Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
3224 Richardson Ave.
As you may have heard, America is experiencing a housing crisis. It is one of the biggest sources of stress, especially for young people. So I regret not always taking the issue of Pittsburgh’s housing crisis 100% seriously. But every now and then, by chance, I come across an observation that seems to point to a larger truth.
This week, a smart business journalist with national reach observed something similar: Homeowners and homebuyers don’t just want different things—they want more or less opposite things. The context for Noah Smith’s Substack column is Kamala Harris’ housing plan, which he likes. But as Smith puts it, the problem is that “if owner-occupied housing becomes more affordable, This makes most Americans poorer.” That’s because most middle-class Americans owe most of their wealth to their home ownership, which must constantly increase in value or they lose money.
An ideal housing policy, says Smith, consistently creates a large supply of new housing and “causes property values to rise slowly but steadily over time, so that people leave the system richer than they entered it.” He notes that Harris’ plan is similar to Singapore’s approach, which includes many elements such as reducing bureaucratic hurdles and tax incentives for building entry-level homes and affordable rental housing, but places particular emphasis on tax breaks and financial support for first-time buyers.
But won’t this also increase housing costs? This has been the case in Singapore, but the effect has been very small, and that is a small price to pay for the desired goal – to bring more people into the income redistribution and wealth creation program of home ownership.
Maybe there are better ideas; I’d like to hear them. Forging a temporary truce between homeowners and homebuyers seems like a worthwhile goal. Wouldn’t it be nice if this rather large problem received just a fraction of the attention given to fearmongering about THE BORDER? I’m not hopeless.
NORTH
For sale: 3224 Richardson Ave., Brighton Heights. $92,500
Brighton Heights is still this weird little wormhole to an older, cheaper Pittsburgh, one with very nice homes (even historic ones) that don’t cost a fortune, and a grab bag of other internal organs. Sure, it’s closer to the suburbs than downtown, and doesn’t have much within walking distance, aside from a really great grilled cheese. If that ridiculous price makes you a little skeptical, it also includes all new flooring, carpets, and heating. And it’s three bedrooms. (Brighton Heights is real, I swear).
Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
1000 Cedar Ave.
For rent: 1000 Cedar Ave., Germantown. $1,000/month
Oh, hey, a reasonably priced rental in one of the North Side’s hip neighborhoods, within walking distance to plenty of restaurants, jobs, parks, and ball games. Sure, the house looks like it has a no-frills mustache and monobrow, giving it some character (maybe too much), and you’ll hear a few sirens and helicopters from nearby Allegheny General. But not too long ago, every third house on this street seemed to be boarded up, so let’s not let perfect become the enemy of good, OK?
Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
1600 Mount Joseph St.
SOUTH
For sale: 1600 Mount Joseph St., Carrick. $199,000
If you’re worried that Pittsburgh’s supply of weird little houses is running dry, I’m happy to report that it’s not infinite, but almost infinite. This wood-frame abode is a tiny house from before they were cool (about 120 years ago). But it also has a garage and a poolbecause of course it does. But the interior is just as spacious and tastefully beige as the current style dictates, with a few odd surprises like an unusual stone wall that keeps some decadent 80s vibes in a good way. Of course, if I were trying to sell this house, I wouldn’t advertise how close it is to Route 51, but simply advertise how far away it’s off route 51. Seriously, that road sucks.
Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
2311 Valera Ave.
For rent: 2311 Valera Ave. #1, Carrick. $676/month
I always get a little nervous when an apartment advertises 0 bedrooms, which in this case means a studio apartment in the bottom half of a duplex. That would also be a surprising rental price for a house with no rooms. Pittsburgh’s yellow bricks can be a preference that takes some getting used to, but I think I’ve grown to like them. At the very least, they offer the eye a little pop of color to enjoy during the long brown season (rest in peace, snow) between December and April.
Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
99 Bradford Avenue.
WEST
For rent: 99 Bradford Avenue, Crafton. $1,000/month
Every time I’ve been to Crafton, I’ve accidentally ended up on Cowher Way, the street named after Stillers legend Bill Cowher… until this week! As an idiot Steelers fan, I’m going to interpret that as a sign that the Steelers are 17-0 this season. Oh, Crafton? That’s really beautiful. Why isn’t anyone talking about Crafton? Even now, I can’t say anything about it except that Cowher Power has deep roots here and there are some beautiful, historic homes like this one. Look, real vintage hardwood floors – what a color!
Photo: Courtesy of Zillow
1494 Crafton Blvd.
For sale: 1494 Crafton Blvd., $264,900
So why does nobody talks about Crafton? Oh, there’s a total of one house for sale on Zillow. Well, I guess we’ll go back to never talking about Crafton again. This is the only outsider and it’s pretty odd, with a great wraparound porch and lots of oddly shaped windows and alcoves and a clash of trim and brick. But it’s also a three-family home! So three apartments with four bedrooms total. I’m in.
