Renting in Pittsburgh: South Side Apartments

A recent study just found that Pittsburgh has the most bars and pizza shops per capita of any city in the United States. A major contributor to this somewhat dubious distinction (well, at least to health-conscious teetotalers) is the South Side. Running alongside the Monongahela River, this flourishing entertainment district has become a magnet area for students and young professionals. South Side apartments are hot commodities that don't stay on the market long, as lifelong Pittsburghers and recent transplants continue to flock to this bustling area.

It’s not just the bars and nightlife that make the area attractive to the city’s younger residents. The South Side is just a drive (or walk, with the recent addition of a pedestrian area) over the awesomely named and arachnid-like Hot Metal Bridge to Oakland, where the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Carlow College are located. For Duquesne University and Point Park University students, with downtown campuses that are not conducive to student living, the South Side apartments are popular choices. The neighborhood is just a quick walk over the 10^th Street Bridge to downtown.

The South Side is made up of two areas — the Slopes and the Flats, which are exactly what they sound like. The Flats are on a grid and, with the exception of some inexplicable one-way streets, are easy to navigate. The Slopes, on the other hand, are not for the Pittsburgh neophytes or those with a fear of heights or who like their neighborhoods planned in a logical fashion. However, if you can manage the narrow roads, some truly great South Side apartments are available for affordable prices in the Slopes.

The South Side has seen major revitalization in the past decade. True, it was always vibrant — the streets were crowded with late-night revelers — but the area has become more diverse in its options. The South Side Works opened in the mid-2000s with shopping, dining, and a movie theater. It’s since expanded to include a wine bar, hotels, and a German beer hall. The South Side Riverfront Park is an even more recent addition to the area that offers a great view of the Mon and links to the river trail for jogging and biking.

If you only pass through the South Side every couple months, it may seem that it is constantly changing. There’s always something new. A new restaurant, a new store, a new coffee shop, and, of course, a new bar. The South Side is fun. It’s walkable. It’s vibrant.

One major trend in the area has been the renovation of older houses into multifamily properties. Most of the homes in the area are like others in Pittsburgh — old. The new demographics of the area are dictating a change. No longer do South Side residents require an entire house. Younger people without children are willing to live in smaller quarters. So, property managers and investors are renovating properties and turning them into high-end apartments in the trendy neighborhood. This style of South Side apartments started in the Flats and is moving up to the Slopes. 

Different Things to do in Pittsburgh over the Holidays

Staying in Pittsburgh next week? Maybe you’re a lifelong Steel City denizen, or maybe a recent transplant to the land of Yinz who will be spending Christmas in town. As a Pittsburgh property management company, we’d like to provide our tenants with some ideas of ways to spend this Christmas in da ‘Burgh.

Our eclectic city that’s becoming as notable for robots as it is zombies and Lombardi trophies has just as wide a range of activities this week. Some of them have the holiday spirit. Some do not. One thing’s for sure — there’s something for everyone (at least everyone who’s looking to have at least a little fun) in Pittsburgh next week.

The Rat Pack Christmas

Heinz Hall

December 24–29

It’s the holiday version of Live at the Sands. Celebrating the talent of the Rat Pack, performers will sing holiday tunes (like “Silent Night”) and classic numbers (like “The Lady is a Tramp”) as Sammy, Frank, and Dean.

Harlem Globetrotters

Consol Energy Center

December 26

On the day after Christmas, these classic basketball stuntmen are reprising a big hit from last year as they’re letting fans vote on new rules, including whether one team can challenge another to a “trick shot contest.”

Three Rivers Classic

Consol Energy Center

December 27–28

For those who like their sports with a bit more grit, there’s the second annual collegiate hockey tournament featuring local hockey force on the rise Robert Morris University. The Colonials will be up against Bowling Green, Penn State, and Boston College.

Winter Flower Show and Winter Light Garden

Phipps Conservatory    

The Oakland conservatory is showing a collection of luminous glass artwork, LED lights, and flowers. The display is set among such winter staples as “icicles” and illuminated trees.

The Irony City Holiday Reunion Comedy Spectacular and Benefit

Arcade Comedy Theater

December 21

Enjoy some holiday improvisation from this local comedy troupe that has been performing all over the city for the better part of a decade. It’s laughs for a good cause as proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

And, if you have any Pittsburgh property management needs, we're always in the holiday spirit at Nexus Real Estate!

