Nov. 14th, 2025 Edition | Read Online

The government shutdown is over — and honestly, it feels a little like when a bar closes early, turns the lights back on, and pretends everything’s totally fine.
Sure, the panic faded, but the financial hangover? Still very much here.

Flights are still a mess. Buyers are still confused. Sellers are still Googling “should I wait until spring?” And Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is doing what it always does — shrugging, pouring another cup of Schneider’s coffee, and getting back to work.

And that’s exactly why this is the moment worth paying attention to.

The noise has quieted. The fear has cooled. The holiday slowdown is creeping in.
Translation: the sharp buyers and sellers are about to win.

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 give you the only real estate breakdown worth reading in the 412:

🏡 Market Watch – what the numbers actually mean
🔥 Yinz Gotta See This – the jaw-dropper of the week
🖤💛 Pittsburgh Life – news, chaos, and reasons we love this city
🎡 Weekend Radar – where to go when you're done doomscrolling housing data

So buckle up — the shutdown may have ended, but the market is just getting interesting.

Let’s hit Market Watch. 📉📈

📊 MARKET WATCH — Shutdown’s Over. Now What?

Well, well, well… the government shutdown is finally over.
Just like that toxic ex that storms out dramatically and then quietly slinks back in, acting like nothing ever happened.

But hey — this time, the housing market actually noticed.

🏦 Mortgage Rates? Still spicy.

30-year fixed sitting at 6.38%, up a smidge. FHA and VA dipped slightly, but overall…
Rates are still doing that annoying thing where they flirt with going down, then say “lol nvm.”

But with the shutdown wrapped and federal workers back on payroll, market confidence ticks up, and lenders start stabilizing. No freefall, no rocketship — just a realistic normal.

🏡 Market Activity (7-Day Snapshot)

(Insert your “Market Watch widget” screenshot here)

Here’s the vibe this week across Western PA:

• 672 price decreases — sellers blinking first 😮‍💨

• 637 new listings — holiday-season inventory bump

• 491 contingents — buyers still writing offers

• 276 under contract — deals are happening

• 520 sold — respectable

• 115 withdrawn / 186 expired — classic November

This is the “buyers have leverage but not too much leverage” stage.
Like when you ask for extra ranch at a restaurant and the server gives you one without charging but side-eyes you.

💰 Sold Market Snapshot

(Insert “Market Analysis by Status: Sold” screenshot here)

Out of 590 properties sold:

• Median sold price: $234,475

• SP/LP ratio: 97.96%

• Average DOM: 49 days

Translation?
Pricing right matters again — buyers aren’t just sprinting at listings like it's 2021.

📚 Must-Read This Week

• How much does a $90,000 HELOC cost monthly following the Fed's October interest rate cut?

• Nearly 900,000 new homeowners are underwater on their mortgages, signaling a troubling shift in the housing market

🏠 Yinz. Gotta See This — smh some people have some money

Alright… grab a seat, grab a snack, grab your emotional support Stanley cup — because the home I’m about to show you? Yeah… it makes every “Zillow at 1AM” impulse scroll look like amateur hour.

You ever see a house so nice it makes you question every life decision you’ve made in the last decade?
Yeah. Welcome to that moment.

This week’s pick is the kind of place that makes you say:
“Who lives like this? And why isn’t it me? …Yet.”

Let’s take a little walk through the kind of property that could single-handedly force you into a higher tax bracket. 👇

🌟 2099 Totteridge Dr — Salem Twp

Asking: “If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.”

🤤 The Vibes

This place looks like the house people move into right after they “sell their startup,” “win the lawsuit,” or “marry correctly.”
Big modern lines. Big windows. Big money.

It’s perched on Totteridge — meaning the grass is so perfect it looks AI-generated, and the neighbors probably own at least one pair of Lululemons just for golfing.

🔥 The Living Room

If Restoration Hardware and a high-end spa had a baby, this is it.

Soaring ceilings.
A fireplace wall designed by someone who says “curated” unironically.
A view so wide you can see tomorrow.

Imagine watching the Steelers lose…
but doing it in a room like this.
Kinda softens the blow.

⚡ Quick Hits

• Neighborhood: Totteridge — AKA Golf Cart Heaven

• Architectural Style: Clean modern, stone-and-stucco sophistication

• Windows: More glass than a Shadyside brunch spot

• Outdoor living: Prime for cigars, sunsets, and judging people

• The flex: Hosting Thanksgiving and making everyone uncomfortable with how nice your house is

📝 Translation

A house so nice you instantly start planning a new personality to match it.

🌆 Pittsburgh Life

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.

🎄 DAZZLING NIGHTS Returns Nov 28
Mark your calendars: the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is turning into a full-on holiday fever dream.
We’re talking 30-foot walls of light, mirror-ball snowmen, a 50-foot Christmas tree, and cocoa under the stars.
It runs Nov 28 – Jan 3 at 799 Pinkerton Run Rd, Oakdale.
Bring a date, your kids, or just your seasonal depression — everyone’s welcome to glow.

🏠 Holiday House Tours
If your idea of a good time is peeking inside other people’s houses (and let’s be honest — it is), Pittsburgh’s annual Holiday House Tours are back.
Historic homes, decked halls, mulled wine.
Here’s a sneak peek on Instagram.

🎓 Upper St. Clair: Top of the Class
Not only are they crushing it on the field — now they’re crushing it in the rankings.
Upper St. Clair School District just scored #7 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania according to Money Inc.
They’re the only PA district on the national list, so go ahead — flex that school-tax bill with pride.
(District details here.)

🔥 Translation: Pittsburgh’s leveling up — from our real estate game to our Christmas lights. Maybe, just maybe, this is the year we stop being “most livable” and start being most enviable.

