a down payment and could have bought something else. You never know what’s going to happen. Nothing wrong with a starter home, but buying a house is a big investment and it’s a decision that can be hard to change. Just keep that in mind. You don’t want to buy something unless you’d be ok with living there longer than you anticipate.

feed_the_bumble t1_ja05ydi wrote on February 25, 2023 at 9:19 PM

#2,005,065

Shadow Shuttle is one of the better sections. You're near the shopping plaza and 376. And that neighborhood is pretty quiet too.

Penn Hills property values have been steadily going up in recent years, but, many of these homes do need some work. So you do need to be on the lookout for foundation issues, retaining wall problems, moisture control, etc. Those issues are common.

The biggest drawback of Penn Hills is the absolutely insane school taxes, like horrendously so

Yinzerman1992 t1_ja0c9ji wrote on February 25, 2023 at 10:03 PM

#2,006,107

The shadow shuttle plan of homes in penn hills is one of the nicest and most secluded sections of penn hills.

Particularly along westward ho drive and dixie drive.

Further along you have have gramac lane which is a private drive and those people will absolutely 100% kick you out unless you have business there. Mansions and estates , etc.

I definitely feel like I'm not even in penn hills whenever I'm back there.

iRagnarox OP t1_ja0g9ik wrote on February 25, 2023 at 10:32 PM

#2,006,769

Replying to Yinzerman1992 (#2,006,107)

We'd be on the north end of Shadow Shuttle, between Rodi and Jefferson

blergmcballs t1_ja0gnid wrote on February 25, 2023 at 10:35 PM

#2,006,836

My husband and I bought a home in Shadow Shuttle in 2019. We really like it here. It's a very quiet area. Please feel free to reach out if you want to chat!