Real estate is complicated.
That’s a fact we admit even as real estate agents. We have an intimate knowledge of the market, but there are dozens of factors outside of our control. For example:
The real estate market has shifted to an aggressive seller’s market, reducing housing stock and increasing prices for buyers.
First-time homebuyer programs and grants are under fire, potentially putting homeownership out of reach for some families in the near future.
Homeowner’s insurance requirements are growing more stringent, increasing upfront costs before a provider will offer coverage.
The recent fluctuations in the stock market and overall economy have created uncertainty and volatility, reducing buying power for some families.
To put it in simple terms: This is a tough time to buy a house.
And that’s incredibly frustrating for us. When we started our business nearly 10 years ago, we had a dream of transforming Pittsburgh’s east end communities into the best place to live for our kids and their families.
But even though we value things like affordable housing and we believe in the multi-generational benefits of building equity, we’re now seeing there’s one thing even more important than owning a home or moving to a new neighborhood:
Community.
Sometimes, it’s simply more important to make the most of where you are.
They say it takes a village to raise a child—but it also takes a village to create physical security, financial safety nets, consistent access to nutritious meals, and more.
Build Community, Build A Village
When we moved to Swissvale a few years ago, we immediately got to work establishing our own community of neighbors and friends.
Here are some of the tricks you can use to deepen your ties with the people around you:
Get Outside
Two of our favorite ways to meet and connect with people in our neighborhood are gardening and walks.
Gardening in our front yard is an excuse to stay near the sidewalk for a few hours at a time, and it’s a low-stakes activity for people who are passing by. At a minimum, we’ll say hi to passersby, but occasionally we’ll strike up a conversation—and conversations over time turn into friendships.
Walking regularly leads to similar benefits. Sure, we can run into familiar faces on the sidewalk, but we can also meet nearby homeowners who are gardening, relaxing on their porch, or playing with their kids in the front yard.
If you have kids, visiting the local park on a regular basis is a fantastic way to meet other parents and local residents.
Host Community Events
Each year, we try to do two things:
Host a block party. (Get it?)
Host multiple backyard bonfires.
The block parties are a bigger, more complicated event, and we don’t always get to it every year. But they’ve been a fantastic way to connect with our neighbors and deepen our relationships with the people around us.
The bonfires are a bit more exclusive, but the benefits are similar. We’ll host a few of them in the warmer months, and we’ll invite a handful of friends and neighbors. As with the block parties, they’re a chance to deepen our ties to the people who are most important to us (and they’re also an opportunity to get to know some neighbors even better).
Be Neighborly
Pittsburgh has changed over the last few decades. Back in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, it was common for multiple generations of families to live in the same neighborhood.
But as the steel industry collapsed and the housing market shifted, families became displaced throughout the city and suburbs.
While that creates new challenges, we’ve done our best to continue some of the old traditions from years prior:
Cookie Drop-Offs - Around the holidays every year, we’ll drop off cookies for family, friends, neighbors, and work colleagues, deepening the relationships we’ve nurtured over the last 12 months.
Flowers - Who doesn’t love a fresh, fragrant bouquet? Each year, we deliver hand-selected bouquets to a few lucky people in our network—a small token of our appreciation.
Soup - We love making soup as a family, and it’s an easy dish to make in large quantities and distribute to our community. Like cookies and flowers, it’s a low-effort way of saying, “I appreciate you!”
This sort of gift-giving isn’t just a sign of love and fellowship; it’s also, in some cases, a much-needed support system. As we battle the warning signs of another recession, receiving a free meal or a lovely set of flowers can become a powerful pick-me-up.
Reconsider Where Community Happens
Community isn’t just a place. It’s also the separate and intertwined networks we develop over time. We’ve worked hard over the years to spread deep roots throughout Pittsburgh, and that’s helped us build a wonderful community of supporters around us.
We’ve found community and fellowship through:
Work - Our work in real estate has tapped us into a deep network of clients, lenders, agents, team members, and networking groups. They’ve all become an integral part of our personal and professional lives.
Church - Attending church regularly has connected us with families who share similar morals and values from all over Pittsburgh.
Our neighborhood - As we mentioned earlier, exploring Swissvale has connected us with wonderful neighbors who love us and our kids.
Our homeschooling co-op - Homeschooling has allowed us to live life the way we’ve always wanted (with plenty of cross-country road trips), but it also connects us with another network of like-minded parents who are passionate about child safety and educational development.
Sports - We’ve all found our own niche in local athletics. Julie runs, Ted plays frisbee golf, and the kids take Kung Fu lessons. All of us have found our own “tribes” to enjoy our sports and push us forward.
By tapping into the communities you’ve already established, you can deepen your own relationships and resilience!
Join Our Community
Now’s your chance to join our community! Check out our services or read through our blog. Get to know us a little bit, then contact us! We can’t wait to connect.
- Julie & Ted