🏈 ‘Burgh Football — The Steeler’s aren’t Prime Time

Let’s talk football.

🏫 Pitt vs. Notre Dame — Saturday at 12 PM

I f*cked up last week thinking the game was last weekend, but it’s actually this weekend. It’s a BIG one this weekend. ESPN College Game Day is BACK in the “Burgh’”! The Penn Hills kid, Aaron Donald, coming home to retire his number at Pitt. Pat McAffee is home! What a day it’ll be! The Panthers take on the Irish, and honestly, “Irish for another win” feels too on the nose. That said, this game doesn’t even f*cking matter. But hey — if Mason Heintschel shows up under the lights like he’s supposed to, this could be the kind of statement game Pitt’s been starving for.

🚨 ALERT: If you’re thinking about taking that “tasty little stroll through downtown” Saturday morning, thinking it’ll be fun and cute — it won’t.
It’ll suck.
Traffic will be a disaster. Parking will be nonexistent. And if you end up stuck in a jam? Well… f*** you, I told you so 🖕

🖤💛 Steelers vs. Bengals (Again) — Sunday, 1:00 PM (Home Game)

“I still can’t believe we won last week. Like… how? That was the most Tomlin thing ever.”

Well in true Mike Tomlin fashion, we lost another b*llshit game.

Anyways.. we are home this week.

🚨 ALERT: Standard 1 o’clock kickoff.

💬 Prediction: Pitt pulls the upset. Steelers lose (again). And Pittsburgh collectively feels torn.

🎡 Weekend Radar — What’s Rolling This Weekend

✨ Holiday Kick‑offs & Family Fun

• Holiday Market & Tree Lighting (Nov 14, 5‑9 pm) – The Strip District Terminal hosts a free outdoor market with local vendors and DJ Breis Gordan; the tree lights up at 5:45 pmstripdistrictterminal.com.

• Phipps Holiday Magic: Wild Winter (Nov 14–Jan 4) – Opening night of Phipps Conservatory’s annual light extravaganza. This year’s “Wild Winter” theme features whimsical topiary animals and glowing gardensphipps.conservatory.org.

• I Made It! Holiday Market (Nov 15) – 100+ artists set up shop at The Block Northway for one day onlykidsburgh.org.

• Ultimate Brick Show (Nov 15‑16) – LEGO fans unite at Monroeville Convention Center for exhibits, vendors and hands‑on buildingkidsburgh.org.

• Playdate at the Library (Nov 16) – Drop in at CLP–Allegheny for a free, under‑5 play hourkidsburgh.org.

🎭 Stage & Screen

• Mr. Edgar A. Poe Presents: Tales of Mystery, Horror & Imagination (Nov 14‑16) – New Hazlett Theater adapts Poe’s stories in a sensory‑inclusive performance; pay‑what‑you‑can ticketskidsburgh.org.

• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: Ferrández Plays Saint‑Saëns (Nov 14‑16) – Symphony classics at Heinz Hall, plus PSO360: Pablo Ferrández recital on Nov 15trustarts.org.

• Fellow Travelers (Nov 14‑16) – Pittsburgh Opera stages a Cold‑War love story at the Byham Theatertrustarts.org.

• Texture Contemporary Ballet (Nov 14‑15) – Fresh dance pieces at Greer Cabaret Theatertrustarts.org.

• Pre‑Code Essentials: Red‑Headed Woman (Nov 15) – Catch this scandalous 1932 classic on the Harris Theater big screentrustarts.org.

• Little Women (opening Nov 15) – City Theatre’s new adaptation kicks off its runkidsburgh.org.

• Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift (Nov 14) – Omni William Penn glows with string‑quartet renditions of Taylor Swift hitspittsburgh-theater.com.

🎵 Live Music & Nightlife

• Maroon 5 — Love is Like Tour (Nov 14, 7 pm) – Pop royalty hits PPG Paints Arenavisitpittsburgh.com.

• DJ Pauly D (Nov 15, 8 pm) – Jersey Shore’s resident DJ brings a dance party to Rivers Casinovisitpittsburgh.com.

• I Love R&B (Nov 15) – Sing along to ’90s and 2000s R&B at Crafthouse Stage & Grill; doors at 7 pm, show at 9crafthousepgh.com.

⚽🏈 Sports

• Pitt vs. #9 Notre Dame (Nov 15, noon) – The Panthers host the Irish at Acrisure Stadium; ESPN’s College GameDay will be therepittsburghpanthers.com.

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Rhode Island FC (Nov 15, 6:30 pm) – Eastern Conference Final at Highmark Stadiumriverhounds.com.

• Steelers vs. Bengals (Nov 16, 1 pm) – AFC North battle on the North Shorevisitpittsburgh.com.

🧸 Kid‑Friendly

• Duo’s Treehouse (Nov 14) – Bilingual (English/Spanish) toddler play sessions at Kingsley Centerkidsburgh.org.

• Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s Celebration of Families (Nov 15) – Storytime, snacks, crafts and free portraits at B is for Bookskidsburgh.org.

• Storytime with PAAR (Nov 15) – Empower kids to set boundaries at Penn Hills Librarykidsburgh.org.

• Jingle Bell Jukebox: The Musical (Nov 15) – Festive show at South Park Theatrekidsburgh.org.

📚 Pop‑Ups & Markets

• Downtown Bookstore Holiday Season Pop‑Up – Amazing Books & Records returns to One Oxford Centre (ongoing).

• Holiday House Tours – Sneak peeks of historic homes decked for the season.

🏠 Other Notables

• Phipps Holiday Magic (Wild Winter) invites visitors to explore whimsical topiary animals and glowing gardensphipps.conservatory.org.

• Dazzling Nights at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden starts Nov 28 and is worth marking your calendar now (mile‑long light trail, 50‑ft Christmas tree).

✨ 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.