Moving to Pittsburgh in July...need some help with apartments!!! (Robinson Township: apartment complexes, leasing)

[Victorio]

Hello Everyone,

I'm transferring to Pittsburgh from Oklahoma City for a long-term assignment and I'm having a hard time coming up with a list of possible apartments to consider. My job will be in Robinson Township and i'm looking for a place midway between downtown and Robinson Township. This will help me stay as close as possible to downtown Pitt and still avoid the dreaded fort pitt tunnel rush hour traffic. Any helpful suggestions are welcome cos all the posts i read on apartment review forums on the internet are horrible . I'm looking at renting a 2 BR apartment and willing to pay up to $900/Mo in rent.

Also, why is it very difficult to find 2BR/2BA apartments in Pittsburgh?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[Blackbeauty212]

Look at Crafton, Carnegie, Scott and Robinson itself would be the best. The Burgh has a very tight rental market, something like 98% occupied.

[Rodeno]

There is a great site called padmapper.com that shows your rentals on a google map, and when you click on the tabs it will show you info on the apartment through craigslist and also uses walkscore.com to show you what is within walking distance to the property. I found my place on there...

[Victorio]

Blackbeauty212 and Rodeno, thanks for your helpful insights. Really appreciate

[MFFLinPA]

Victorio, I feel your pain. I was born and raised here in Pgh. and came back last year after living elsewhere for more than 30 years, most recently in Dallas. Unless you can find a condo/townhome/apt. built within the last 10-15 years, finding a 2/2 is almost impossible. Most of the buildings around here are older than that when people didn't mind sharing a bathroom. You will also find it difficult to find central air and I know that is what you are used to. It is becoming more prevalent here but that also means the rent is MUCH higher.

One thing, though, you should be careful of renting from Lobos Management. There is a website out there chronicling the horrors of tenants. Sad, too, because they seem to have some really nice places with reasonable rent. I'm a little leery of renting from them.

I too have been looking for something affordable that offers a 2/2 for my daughter and myself. You just have to keep looking. Craigslist was at one time a really good resource but it is being overtaken by the Nigerian scammers. That said, you can try them but be careful. If it seems to good to be true, it is.

[Burghgirl17]

Look at the Waterford Nevillewood apartment complex. The address is technically in Presto. However, it is very close to the Carnegie exit off 279 and you'd be very much in the middle between downtown and Robinson.

[Victorio]

Thanks Burghgirl17! I called the leasing office a couple of weeks ago and they've got 100% occupancy through July. It's generally the same story with most of the better apartment complexes in the Burgh!

[Victorio]

@ MFFLinPA, yeah the negative reviews on Lobos Management properties are just overwhelming...it's one thing to have mixed reviews but heavily negative reviews are definite warning signs!

I agree with you on the the difficulty in finding 2/2 units in the Burgh. There are very few new rental properties due to the relatively favorable housing market. It's a tough one cos i'll love to rent for a while before buying. I always like the idea of a 2nd bathroom so my wife and I (and our 4 month old) don't go through the inconvenience of sharing with visiting family and friends.

For craigslist, I only do face-to-face business on there....i know too well how many guys have been burned by those sick scammers. I'll keep searching and probably get a rental agent if it becomes absolutely necessary.

[BrianTH]

You may well end up with more bedrooms than you need in order to get two bathrooms (the question is at what price and where).