Steelers Sunrise in Dublin, Bacon After Dark in the ‘Burgh

Sept. 26, 2025 Edition | Read Online

Fall’s in full swing — the Steelers are hitting the road for their first away game, Oktoberfest season is here, and the market’s throwing curveballs of its own. Rates leveled off after a wild two-day slide, sellers are trimming prices, and buyers still hold more cards than they did a year ago.

If you’re new here — I’m Tim Pettigrew, Pittsburgh’s go-to Realtor. I’ve sold millions in real estate and helped folks buy and sell some amazing homes. Now, I’m giving you the pulse of the 412 (814 & 724) every week.

Let’s get into it →

🏡 Market Watch

Mortgage rates barely budged this week — still hovering near 2024 levels.

30-yr fixed: 6.38% (-0.01%)
15-yr fixed: 5.90% (0.00%)
FHA: 6.09% (+0.03%)
VA: 6.10% (+0.02%)

Allegheny County Numbers (Sept. 19–26):
🏠 New listings: 794
🔻 Price reductions: 882
✅ Closed sales: 667
⏱ Days on market: 50 avg / 30 median

National & Local Signals:
🏠 Existing-home sales slipped 0.2% in August to a 4.0M annual pace — still near three-decade lows — even as prices climbed 2% YoY to $422,600. Inventory shrank 1.3% from July, with homes sitting longer (31 days median).
🏛 Government shutdown looms. Historically, deals still close, but uncertainty can spook buyers. Ironically, rates may even slip below 6% if markets react.
🤝 Compass is acquiring Anywhere Real Estate in a $1.6B megamerger — creating the world’s largest brokerage with 340,000 agents across 120 countries.
☕ Starbucks is shutting down three Pittsburgh shops (South Side, Lawrenceville, and North Side). For a city fueled by caffeine and conversation, that’s a noticeable shift.

The Bigger Picture:
Buyers have more room to negotiate as sellers cut prices, but affordability remains tight. The looming shutdown could stir short-term volatility, and the brokerage world is consolidating at the very top. Locally, even big brands are trimming back — a reminder of how quickly the economic landscape can change.

👉 Translation: Rates are steady, but the market isn’t. Buyers: stay patient. Sellers: price it right from the start — or risk joining the 882 cuts this week.

🏠 Yinz. Gotta See This

If money were no object (again), I’d scoop up this Lawrenceville charmer in a heartbeat. Built circa 1900 and now fully transformed, it blends classic Pittsburgh character with top-tier modern upgrades. Picture polished hardwoods, tray ceilings, a Lutron smart-lighting system and Vivint security, plus a gourmet kitchen with quartz counters and sleek cabinetry. It’s basically the dream city townhouse.

Here’s a personal note: I walk past this place all the time as a Lawrenceville resident, usually on my way to Kelly’s Corner or somewhere down on Butler. I always glance up at that third-floor window nook — it’s one of those small details that makes the house stick in your mind.

Quick Hits:

• 💰 Price: $825K

• 🛏 Beds/Baths: 3 BR, 4 full baths

• 📐 Size: ~3,000 sq ft

• 🍽 Kitchen: Eat-in, quartz counters, sleek cabinetry

• 🛁 Primary suite: Spa-like bath with soaking tub + walk-in shower

• 🛠 Extras: Lutron smart lighting, Vivint security, finished basement with walk-out

• 🌿 Outdoor: Fenced yard w/ turf + 2 off-street parking spaces

• 📍 Location: Heart of Lawrenceville, minutes to Strip, East End, hospitals & universities

• 🗓 Open House: Sat., Sept. 27, 1–3 PM

🍺 Pittsburgh Life

⚠️ Alert: The Steelers game this Sunday is NOT at 1 p.m. — it kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET in Dublin, Ireland. Yes, you read that right. The Steelers face the Vikings at Croke Park in the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Ireland. Set that alarm and plan a gameday breakfast.

Quick Hits:

• 🐉 The Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival takes over North Park Lake on Sept. 27 (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), with racing, food trucks, and family activities.

• 🏃 It’s Great Race Weekend: Junior Great Race on Saturday at Gateway Center, then Sunday’s 5K (8 a.m.) and 10K (9:30 a.m.) with more than 10,000 runners.

• 🐑 Families can flock to Hay Day at South Park on Sept. 27 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.) for hayrides, inflatables, puppet shows, and a petting zoo. Free admission.

• 🎸 Close it out at the Bellevue Music Festival, where local bands play across multiple stages from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Free and open to all.

🎯 Weekend Radar – Sept 19–21

• 🍻 Penn Brewery Oktoberfest — Sept. 26–28 at the Northside brewery. Grab a stein, chow down on German fare, and jam out to oompah bands. Friday/Sat 5–11:30 p.m. (21+ after 8pm), Sunday noon–7 p.m.

• 🔮 Parchment and Potions — Sept. 27 at Monroeville Convention Center. A whimsical marketplace with vendors selling crystals, books, magical objects, potions, and curios.

• 🥓 BaconBurgh — Sept. 27 at SouthSide Works. All things bacon, plus live music, beer, bourbon and more.

• 🎡 Hay Day — Sept. 27 at South Park Fairgrounds. Family-friendly: hayrides, inflatables, puppet shows, face painting, petting zoo, balloon twisting, more.

• 🏈 Steelers vs. Vikings watch parties — Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m. ET. The Steelers play in Dublin — local bars are opening early for game-day brunch + watch parties.

• 🏰 Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival — Last weekend! Open Aug 23 – Sept 28, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. This is your final chance to experience feasting, jousts, artisans, revelry and more in “Morelandshire” at Cider & Bard time.

• 🏡 Friendship House Tour — Oct. 5 (11 a.m.–4 p.m.). Walk through historic homes and local businesses across the Friendship neighborhood. Check in at Baum Grove between 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. to get your tour booklet and map.See this weekends events