PHOTO COUTESTY ADOBE STOCK

At the close of each year, it’s customary to contemplate the previous 12 months — and that’s also true of the real estate market.

In 2024, Hot Property invited Pittsburghers to get nebby inside 47 listings in and around the city. From tidy little starter homes to expansive mansions, Pittsburgh has diverse housing stock that hits the market each week.

Local listings ran the gamut in terms of design and aesthetics. For example, this Mount Washington home’s modern design was paired with stunning views, while careful attention to historical detail set this Brighton Heights home apart.

646 SCIENCE ST., MOUNT WASHINGTON PHOTO BY PROPERTY VIDS PRODUCTIONS

Unexpected details such as unique lighting, custom tile and smart home features are cropping up in listings at every price point as the “builder greige” trend finally takes a back seat, according to Sal Bucci, designer and listing specialist for The Fraser Team at Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty.

“We’ll shout this from the rooftops for all to hear,” Bucci says. “The all-gray millennial trend has moved on, and buyers are tired of it.”

Bucci expects to see more paint colors with warm undertones as well as more mid-tone wood flooring rather than gray planks; that’s because house hunters are looking for something a bit cozier and inviting.

“We’re seeing growing interest among homeowners in rounded furniture forms, arches and wood-infused architectural features that bring warmth to the home,” says Mitchell Parker, senior editor at Houzz.

3933 BRIGHTON ROAD, BRIGHTON HEIGHTS

While Parker doesn’t suggest sellers invest heavily in aesthetics-related changes in 2025, he does say there are ways to consider these trends while staging a home for sale.

“For example, to reflect an English-style kitchen, you might incorporate decor items and wall hangings that create collected looks that appear pieced together over time,” he says.

Swapping out cabinet hardware is also an easy update for sellers that may make a particular listing stand out in a sea of new homes expected to hit the market in the spring.

808 MOREWOOD AVE. PHOTO BY 360 CAPTURES

Of course, some listings stand out all on their own. One of the most architecturally unique homes Hot Property featured in 2024 was a former Shadyside carriage house reimagined by local world-renowned architect Tasso Katselas; the blend of classic architecture with Mid-Century Modern updates created a one-of-a-kind home.

“It is truly original; it is like nothing else I’ve ever listed in my 20-plus years of Pittsburgh real estate,” said Realtor Julie Rost of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “It is a fabulous blend of old and new, with the coolest vibe.”

5932 HEBERTON DRIVE, PENN HILLS PHOTO BY FLYOVER PROPERTIES

In line with that Mid-Century trend, which draws in those warm wood tones Parker says buyers are looking for, this Penn Hills time capsule listed by Sarah Madia of RE/MAX Select Realty drew great interest from readers — and it even came with some of its original furniture.

“The first time I toured the home I was wowed with all of the original features from when the home was built, but more so due to their pristine condition,” Madia said at the time. “The kitchen’s tile backsplash is one of my favorite features in the whole house, and the vintage countertops.”

Topping the list of unusual listings in 2024 were this one-time fire station and a former convent (with its own bowling alley) in the South Side. Still currently listed by Adam Cannon of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, the space has endless possibilities for a future buyer.

“We’ve had very steady showings,” says Cannon, “But no offers yet.”

239 OLYMPIA ST., MOUNT WASHINGTON PHOTO BY ROSEANNE R. MARTIN, PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

While some listings, such as Talk Pittsburgh host Heather Abraham’s Mount Washington home, sold quickly, others took time to find just the right owner. In a market full of ups and downs, that’s to be expected. Realtor Emily Fraser of The Fraser Team says that while 2024 was “a mixed bag” as the city continues to adjust to post-pandemic market changes, her team is hopeful for 2025.

“Mortgage rates remained stubbornly high much of the year, albeit slightly down from around 8% high at the end of 2023,” she says.

Overall listing activity also rose slightly in 2024 despite a slight drop in sales. Fraser says some neighborhoods also experienced minor depreciation, though this was mostly just a natural response to over-evaluation in 2021 and 2022. Overall, the outlook is a positive one.

“Pittsburgh hosts a historically stable housing market, averaging roughly 4% to 5% yearly appreciation rates over the last 20 years,” Fraser says. “Many factors are in our favor that point to Pittsburgh continuing to be a stable place to own property.”

She adds that Pittsburgh remains one of the most affordable markets in the country and, thanks in part to very little weather volatility, will continue to make it an attractive market for both locals and those looking to relocate.

“We do predict overall activity will pick up a bit in 2025,” Fraser says.