Renting Apartments in Squirrel Hill

Site of arguably the longest-lasting pizza battle in the city (Mineo’s vs. Aiello’s), Squirrel Hill is a vibrant, eclectic area in Pittsburgh. It’s not only a battlefield for pizza enthusiasts, but a hub of ethnic food in the city. Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and India represent Asia. There’s also cuisine from Mexico, and Asian and Kosher groceries. Squirrel Hill apartments are snatched up quickly by students and families eager to have everything they need within walking distance.

The neighborhood is right off 376 with an entrance ramp on the corner of Forward and Murray Ave. It borders on Schenley and Frick Parks, which provide easy access to Oakland and Regent Square, respectively. Because of its direct (and abundant) bus route to Oakland, it’s a popular destination for Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, and Carlow students. It borders Point Breeze and Shadyside as well, and the South Side is just one inbound exit away on the parkway.

The major commerce of the area is on Forbes and Murray Avenues, both of which are on hills. Squirrel Hill is almost all residential apartments and houses outside of that. 

Shopping is another draw to Squirrel Hill. Several second-hand boutiques, including Avalon, line Forbes Ave. The area also features an abundance of ice cream and frozen yogurt joints that are open year-round. It’s home to the Manor Theater, an iconic independent cinema, and a Jewish Community Center that features a museum, gym, and pool. Squirrel Hill also boasts a bowling alley, an iconic record store, and a branch of the Carnegie Library to round out its attractions.

The neighborhood is one of those rare family-friendly areas in a major metropolitan area. It lacks the nightlife of some of the other Pittsburgh neighborhoods — like South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, and Lawrenceville. Its large Orthodox Jewish population makes Friday nights (the Sabbath) quiet instead of a raging party atmosphere. And because of its appeal to families, many of the houses in the neighborhood have remained single-family homes instead of being subdivided into rental units.

However, the area’s appeal to students has enabled some recent repositioning of older homes into apartments. A rarity in Pittsburgh, many Squirrel Hill apartments come in the form of large buildings as well as repositioned houses. Squirrel Hill is vibrant and constantly seeing new businesses, new trendy variations on classic ethnic cuisine, and new interesting coffee shops. It’s one of those rare neighborhoods that always thrives no matter which businesses are there at the time. It’s eclectic — even through changes. And it is a great neighborhood to rent. 

Why You Probably Need Property Management Software

With apps for this and that, most everything is at least semi-automated and accessible to just about everyone. Property managers have found this out as they’ve migrated their data and listings from Excel spreadsheets and manual uploads to external sites into a single property management software system. At Nexus Real Estate, we’ve found that streamlining our data into a single management system frees us up to do the things that directly enhance our tenants’ experiences in our properties.

Aside from the physical aspect of maintaining the properties — making repairs and renovations — and dealing directly with the tenants — showing the units, keeping our renters happy — much of day-to-day property management is administrative. Property management software enables us at Nexus Real Estate to perform all of these tasks in one place instead of being scattered in various programs and databases.

Finances: Keeping the books in order is one of the most essential tasks in running any business. Managing multiple properties compounds the intricacies of your finances. Different properties generate different income and may require different upkeep. Keeping them bundled together in one program enables you to get a complete picture of your finances.

Rent Payments: Online payments are the wave of the future and the present. They enable payers to automate monetary transfers while going paperless to save money on stamps and checks, as well as being environmentally conscious. With property management software, renters can pay online, which is convenient for them and for Nexus Real Estate. Even when dealing with traditional tenants who cling to check writing, property management offers an easy means of recording all transactions to settle any potential disputes over payment.

Maintenance: Property management software systems offer means by which tenants can request maintenance 24/7 and for landlords to respond to requests. It is also a way of keeping a record of requests and response time. Landlords and property managers can keep track of and mobilize maintenance professionals to respond in a timely fashion.

Listings: Imagine writing a listing only once and feeding it to all your advertising networks. Property management software offers an easy way to populate listing information into defined fields that can be uploaded to your website, Craig’s List, and other listing services. You can easily keep your listings current and allow prospective tenants to apply via a button on the description. Process application payments and run credit/background checks with the information sent.

Several property management software systems have mobile interfaces, so property management is literally at your fingertips wherever you are. And even if you only have one or two properties, a software system may still be a smart investment if only to make sure that you’re keeping your records up to date.

Systems like Buildium, Appfolio, Propertyware, and Total Management are endorsed by several online review sites. If you’re thinking about implementing a property management software system, it may be wise to read product descriptions and assessments from a thorough, objective source, like Reviews.com.

At Nexus Real Estate, we’ve found that property management software has made us more efficient in handling tenant concerns in a timely, responsive manner.