Advice needed (new to area) (Pittsburgh, Ross Township: for rent, violent crime, houses)

[SteelCityRising]

Are you insistent upon living alone?

The reason why I ask is that if you're willing to do a 2-BR apartment with a roommate that opens up many, many more neighborhoods within your budget for $1,600/month split two ways (pretty much any neighborhood, really, except for maybe the Strip District at this point, which has been trending atmospheric in pricing).

When I was fresh out of undergraduate school I moved to the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. I was insistent upon living alone in a 1-BR apartment. As such I had to live far away from the areas popular with younger people and had to live in a rundown apartment. I was still struggling to pay my bills, and being so stressed made it difficult to make friends in a new city.

Colleagues of mine who also moved to the area and who had roommates in 2-BR apartments were less financially-stressed and had an easier time making friends.

The differential in pricing in many parts of the city between a 1-BR and 2-BR apartment are generally going to be negligible. I can say that right now I pay $900/month plus all utilities for a 1-BR to live in a trendy part of the city. I can live comfortably because I split this with my partner. If I was single? I'd be looking for a 2-BR in the ~$1,300/month range and would still be able to live in/near trendier areas within my budget with a roommate. It is very expensive to live alone. I mean if your $800/month maximum budget is assuming the inclusion of utilities that's going to be more difficult to find these days. I think coming from Cleveland you'll be in for some mild sticker shock on rentals, as Cleveland has far fewer expensive neighborhoods for rentals.

If I was you? I'd look for a 2-BR in Bloomfield or Friendship and get a roommate. You could live comfortably (<$800/month each for rent and utilities); you're proximate to bus lines and bike lanes; and you're close to all sorts of fun stuff within a mile or two-mile radius (Lawrenceville, the Strip, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, East Liberty, Oakland).

[jea6321]

I would absolutely agree with SCR. you will be able to enjoy life in a new city much more by having a roommate and splitting costs. 800/mo can get a 1 br that decent enough in most of the mentioned areas not including utilities, but 1300-1600 can get you a much nicer 2 bedroom in a lot of the same areas. On top of that, if you find a roommate with similar interest you can get instant access to a friend or group of friends to make the transition to the area easy.

something like this would be a good 2 bed option if you found a roommate to split the costs.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...98609320_zpid/

[Clevelandguy88]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Are you insistent upon living alone?

The reason why I ask is that if you're willing to do a 2-BR apartment with a roommate that opens up many, many more neighborhoods within your budget for $1,600/month split two ways (pretty much any neighborhood, really, except for maybe the Strip District at this point, which has been trending atmospheric in pricing).

When I was fresh out of undergraduate school I moved to the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. I was insistent upon living alone in a 1-BR apartment. As such I had to live far away from the areas popular with younger people and had to live in a rundown apartment. I was still struggling to pay my bills, and being so stressed made it difficult to make friends in a new city.

Colleagues of mine who also moved to the area and who had roommates in 2-BR apartments were less financially-stressed and had an easier time making friends.

The differential in pricing in many parts of the city between a 1-BR and 2-BR apartment are generally going to be negligible. I can say that right now I pay $900/month plus all utilities for a 1-BR to live in a trendy part of the city. I can live comfortably because I split this with my partner. If I was single? I'd be looking for a 2-BR in the ~$1,300/month range and would still be able to live in/near trendier areas within my budget with a roommate. It is very expensive to live alone. I mean if your $800/month maximum budget is assuming the inclusion of utilities that's going to be more difficult to find these days. I think coming from Cleveland you'll be in for some mild sticker shock on rentals, as Cleveland has far fewer expensive neighborhoods for rentals.

If I was you? I'd look for a 2-BR in Bloomfield or Friendship and get a roommate. You could live comfortably (<$800/month each for rent and utilities); you're proximate to bus lines and bike lanes; and you're close to all sorts of fun stuff within a mile or two-mile radius (Lawrenceville, the Strip, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, East Liberty, Oakland).

Yea I’d prefer living alone especially since I don’t know anyone in Pittsburgh. Also, from what I’ve seen Pittsburgh and Cleveland are pretty similar as far as rental pricing goes.

[PghYinzer]

Here is a one bedroom for $820 a month.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ap...956786400.html

You are in the thick of it in South Side, can walk to work, or catch a bus to downtown very easily.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by Clevelandguy88

My budget is about $800 a month

Ouch. $800 = student slums in Pittsburgh.

[PreservationPioneer]

I did a search of apartments under $600 on Craigslist and found 986 listings. Many of these are outside of the city, or duplicates, but my point is you have a lot of options for well under your budget.

[_Buster]

Well I don't know if the OP is looking for the cheapest place. 600 has got to be sketchy or just depressing and in a bad area

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by _Buster

Well I don't know if the OP is looking for the cheapest place. 600 has got to be sketchy or just depressing and in a bad area

Well there are small one bedrooms in Brookline on CL for that price plus utilities and it is one of the safer, quieter neighborhoods with a good connection to downtown for work purposes. Plenty of day to day stuff on the Blvd, but no real means of night life of cool restaurants, but really good tacos! By no means is Brookline exciting, but its affordable, safe, and quiet, and easy to get to work. It’s also a pretty cheap Uber to the more happening parts of town. It could be an affordable option for the first six months or so while the OP finds longer term place more of their liking. I also checked Mt. Washington but there isn’t much out there in that price range.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

Well there are small one bedrooms in Brookline on CL for that price plus utilities and it is one of the safer, quieter neighborhoods with a good connection to downtown for work purposes. Plenty of day to day stuff on the Blvd, but no real means of night life of cool restaurants, but really good tacos! By no means is Brookline exciting, but its affordable, safe, and quiet, and easy to get to work. It’s also a pretty cheap Uber to the more happening parts of town. It could be an affordable option for the first six months or so while the OP finds longer term place more of their liking. I also checked Mt. Washington but there isn’t much out there in that price range.

That's gravy if available. but checking out the place in person is pretty important. Realtors can do very good business by photo enhancements I've found out. some people don't really check out the place much before signing.

[Knepper3]

Originally Posted by _Buster

That's gravy if available. but checking out the place in person is pretty important. Realtors can do very good business by photo enhancements I've found out. some people don't really check out the place much before signing.

Yeah few rentals are managed by Realtors, most are by owner or some by a property management company.