Housing in Pittsburgh

[Sinner Saint]

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Hey Pitt folks, how did you find your housing in pitts?😍

 

[samsoonee]

there are a lot of apartments around pitt that you can find. There are a lot on Craig Street, Fifth, Bayard, and a lot in that general idea.

You can pick a day where you can visit Pitt and sign a contract.

Rent is cheap (for my double I pay 550$) and about 15 minutes walk from campus.

 

[RozhonDDS]

there are a lot of apartments around pitt that you can find. There are a lot on Craig Street, Fifth, Bayard, and a lot in that general idea.

You can pick a day where you can visit Pitt and sign a contract.

Rent is cheap (for my double I pay 550$) and about 15 minutes walk from campus.

they have any complexes? where you can rent or are they just like houses with differen't apartments? also which is the best place to live, north oakland? shady?

 

[Toothfairy86]

congrats to all of you who are going to pitt !! i'm applying for the 2008 cycle and pitt is in my top 2 choices, i was just wondering how your stats for pitt? and are you all in state or out of state?

 

[dentist2b7007]

yes please someone help!!!! where do most of the students live and do they live by themselves or with other people. thanks!!!

 

[jorUW]

when i vistited, they said a lot of the students live in shadyside, especially if they were married, older, etc... Also they are building that new apartment complex right across the street from the dental school which i believe will be done by the time any new students matriculate. From what I remember, Oakland is a more expensive part of town. So if you're looking to buy something than you head a little further away from campus (Shadyside).

Post thjs ? in the dental forum and you might get more responce from current students.

 

[samsoonee]

I feel like the prices of apartments are all similar.

I live in Oakland right now (10 mins from Pitt) and I pay $550 for 2 bedrooms in an apartment.

Shadyside is the more "better" part of town with more houses around than offices buildings. However, it is further from campus, and I don't think that the price difference is that significant.

Basically, you can live anywhere in Pittsburgh because the bus system is great. You can ride basically any bus that comes by every 5-10 minutes and get to where you want to go (it is free for undergrads, but I'm sure it also applies to grad).

Most people live in apartments in Oakland (there are a cluster of apartments with close proximity to restaurants and stores) because it is close and cheap. You can get a studio, one bed, two bed. There are also houses, but they are harder to get because usually the owners of the house know other people (through connections) that want the house.

There are also new places in Waterfront or Southside, but much more expensive (think $800-$1000/month) and further away. However, the places are brand-spankin' new and really nice (with garages and near major shopping and stores).

 

[RozhonDDS]

I feel like the prices of apartments are all similar.

I live in Oakland right now (10 mins from Pitt) and I pay $550 for 2 bedrooms in an apartment.

Shadyside is the more "better" part of town with more houses around than offices buildings. However, it is further from campus, and I don't think that the price difference is that significant.

Basically, you can live anywhere in Pittsburgh because the bus system is great. You can ride basically any bus that comes by every 5-10 minutes and get to where you want to go (it is free for undergrads, but I'm sure it also applies to grad).

Most people live in apartments in Oakland (there are a cluster of apartments with close proximity to restaurants and stores) because it is close and cheap. You can get a studio, one bed, two bed. There are also houses, but they are harder to get because usually the owners of the house know other people (through connections) that want the house.

There are also new places in Waterfront or Southside, but much more expensive (think $800-$1000/month) and further away. However, the places are brand-spankin' new and really nice (with garages and near major shopping and stores).

What would you say is the closest town to the school? with apartments that are nice, I really don't care about cost at this point. shadyside i hear is nice, but i would like to be walking distance form the dental school

 

[samsoonee]

What would you say is the closest town to the school? with apartments that are nice, I really don't care about cost at this point. shadyside i hear is nice, but i would like to be walking distance form the dental school

Oakland is closest! 15 Minute walk.

 

[dentist2b7007]

any females on here going to pitt and if so are you going to be living by yourselves or with a roomate? as of now I don't really want to live by myself and i've heard from the d students oakland is not the best part of town. i'm thinking of living in shadyside. anyone else?? thanks!

