Another moving to Pitt! (Liberty, Bloomfield: apartment, rental, neighborhood)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by newpgher

Is T to bus transfer really that much of a pain? It's sounding like a real hassle- more than I had expected it would be.

Riding to the T for a commute to Oakland isn't any easier than riding a bus for a commute to Oakland if a transfer is required for your bus route. We're not saying that it's a huge pain. We're saying that it's not any easier than riding the bus because both require transfers downtown to get to Oakland from most suburbs. You have to look for bus routes that go directly through oakland to avoid a transfer.

Originally Posted by newpgher

Not being from the area, I was under the impression that living along the T would give me more potential housing options,

I think the T criteria is limiting your housing options. Since riding the bus won't cost you any more money, you have more housing options if you give up the T criteria.

Originally Posted by newpgher

But if driving and finding parking are easier and cheaper than the T and buses, I guess I need to reconsider.

For you it won't be easier and cheaper. Oakland has limited parking compared to downtown. You might run into problems finding a parking space depending on what time you start work. And you get to ride public transportation for free so there is no way that driving is cheaper for you. LOL

[Hopes]

There's a park-n-ride in Ross Township that goes directly to Oakland. The housing available in your price range that would make that convenient would be housing in Millvale and maybe Etna and Shaler. There's not much available in your price range. I pretty much listed off all of the safe areas. It doesn't get cheaper to move further out when you're looking to stay under 60k.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

The 93 also services Bloomfield and Oakland over the Bloomfield Bridge.

Nice. That's a new one, going from Lawrenceville to Oakland. They've needed a route like that for a long time. http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/apps/pdfs/93.pdf

[newpgher]

OK, I see what you all are saying about the T. Ok, T proximity not a requirement. Buses, though...

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Oh, I read about some places being prone to flooding. Was that Millvale or am I thinking of somewhere else?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by newpgher

Oh, I read about some places being prone to flooding. Was that Millvale or am I thinking of somewhere else?

Millvale is just one place. ANY place in a valley can flood. Just make sure you buy a house that is slightly up hill.

All of our valleys have creeks. Our flooding is caused from run off water, which all ends up in the valleys.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Hopes

There's a park-n-ride in Ross Township that goes directly to Oakland. The housing available in your price range that would make that convenient would be housing in Millvale and maybe Etna and Shaler. There's not much available in your price range. I pretty much listed off all of the safe areas. It doesn't get cheaper to move further out when you're looking to stay under 60k.

Pretty sure that route was killed in the cutbacks. Looks like the West Busway-Oakland was a victim of that as well. So everything's a transfer again from most places to get to Oakland, unless you're close enough or in the right parts of the East End.

[BrianTH]

Pittsburgh housing is still cheap overall, but sub-$60K houses in non-transitional neighborhoods with good public transit are not nearly as common as they used to be. In fact, they aren't nearly as common even in somewhat questionable neighborhoods as they used to be.

So I'd very strongly recommend renting for the initial period, then seeing whether in fact you end up staying and under what circumstances, then saving up to buy a place that really suits your long-term plan.

[Sideblinded]

2 years 60k budget. I would rent.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by newpgher

I'll be coming to Pittsburgh in a few months and am looking to buy.

Will be working at U Pitt for at least the next 2 years.

I'd like to spend less than $60k, if possible on a house in a quiet, safe neighborhood.

RENT!

Even if you find something you like in that price range, you'll lose money after only 2 years.

[newpgher]

Ok, well I've been looking at rentals for over a month, and Shadyside and Squirrel Hill seem like more than I'd like to pay. I had been focusing my looking there because those neighborhoods were recommended to me. Sounds like I should venture out. Bloomfield/Lawrenceville/Greenfield? Any other recommendations? I do have a car, but I'd like to have to drive as little as possible.

Based on what I've read elsewhere and on Landorslum.com: The landlord rating website , not many of the landlords in the city come well recommended.