November hits like a leftover hangover — colder mornings, darker evenings, and a city slowly trading open houses for open bottles of cabernet. The Halloween chaos is over, the holiday excuses are starting, and half the industry’s already calling it a year.

Cool. Let them.

Because this is where the pros eat.
The “holiday cool down” is just code for less competition, quieter inboxes, and more leverage for the ones still paying attention. The market’s not dead — it’s just clearing the stage.

If you’re new here — I’m Tim Pettigrew, Pittsburgh’s Go-To Realtor, Expert in Luxury Homes & Strategic Real Estate Solutions. Every week, I break down what’s really happening in the 412 (and beyond):
🏡 Market Watch – where the numbers meet reality
🔥 Yinz Gotta See This – this week’s showstopper property
🖤💛 Pittsburgh Life – what the city’s buzzing about
🎡 Weekend Radar – what to do once you close the laptop

So grab your coffee, your cardigan, and your competitive edge — we’re diving into the calm before the cranberry storm.

You want to sneak in one last fall trip… but the FAA just told airlines to trim flying in ~40 high-volume markets by about 10% because air-traffic controller staffing is stretched during the shutdown. Delays and targeted cancellations are already hitting major hubs. That’s not “somebody else’s problem”—that’s the macro mood you feel everywhere right now.

A little turbulence at the airport, a little drag in loan ops, but Pittsburgh housing is still moving. If you’re writing a contract: lock a rate you like, build in a bit of time cushion for underwriting (especially USDA/condo/NFIP cases), and price with today—not July—comps.

“Over the hill and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go…”
cough cough — yeah, if she’s rich AF.

Because while most of us are trying to figure out how to afford Thanksgiving dinner without refinancing our cars, there’s a whole other league of “holiday travelers” pulling up to Grandma’s 11-acre Tudor estate in Penn Township.

You know the market’s weird when the government’s half shut down, the FAA’s short on staff, and someone’s still out here listing a home with a wine cellar bigger than your kitchen.

Welcome to 104-102 Thornbrook Drive, where “estate living” isn’t a concept — it’s a seven-fireplace lifestyle that laughs in the face of rate hikes.

This place is the kind of luxury that makes you wonder if you took a wrong turn off the turnpike and accidentally drove into an episode of Succession. It’s all manicured stonework, towering chimneys, and “I don’t check my Venmo balance” energy.

If Zillow had a “flex on your friends” filter, this would be it.

This isn’t “dream home” energy — it’s “the economy collapsed, but at least the cellar’s stocked” energy.

🖼️ Tour the castle: View Listing
🎥 Watch the cinematic walk-through: Video Tour

💭 Moral of the story: while the rest of us are watching rates inch up and debating generic vs. name-brand turkey, Thornbrook Drive’s got its own economy — and probably its own currency.

📝 Fair warning: this section’s a long one.
Usually I’m scraping through my camera roll and notes app trying to remember what the hell happened this week. But this time? Oh, I came prepared.
I’ve been saving stories all week like your mom saving Cool Whip containers — and you’re getting every bit of it.

After touring a 7-car garage and 11-acre driveway, you might be tempted to think Pittsburghers have it easy.
Yeah, not so fast — because back here in reality, we’re all still trying to get through the Fort Pitt Tunnel without questioning our life choices.

🚨 TRAFFIC IS OFFICIALLY WORSE THAN EVER.
If it feels like you’ve spent more time on the Parkway than in your own living room lately, you’re not wrong. Pittsburgh commuters wasted 17 million gallons of gas last year just idling — about 20 gallons per driver.

The average driver lost 53 hours in traffic in 2024 — the highest since tracking began. Rush hour’s back (7–9 a.m. and 2–6 p.m.), and now we’ve even got midday gridlock thanks to hybrid work.

The only thing moving slower than the cars? Congress.

🏙️ Meanwhile Downtown:
The $15 million Market Square Modernization Project just entered its next phase — so if you love detours, fencing, and pedestrians pretending they know where they’re going, this is your Super Bowl.

And up north, the Meridian redevelopment is leveling up with a new J.Crew Factory — because nothing says economic growth like discounted cable-knit sweaters.

🚓 On the brighter side:
Pittsburgh just welcomed 38 new police recruits who’ll train 30 weeks before hitting the streets. Congrats to Class 25-02 — may your first assignment not involve the Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

🍽️ Food & Fun Bits:

🔥 Translation: Pittsburgh’s glowing, growing, and gridlocking — all at once. But at least when you’re stuck on the Parkway, the skyline looks incredible in Christmas lights.

Let’s talk football.

I still can’t believe we won last week. Like… how? That was the most Tomlin thing ever.
We weren’t supposed to win — we shouldn’t have won — and yet somehow, we’re out here shutting down one of the league’s top offenses while our offense remembered what a touchdown looks like.

You know what that means?
Steelers Super Bowl. I said it. Let’s go ‘Lers.

🚨 ALERT: Late game, people. 8:20 PM kickoff. You already know what that means — half of Pittsburgh’s calling off Monday “sick.”
Pros: You actually have time to go to Target or Costco with your girlfriend, wife, fiancé, or side piece before the game.
Cons: …You actually have to go to Target or Costco with your girlfriend, wife, fiancé, or side piece.

💬 Prediction: Pitt pulls the upset. Steelers win ugly (again). And Pittsburgh collectively runs on caffeine, hangovers, and delusion until Tuesday.

You’ve survived the Parkway, dodged construction cones, and maybe even made it through Costco with your relationship intact — congrats.
Now it’s time to actually enjoy the weekend.
This part’s shorter (promise), because I know you’re still recovering from that Pittsburgh Life rant above.

✨ Still want more?
See the full lineup here →

🔥 TL;DR:
If you’re not in traffic this weekend, you’re either at a concert, buying vintage glassware, or staring at Saturn through a telescope. Either way — it’s a good weekend to remember why we love this weird, wonderful city.