 

[Sinner Saint]

Thank you very much for all the input.They're really helpful.I am thinking of getting a nice studio.It looks alike both shadyside and oakland are appropriate;so,lets go and see which one we'll like better.I can't wait🙂

 

[OMS2BBAD]

Word!!

 

[brown town]

Thank you very much for all the input.They're really helpful.I am thinking of getting a nice studio.It looks alike both shadyside and oakland are appropriate;so,lets go and see which one we'll like better.I can't wait🙂

Look into the apartment complex called "Camelot Apartments" it is about a 10-15 minute walk from the dental school. The apartments are very nice and they have different set ups for different people. It is managed by Mckinney Properties. I live here as an undergraduate and I love it. 👍

Also there is a place called "Webster Hall" which is a HUGE apartment complex as well. Again it is a 10-15 minute walk from the dental school. My friends live there and those apartments are also very nice.

Good luck finding a place, it definitely helps if you tell them you will be a graduate student (they like mature people).

 

[sublimegd]

I went to Pitt for undergrad, and lived in oakland for four years. Now i'm living in shadyside, working and taking a few classes post bacc. Oakland is cheaper than shadyside... i'm not sure why some people think the opposite. If your going to live in oakland, your only real choices are north or south oakland. Both have their ups and downs. In south oakland the houses/apartments are all practically on top of each other, and there are lots of undergrads partying constantly. The further you get from campus in south o, the nicer the apartments seem to get, but then your living amongst "low income" people, and its shady. North oakland... the apartments are nice, but its not really a comfortable walking distance, and again the neighborhood isn't very great. If you must live in oakland, make sure your a 5-10 minute walk from Fifth avenue. Also don't rent from anyone with the last name Eckenrode. Also stay away from OakHills (the apartments look very nice but your living in the projects) . Make sure you google your Landlord/company your renting from. there are some serious slumlords in oakland. If you have the extra money though, live in shadyside. The apartments are nicer, and its really only a 10-15 minute commute once you get the bus schedule down. If you don't mind a longer commute, squirrel hill is very nice. Also southside is kind of ghetto but has some nicer places.

 

[tanden]

$550 for rent? that's so cheap. are these apartments in a bad neighborhood or is housing just more affordable in pittsburgh?

 

[BioABC]

I think that in most cases, housing is just more affordable here than other major cities.

 

[OMS2BBAD]

Thanks!

 

[Pharmer2be]

I've lived in several places in the city to commute to Oakland for school/work. There are definitely different reasons to live in different neighborhoods, but most students live in places where they can commute easily by bus. Pitt students ride the city buses for free. Students usually live in South/North Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and increasingly in the South Side. I've lived in Oakland, but would not ever again live in one of these four neighborhoods primarily because of a lack of parking. Its expensive and hard to find, and even if you personally get a parking lease or a garage, people don't want to visit you if they can't park themselves.

I recommend grad students check out some nice neighborhoods that aren't much further away, still have convenient bus lines, remove you from the undergrad party/noisy neighborhoods, and have plenty of parking. Fortunately, cost is low pretty much everywhere. These neighborhoods fit in with the above: Greenfield, Highland park (mostly nice, but there are a few streets...), and Point Breeze. To drive to campus from Greenfield is <10 minutes, from Highland park is 15, and from Point Breeze is <10 minutes.

Homestead is unusual. There are apartments that are new and nice in the shopping district. The shopping district itself is not representative of homestead though. Once you cross the railroad tracks to leave the shopping center, it gets run down really quickly. I personally wouldn't want to live there because the bus takes 45 min or longer to get to Oakland, but I can see why someone else might like to live there.

Oh, and don't believe what you hear about Shadyside. It looks nice, and is mostly well behaved older college students, but I think its a destination for lowlifes to go and break into cars. If you live there for the whole time you are in school, you're car is going to be broken into at least once. Thats if you can find parking.

 

[sublimegd]

Oh, and don't believe what you hear about Shadyside. It looks nice, and is mostly well behaved older college students, but I think its a destination for lowlifes to go and break into cars. If you live there for the whole time you are in school, you're car is going to be broken into at least once. Thats if you can find parking.

