PHOTOS BY FLYOVER PROPERTIES

As soon as Abby and A.J. Kuftic first walked into their Forest Hills home four years ago, they knew it was going to be just the right spot for their young family. 

“It was clear that the space was welcoming and flexible for whatever we wanted it to be, particularly having enough extra rooms for homeschooling and craft projects,” says Abby. 

A.J. adds the home has grown with their children. 

“When we moved in, our kids were just coming out of the toddler phase,” he says.

The couple had no plans to leave 367 Sharon Drive, but after deciding to create an intergenerational household with grandparents, a different setup was required. 

The home is now listed for $325,000 by Sara Leitera of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, who says the home provides a lot of bang for a buyer’s buck. 

“This home doesn’t leave a square inch of usable space unturned,” she says. 

At just over 2,000 square feet, the move-in ready, Colonial-style home has four spacious bedrooms. Leitera personally loves the bright living room, complemented by a beamed ceiling and a fireplace that opens onto a lovely deck.  

She also likes to envision herself reading, dining or watching birds from the screened-in patio adjacent to the kitchen/dining area. 

“A buyer might like to add their own finishing touches if they don’t care for the paint colors, which I happen to personally love,” Leitera adds. “They aren’t your typical neutrals, but nothing is offensive about the colors here.” 

Abby agrees the patio is one of her family’s favorite features, but they call it a “catio.” For much of the year, the family leaves the kitchen door open. 

“It becomes an extension for our three cats, who usually let us share the hammock,” she says with a laugh. “Eating meals outside sans bugs is a true joy, and something that was not easy to give up.” 

The Kuftics have found a lot of flexibility in the home, changing the purpose and layout of various rooms to fit their evolving needs. Although the first floor has a separate living room and family room as opposed to a singular great room, the flow between both rooms is cohesive and functional. 

“The fact that the width of the first floor makes it possible to be as close, or not, with the rest of your family is a real bonus, and not something easily found in many Pittsburgh homes,” says Abby. 

The finished basement is functional for family living, too. Built in 1965, the solid home has none of the structural issues often found in Pittsburgh’s older housing stock. 

“It’s a tremendously well-built house and one that will be around for many years to come,” A.J. says. 

Because they moved during the spring of 2020, the Kuftics say they were not able to meet many of their neighbors due to pandemic precautions, at least at first. 

“About a year later, we had a birthday party for our son, rented a Hawaiian ice truck and invited the entire neighborhood,” A.J. says.  

One of their guests was a neighbor named Marilyn — an original resident of the subdivision. 

“She told us how everyone moved in, started families, and now they’re all grown and moved out, and she was so happy to see more kids in the neighborhood,” A.J. says. “It was really touching.” 

The neighborhood is centered around a park that’s the hub of community life for residents. Of all the things they will miss about their home, A.J. says after-dinner walks to the park top the list 

“Because the neighborhood surrounds it, it’s like a hidden gem that only you and your neighbors know about,” he says.  

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: Forest Hills
Population: 6,397
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: With easy access to Interstate 376, Forest Hills is great for anyone who needs to commute Downtown. The airport is about a 30-minute commute and public buses run from Forest Hills to the city. Most residents of the community do own a car, but some portions are walkable.
Schools: Woodland Hills School District (whsd.net)
Neighborhood: Notably home to the abandoned Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Forest Hills’ proximity to the East End means residents can easily enjoy the bustle of city events, while the community itself boasts a sleepier, quiet vibe. Plentiful parks and green space add to the neighborhood’s urban oasis feel.

Neighborhood data provided by Niche.