PHOTOS BY FLYOVER PROPERTIES

Venkat Guruswami and Vaish Krishnamurthy say they would never think about leaving their Mid-Century Modern-style home in Squirrel Hill North — it has served them well and holds a lot of memories. 

But after 14 years, career opportunities are calling them out of state, meaning it’s time for them to hand over 125 Techview Terrace to new owners. The home is now listed for $800,000 by Sara Leitera of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

“Overall, this home fulfilled a very enjoyable and comfortable chapter in our lives,” the couple wrote in an email. “As our daughter was born and grew up in this house, it will always have a special and irreplaceable place in our memories.” 

Built in 1957, the split-level home, which measures around 2,300 square feet, has four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. The owners say the home is “deceptively large,” as the exterior doesn’t indicate just how much space is beyond the front door. 

On the main floor are a kitchen, dining room and living room that are all spacious and bright. There’s also a sunroom where the family spent many hours. 

“The large picture windows bring in a lot of natural light, giving the house an uplifting vibe,” the couple wrote. “We enjoyed numerous dinners in the sunroom for five or six months every year.” 

All four bedrooms, plus two more full bathrooms, are on the top floor of the home. The finished lowest level has high ceilings and plenty of space, including an area that can serve as another bedroom or office. Guruswami and Krishnamurthy also converted a powder room into a full bathroom. 

The integral garage is accessed through the basement, making it easy to load and store sporting goods, camping equipment and other gear. 

Throughout the years, the couple has made many other updates, including new appliances, ceiling fans, a Radon abatement system, a sump pump and French drains. They also added two gas fireplaces. 

Besides the upgrades, Leitera says she loves that the owners kept the home’s original 1950s vibes. 

“It’s difficult to find a multi-level home of this style within the city,” she says. “Some minor repairs or updates may be needed in the future, but overall the home is in move-in ready condition.” 

All four bedrooms are nicely sized, the primary suite also features a view of the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Although the home is located in the Squirrel Hill North neighborhood, it’s close to many of Oakland’s main attractions. 

“You can walk out of your front door and into Oakland,” says Leitera,”The Carnegie museums and Schenley Park are 10-minute walks.” 

Raising their daughter in the home, Guruswami and Krishnamurthy say they loved the perfect mix of bustling city life and quiet family time they were able to enjoy. 

“It is so close to Carnegie Mellon University and buses. It’s also a short walk to Pitt, Schenley Park, Squirrel Hill and Shadyside — and yet quietly tucked away on a cul-de-sac street,” they wrote.

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: Squirrel Hill North (shuc.org)
Population: 11,879 (North)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: 40 minutes to the airport; walking community, public transportation, bike lanes, rideshare.
Schools: City of Pittsburgh (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: One of the most highly sought-after neighborhoods in the East End, Squirrel Hill’s overall borders touch Greenfield, Oakland, Shadyside and Frick Park. Housing includes some of the area’s most historical grand mansions, Craftsmen and simple row houses. The community is diverse with a mix of students, families and immigrants from the world over; several historical districts are within its borders.

Neighborhood data provided by Niche