Homeowner Feature: Meet the McKay Family

The McKay Family Found Quality & Affordability in Pittsburgh

Finding the perfect family home often involves compromise, especially when balancing budget and location. But for Dayna and Connar McKay, along with their two-year-old daughter Carmella and two beloved cats, Louie and Bruno, they found a way to have it all: a brand-new, personalized home in one of the country’s most sought-after and affordable large metro areas—Greater Pittsburgh.

Since closing on their home in March 2025, the McKays have settled into a life they designed from the ground up. Their story isn’t just about moving; it’s about making a strategic decision to build a legacy in an area they love. It also proves that settling for a “fixer-upper” is a choice, not a necessity.

Location and Affordability? Building in Greater Pittsburgh Gives You Both

The appeal of the Pittsburgh area has never been stronger, and the McKays are perfectly positioned to benefit from the city’s upward momentum. As recently highlighted by Realtor.com, the Steel City is recognized as one of the most affordable large housing markets in the nation. This affordability is a big draw for young families and people relocating.

However, a closer look at the market reveals one obstacle: while prices are appealing, many affordable Pittsburgh homes are older, dating back to the city’s industrial boom. For buyers like Dayna and Connar, this presented a trade-off—buy an older, budget-friendly home and face years of costly, stressful renovations, or choose new construction.

The McKays chose to build new. By partnering with Wayne Homes, they entirely avoided the daunting prospect of hidden costs, system upgrades, and unexpected structural repairs that are associated with older homes. Instead, they invested in a home that was immediately ready for living, complete with a personalized design and peace-of-mind warranty—two cornerstones of the Wayne Homes commitment.

Designed for Life: Personalizing Their Favorite Spaces

While the McKays’ home design is a stunning example of functional modern living, their true joy comes from how their selections and customizations support their family. With the help of the Wayne Homes team, they focused on creating spaces that foster togetherness, manage the daily chaos of a toddler, and, yes, accommodate their furry family members (you may recognize Louie from our 2025 Pets of Wayne Homes Calendar!).

The open-concept kitchen and great room is the heart of their home. Dayna and Connar envisioned an area perfect for entertaining and keeping an eye on Carmella as she plays. The McKays considered having a loft, which was part of their floor plan, but ultimately changed their minds after thinking about their future needs for a growing family and converted the space into an extra bedroom. That’s the kind of flexibility that Wayne Homes offers homeowners throughout the build process.

A Partnership, Not Just a Process

For many, the thought of building a home is overwhelming, but the McKays spoke glowingly of their experience with the Wayne Homes team. They emphasized that the process felt like a true partnership.

From their initial meeting with the New Home Consultant (NHC) to working with the Field Manager, Dayna and Connar felt supported at every stage. They especially valued the ability to make changes and personalize their design without the stress and limitations often found in buying an existing house. They knew exactly what they were getting, thanks to the team’s transparency and dedication to the Wayne Homes promise of quality and value.

Their new home was finished in March 2025, and they received the keys to a home that wasn’t just new, but was perfectly personalized for their family. They achieved their goal of finding a beautiful, high-quality home in the desirable, affordable Pittsburgh market—a home that will serve their family for decades to come, with no renovation headaches in sight.

When asked about the process, Dayna said this: “The whole experience was great. I have nothing bad to say. We had so much help along the way, so much guidance, so much support. If we ever had a concern or ever, if we changed our mind on something during the process, everybody was just so helpful and accommodating.”

Ready to Design a Home That Fits Your Lifestyle?

Like Dayna and Connar, you deserve a home that fits your lifestyle, not the other way around. If you’re a homebuyer looking in the Greater Pittsburgh area, you don’t have to compromise on quality or location.

Schedule an appointment with Wayne Homes today to learn how we can make your dream home a reality in one of the most affordable markets in the country!

About Wayne Homes

Wayne Homes is a custom homebuilder in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia (see all Model Home Centers). We offer more than 50 fully customizable floorplans and a team dedicated to providing the best experience in the home building industry. For more information, Ask Julie by Live Chat or call us at (866) 253-6807.

Disclaimer: The details of this blog are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change.