Help me find an apartment - WILL PAY REWARD (Pittsburgh: hardwood floors, apartments)

[Kate88]

Hello, Pittsburgh City Data members. I am calling upon your help and local expertise. (Long but please read - I'm desperate)

Some of you may remember a few weeks ago I posted about moving to Dormont. I found the perfect apartment in a great location. I put down a security deposit and was very excited to move. And then the landlord called me and said that the current tenant had in fact decided not to move out. So back to the drawing table.

I feel as though I have exhausted every resource I know. I’ve scoured Craigslist daily. I’ve posted housing wanted ads on Craigslist. I’ve driven around looking for “For Rent” signs. I’ve looked on community bulletin boards. Nothing. So this is where you come in. My apartment has got to be out there – so I’m going to list what I’m looking for and hopefully one of you has a friend who owns a small apartment building, or knows someone who is planning to move, and can PM me the details. To sweeten the deal, I promise $200 to the person who refers me to the place I end up taking (AFTER I move in – I’ve already been burned once). Also maybe a beer to celebrate.

So, here’s what I'm looking for:

MUST HAVE
Less than 10 minutes walking distance to: Dormont Junction, Potomac Avenue, or Stevenson T stops
Reputable management (aka, no Lobos Management or the like)
True 1 bedroom – no studios
Max price of $700 / month + utilities
Move in date of 7/1 or earlier (the earlier the better, but I can go as far out as 7/1)

Would prefer to have
All hardwood floors
Additional space (sunroom / dining room / second bedroom / office / etc)
Small prewar classic apartment building (6-12 units)
Good light
Laundry in the building

Would be nice to have, but not high importance
Pet friendly (I don’t have any now but may like to consider it down the road)
Located on 1st or 2nd floor

And – go!

[LIRefugee]

Does it have to be those three specific T stops or could it be any stop on that line? Your conditions strike me as being very, very strict, thereby reducing the probability you'd find anything to your liking. If you just have to be near the T, so long as the area is Dormont-like, that would open up a lot more territory.

Sorry to hear about the aborted move-in. Frankly, it seems a little shady that the landlord would accept a security deposit and at the same time allow the current tenant to stay.

[TheYO]

Just sent you a PM

[Kate88]

@TheYO - thanks! I'm at work now but will check them out ASAP.

@LIRefugee - are there other Dormont like communities along the T? Not being snarky, genuinely curious. I don't know of any other neighborhoods as active / walkable along the T but if they're out there I'd be open to it! I know I have high expectations - my apartment that fell through was just so perfect and had everything on my list. The landlord paid me back my deposit but it's still a frustrating situation. The current tenant was in the process of buying a home but her deal fell through, so unfortunate all around. I'm still holding out hope I can find something comparable!

[Hopes]

CD members help without rewards. lol

I hope whatever TheYo found works for you because your distance requirement to 3 T stops is what makes your search impossible. There are many apartments that meet your criteria located in other parts of the metro that aren't anywhere near the T.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Kate88

@LIRefugee - are there other Dormont like communities along the T? Not being snarky, genuinely curious. I don't know of any other neighborhoods as active / walkable along the T but if they're out there I'd be open to it!

Not along the T, but there are active communities with apartments that meet your criteria that are nowhere near the T. The T requirement, especially walking distance to the T, is the biggest problem with your search. If the T is your most important criteria, you will need to give up something else---like hardwood floors, etc.

[LIRefugee]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Not along the T, but there are active communities with apartments that meet your criteria that are nowhere near the T. The T requirement, especially walking distance to the T, is the biggest problem with your search. If the T is your most important criteria, you will need to give up something else---like hardwood floors, etc.

While I agree with this in terms of restrictions, I was thinking of Mt Lebanon as being another walkable community with ample T access, though the under-$700 provision becomes much more difficult there. Beechview could also work, though it has nowhere near the activity level of Dormont or Mt Lebanon and I do not believe it has many apartment buildings, if any. You may also have to stretch what you mean by being in walking distance of the T. Most of all, I agree that you will likely have to budge on one or more criteria, unless TheYO got something for you.

[TheYO]

BTW, I used PadMapper.com to find the places I sent you. It's a great site that puts listings from Craigslist and other sources on a map. You can filter by price, number of bedrooms, allows pets, etc. I used it to find my own places here as well.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by TheYO

BTW, I used PadMapper.com to find the places I sent you. It's a great site that puts listings from Craigslist and other sources on a map. You can filter by price, number of bedrooms, allows pets, etc. I used it to find my own places here as well.

That's a great site!

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

Beechview could also work, though it has nowhere near the activity level of Dormont or Mt Lebanon and I do not believe it has many apartment buildings, if any. You may also have to stretch what you mean by being in walking distance of the T. Most of all, I agree that you will likely have to budge on one or more criteria, unless TheYO got something for you.

Beechview would be a good option. Very close to Dormont and there are some apartments on the T very similar in appearance to Dormont. I would look along Broadway and see what is out there. The apartments seem to rent out quickly and with the OP's set of requirements, best of luck finding something.