I'm in shadyside right now, studying late at night... and now I'm scared. Where in shadyside were you? The other night I got home real late and was amazed by how barren it seemed, there was no one around for the whole stretch of fifth as far the eye could see, except some crazy guy who seemed to be talking to himself. Really creeped me out, I think he might have been trying to get my attention. And your right, parking is a pain in the adffdadfda. I am used to circling the block a few times by now though.

 

[BioABC]

Anybody here live in Mozart apartments? If so, do you like them? I am looking for an apartment for May that includes utilities!

 

[OMS2BBAD]

Homestead is unusual. There are apartments that are new and nice in the shopping district. The shopping district itself is not representative of homestead though. Once you cross the railroad tracks to leave the shopping center, it gets run down really quickly. I personally wouldn't want to live there because the bus takes 45 min or longer to get to Oakland, but I can see why someone else might like to live there.

Thanks

 

[BioABC]

Thanks Pharmer2be for your insights! Anyone else currently in Pittsburgh has any opinions on Homestead or the Waterfront experiences?

Particularily on commute time to campus and the "ghetto"ness if it is?

Not sure about commute, but I wouldn't want to be in Homestead at night. I know people who've been attacked in this area while driving through at night. I guess it could happen everywhere, but Homestead doesn't have the best reputation around here in my opinion. Waterfront is nice, but way overpriced!

 

[shantster]

Anybody here live in Mozart apartments? If so, do you like them? I am looking for an apartment for May that includes utilities!

I never looked at them because their ratings online weren't good.

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/PA-Pittsburgh-Mozart-Management.html

Anytime I was looking at somewhere new, I searched for them on google to see if a link would come up from apartmentratings.com or apartmentreviews.com.

I live in Shadyside and feel safe. I've noticed that unless you're on Walnut or Ellsworth you won't see people at night but I haven't had a problem. Where I live most of the buildings offer parking (mine is free) and so if you don't have parking it's extremely easy to find it and it's all non-permit. I would stay away from some parts of Centre, but again, it's really safe.

PM me if you want more details.

 

[Pharmer2be]

Regarding Shadyside, don't get me wrong. It is a nice area - mostly grad students or undergrads that want a step-up from south oakland. I've never felt unsafe there.

I feel like it is a target neighborhood for petty thieves looking for 20 second smash and grab car robbery for an ipod or whatever is in your glove box. In the past 2 years, I've personally known two people who have had windows broken, and about 4 years ago a friend of mine found his Mustang sitting on bricks with all four tires gone. And yeah, I guess thats not a lot, but I really haven't heard any stories from other places friends live.

 

[BioABC]

Regarding Shadyside, don't get me wrong. It is a nice area - mostly grad students or undergrads that want a step-up from south oakland. I've never felt unsafe there.

I feel like it is a target neighborhood for petty thieves looking for 20 second smash and grab car robbery for an ipod or whatever is in your glove box. In the past 2 years, I've personally known two people who have had windows broken, and about 4 years ago a friend of mine found his Mustang sitting on bricks with all four tires gone. And yeah, I guess thats not a lot, but I really haven't heard any stories from other places friends live.

It probably depends in what part of Shadyside your in also. My friend has lived less than two blocks from Chatham for 2.5 years and has no problem walking to her apartment at midnight after leaving the bubble. You mention cars alot in your post, and I personally think that can happen anywhere. As far as getting put in physical danger, that's more likely to happen in Homestead or Braddock, not Shadyside. I guess people will just have to pick or choose their battles, and you do make a good point for people with nice cars.

 

[Golddanboy]

Hey; I'm right now a 1st year at pitt and I live in Shadyside and think its a good choice for any entering 1st year.

I can't really talk much about oakland; which is also another good alternative but i can give a general idea of my living situation.

I don't have a car so I either take a bike (about 20 minute ride) or use one of the buses (about 30 -35 minutes including waiting for the bus). If anyone is wondering about the buses they can look at the port authority page: http://www.portauthority.org/paac/default.aspx
The school is about a 40 - 50 minute walk (2 - 2.5 miles) which I tend to do rather then going to the gym everyday.

