Home to three universities -- Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Carlow -- the city neighborhood of Oakland abounds with inexpensive and sometimes rundown student housing. So the free-standing, single-family home at 3132 Ellers St. (MLS No. 716821), just a stone's throw from the Trees Hall athletic facility, is a bit of an anomaly.

One of four homes built in the 1960s for member of the builder's family, the two-bedroom, 1¹/₂-bath brick house has been completely remodeled by its current owner to reflect more contemporary tastes. It is being offered for $169,500 by RE/MAX Heritage in Forest Hills (412-241-4200 or www.pghhomefinder.com).

The 14- by 10-foot kitchen features oversized cherry cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances (including a double-door fridge) and black granite countertops. The main bath has a marble floor and shower surround, while the 21- by 10-foot living room has Pergo laminate floors. But what really sets this home apart, says Realtor Sandy Rutkowski, is the view. Oakland is on a plateau high above the Monongahela River, but its shoulder-to-shoulder, narrow streets packed with apartment buildings block most sightlines to the river. This property has a sliding glass door in the living room that opens onto a 24- by 20-foot deck from which you can look across the rooftops and see the water below.

"It's like you're in the treetops," says Ms. Rutkowski.

The house also has a two-car attached garage, which, to anyone who has ever tried to find parking on a busy weekday morning knows, is something of a rare find in Oakland. An open house will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today.

The house has a 2008 assessed market value of $62,600 and was last sold in December 2006 for $33,200 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us). Since June 2004, four other houses have sold in the 3000 block of Ellers Street, with prices ranging from $20,219 in June 2006 to $82,000 in March 2005 (www.realstats.net).

Oakland is in the Pittsburgh Public School District (www.pps.k12.pa.us).

-- Gretchen McKay