when (and where) to start looking for a place to live? (Pittsburgh: apartments, to rent)

[jenbmd]

Hi all,
I'm moving to Pittsburgh the first week in July to start a job at Magee. I'm hoping you can all help me with some apartment search suggestions. Specifically, I'd like to know when I should start looking for a place, what is the best way to find a place, and what neighborhoods you would recommend. It would probably help if I tell you about what I'm looking for:

I'm planning to move with my boyfriend, so we will be two 30 year olds, no pets. We probably want to rent, though might consider buying if the opportunity was really good. We would like to keep housing costs between around $1500-2000/month, since we are in that range living in DC now. We want at least one, but preferably more than one bedroom (for guests or in case our family grows). We'd love something renovated but with some character left in it.

It's really important to us that we can walk places, and in particular to a good grocery store. It doesn't need to be fancy, but we'd like it to have all the staples and not be dirty/scary. We came up to Pittsburgh for a weekend and looked at a bunch of grocery stores (this is really important to my boyfriend. I don't know what to tell you.) We'd rather have a decent giant eagle than an aldi or trader joes just because giant eagle seemed more comprehensive. My boyfriend LOVED the east end co-op though. It would also be nice to be able to walk to a gym, some good restaurants, and/or a park.

I'd like to have a short commute (<20 minutes if possible), and be in a safe neighborhood thats not too full of students/parties/noise (I'm too old for that!). Its a plus if its somewhere scenic (trees are good!).

People have suggested Shadyside and Squirrel Hill to me, because it seems like those are the go to neighborhoods people suggest to everyone around my age moving to Pittsburgh! So I'm wondering where ELSE you would recommend. I've been looking on Zillow/craigslist and it seems like there might be some other places that could be good like Highland Park, Point Breeze, Regent Square, Greenfield, or even places a little further away like the Mexican War Streets (but there didn't seem to be a grocery store near there?). I love the Mount Washington view, but people have told me it's hard to drive there in the winter. Thoughts?

Questions: is Zillow and Craigslist good or are there other sites/services I should be using? Are all of the good places going to be taken if I start looking in May or will the places for July not become available until June?

Thanks for your help! Looking forward to being your new neighbor!

[guy2073]

I hate the east end part of town with a passion, but reading your requirements it sounds like you are describing Shadyside to a t. You may also want to look into east liberty.

[I_Like_Spam]

The City View Apartment houses adjacent to Parkway Center seems to meet most of your requirements.

They have only been up there for a few years, there is Giant Eagle in Parkway Center and a couple of restaurants within the office park.


Close to Magee, particularly if you won't be commuting during rush hour through the Ft Pitt. Even during rush hour, you'd be joining the queue to get through the tunnels half way down Greentree hill.

You'll save money on wage tax at City View, its right on the other side of the city limits, wage tax in Green Tree borough is 1%, its 3% in the city.

[ThatUsernameIsTaken]

^ Just posting to point out that when I read the new topics and saw your name I first read it as I_Like_Sperm

[TheYO]

Shadyside and East Liberty are your two best bets. Nice variety of grocery stores in the area: Market District, Giant Eagle, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Food.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by guy2073

I hate the east end part of town with a passion, but reading your requirements it sounds like you are describing Shadyside to a t.

The East End is really great. A large and growing set of amenities, a very easy commute to Oakland, and a weird way it puts up the hair on the neck of some people for reasons I can't figure out. It's really even nicer than Omaha because in Omaha you really don't have much of a choice about driving everywhere.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

The East End is really great. A large and growing set of amenities, a very easy commute to Oakland, and a weird way it puts up the hair on the neck of some people for reasons I can't figure out. It's really even nicer than Omaha because in Omaha you really don't have much of a choice about driving everywhere.

I wish I could explain my hatred.

[jea6321]

Mt washington is not as bad as you were told in the winter. Honestly I have never found it to be any worse than most other neighborhoods. the 3 main access roads down the hill are always first to get attention by the city. Having lived there for several winters, I never once had a problem.

I actually may have a place that meets your criteria opening up right when you are moving here ( DM me if you want more details) but mt washington does not have a fancy grocery store. The shop and save is light years better than it used to be, but its no Co-op or market district.

other areas to consider are Point breeze, highland park, and regent sq. However only point breeze ( and not really all of it) is really within easy walking distance to a grocery store.

[fleetiebelle]

That new apartment building right across Forbes from Magee will theoretically be open by July: Expand your VUE of Pittsburgh Living | SkyVUE Apartments

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by guy2073

I wish I could explain my hatred.

Self-awareness is really overrated. Not joking about that.