Can someone help me figure out how I could live in Pittsburgh? (Washington: rent, to live in)

[escilade18]

The parts of Swissvale that have always come across as sketchy to me would be the part near the bottom of the hill toward Rankin/Braddock. The area by Swisshelm Park has some BEAUTIFUL homes (some seem like they belong in Squirrel Hill.)

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by escilade18

The parts of Swissvale that have always come across as sketchy to me would be the part near the bottom of the hill toward Rankin/Braddock. The area by Swisshelm Park has some BEAUTIFUL homes (some seem like they belong in Squirrel Hill.)

Most of the decline in Swissvale has been in the section nearest Rankin, and is were the vast majority of the crime happens. Recent redevelopment efforts near the Swissvale/Rankin border are starting to bear fruit, as crime statistics show crime treading downward in ever category.

The housing stock in Swissvale is of high quality. The housing is little more modest than in some of the other East End neighborhoods, but does indeed have the same look and feel.

I think some of the streets and houses in Swissvale near the Swisshelm Park border look very similar to Regent Square.

Like these on Schoyer Ave.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Greatness120

My current situation is that I live in New Castle, PA (an hour north of Pittsburgh) with my parents. It is possible that I would get a job that is in the 15-17 dollar range or 30,000-35,000 range in a year depending on which company that hires me.



Thank You.

For the kind of scratch you'll be earning, you shouldn't have much problem finding a pad in the western or northwestern suburbs.


Bellevue, Emsworth, Kennedy, Crafton and Ingram are all safe areas, easily accessible to I-79 for a quick trip back home to New Castle and all have plenty of apartments inexpensive enough for you.

[fleetiebelle]

OP, would you consider living with a roommate or two? You'd save a lot of money by sharing expenses.

[Greatness120]

As far as roommates are concerned, I don't know if any of my friends would want to move to Pittsburgh. I also don't want to live with stranger in the same apartment. I would be open to the option but it would have to be with someone I know.

The 35,000 is not total take home money. That would be the total salary before taxes. I would also like to live somewhere close enough any T station or something like that so I wouldn't have to accumulate parking garage fees every day. If it's possible for me to live in the 500-700 range without utilities by a T station, that would be the most preferred for me.

I don't have to pay student loans yet because I'm a grad student. I'll be done in July 2013 with that program though. My current expenses living with parents are 75 for cell phone bill (contract expires next year), and 144 for car insurance. These are monthly payments.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Greatness120

The 35,000 is not total take home money. That would be the total salary before taxes. I would also like to live somewhere close enough any T station or something like that so I wouldn't have to accumulate parking garage fees every day. If it's possible for me to live in the 500-700 range without utilities by a T station, that would be the most preferred for me.

As odd as it sounds, the T isn't really very useful for actual residents of Pittsburgh - it's more a commuter line for the suburbs, most of which are probably out of your price range, and not what you're looking for regardless. It would be better to just look for an urban neighborhood along a major busline, with the East Busway generally speaking the one with the most utility.

[Greatness120]

Originally Posted by eschaton

As odd as it sounds, the T isn't really very useful for actual residents of Pittsburgh - it's more a commuter line for the suburbs, most of which are probably out of your price range, and not what you're looking for regardless. It would be better to just look for an urban neighborhood along a major busline, with the East Busway generally speaking the one with the most utility.

Yeah, I was thinking T or bus. Didn't know that the T is set up that way. I'm fine with bus too. I'd drive to work every day but if I could save some money by taking the bus then I would like that option.

[ferrarisnowday]

While roommates would certainly help the OP save money, by no means are they a necessity. As I said before, I grossed $29K/year before while living alone in Bloomfield, paying studnent loans, and even making car payments at that time. It was fairly comfortable financially, too. I wasn't banking huge sums of money, but it wasn't a struggle either.

[Stijl Council]

Just as a data point: I grossed about $35K my first year out of college and had zero problem living and accumulating savings with a rent of $750/month and no roommates. (I had a full-time job grossing 28K and made about another $6-8K through freelance work and a very part-time job as a pianist -- I lived off the FT income and saved a most of my PT income.) I had no debt, no student loans, no car payment. This was in Atlanta, but I think that amount of rent is very reasonable for someone who's not got a lot of extra expenses.

[Greatness120]

I have received some job offers today. One is for 16 an hour with a 6 month contract-to-hire, one is for 17 an hour for a strict 9 month contract. I might receive others as I'm making some calls today. Lets say I take one of those two positions, is that good enough to live in the areas that you guys told me about with some comfort like you guys mentioned? Would anything change based on what I told you before?