The supermarket is about a 10-15 minute walk; I just load all my bags on my bike handle and walk with it. Theres a pretty wide variety of stores in shadyside; mostly restaurants and internet cafes (and thankfully a rite aid).

~550 sound about right for rent; theres certainly cheaper places but it suits me fine. Theres almost no traffic outside my apartment and the general area is pretty quiet. Also, a lot of other dental students live in the area and we tend to meet at the local bar when we have the time. We also get a handful of students from oakland but at least one gets stuck as a designated driver or they have to crash at someone place.

Ah well good luck with the admissions process to the pre-dents. Good to see people taking an interest in Pitt

 

[shantster]

~550 sound about right for rent; theres certainly cheaper places but it suits me fine. Theres almost no traffic outside my apartment and the general area is pretty quiet. Also, a lot of other dental students live in the area and we tend to meet at the local bar when we have the time. We also get a handful of students from oakland but at least one gets stuck as a designated driver or they have to crash at someone place.

I'm not sure about 550 for rent if you're doing a one bedroom. Splitting a two bedroom that seems right for shadyside, but not for a one bedroom. When I was looking the one bedrooms that I would want to live in were all 725 or up per month and differed in the utilities offered. It was only the shadier places, which I wasn't going to appointments with based on the pictures, that were in that range or less. Oakland or living further out (meaning less reliable if any public transportation) would be more doable for that price range.

 

[Golddanboy]

I'm not sure about 550 for rent if you're doing a one bedroom. Splitting a two bedroom that seems right for shadyside, but not for a one bedroom. When I was looking the one bedrooms that I would want to live in were all 725 or up per month and differed in the utilities offered. It was only the shadier places, which I wasn't going to appointments with based on the pictures, that were in that range or less. Oakland or living further out (meaning less reliable if any public transportation) would be more doable for that price range.

It could be ~725 for a single, I didn't really look to hard for single apts. I have a pretty nice double at 840 which covers all the utilities except electricity. Internet is 25 a month and I figured I would forgo Cable in a rather unsuccessful attempt to not slack off (I swear I'm reading biochemistry).

I take it you're a first year at the med school so I suppose I'll take the time to *shamelessly* mention a professional school mixer happening at 7:30 pm on Friday (11/16) at the Dental Frat. Supposedly all the Medical, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, and Dental students were invited. It should be a good opportunity to meet new people and find out what life is like on the other side of Terrace St.

 

[shantster]

It could be ~725 for a single, I didn't really look to hard for single apts. I have a pretty nice double at 840 which covers all the utilities except electricity. Internet is 25 a month and I figured I would forgo Cable in a rather unsuccessful attempt to not slack off (I swear I'm reading biochemistry).

I take it you're a first year at the med school so I suppose I'll take the time to *shamelessly* mention a professional school mixer happening at 7:30 pm on Friday (11/16) at the Dental Frat. Supposedly all the Medical, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, and Dental students were invited. It should be a good opportunity to meet new people and find out what life is like on the other side of Terrace St.

Yeah. I've heard about it. I might be there, but it's one of my friends' birthdays tomorrow and he seems like he wants to go elsewhere for it. I think there's about 30 people from my class planning on going.

 

[PittsburghAllie]

I don't know if any of you are still looking for housing... but I just bought/am building a brand new house in Squirrel Hill-really close to the UPMC hospitals!
It's a 2 bedroom so I'll be looking for someone to take the second bedroom from me (it's 14x10 and has it's own attached bathroom). The whole house is furnished with brand new furniture and you'd have a spot in the 2-car garage. You'd also get free access to the pool/gym in the neighborhood. If anyone's coming to pitt soon and needs a house, let me know!

 

[dantheman2007]

Anyone looking for roommates in pittsburgh?
looks like i'll be headed there this summer for dental school

 

[toothyanky]

you may want to consider buying too. Pittsburgh is a cheap, stable housing market.