Finding and securing a place of residence in Pittsburgh can be a challenging experience. The goal of this web-site is to provide you with some general information regarding the local housing market, hotels, motels and private short-term accommodations, property management companies and real estate agencies that offer long-term rental units.
Beginning Your Search
Prior to your arrival in Pittsburgh, it is best to begin by familiarizing yourself with the local neighborhoods. Descriptions and average rental rates are included in the neighborhood section.
This map of Pittsburgh gives you a feel for its layout and the transportation requirements necessary for any given location. The Carnegie Mellon Bookstore is also a convenient place to pick up a map of the local area.
If you are interested in finding a roommate, the roommate matching registry can be a valuable resource.
You can begin your search for housing by looking through our community housing listings. It is important to note however, that these units are not inspected, approved nor warranted in any way by Carnegie Mellon or Housing Services.
Temporary Accommodations
If you do not have a place to stay when you arrive in Pittsburgh, there are a number of options available to you. During the summer only, Carnegie Mellon rents a limited number of rooms for up to one week. To make a room reservation in advance, call Conference Services at 412-268-1125 or e-mail confserv@andrew.cmu.edu. There are also hotels, motels and private accommodations in the immediate area.
Finding Your Home*
Housing Services provides information on the local neighborhoods, crime statistics, real estate and property management agencies, and transportation and shuttle service. Once you have identified the type of housing you are interested in, as well as the area, use the campus housing listings to find vacancies. Begin calling and making appointments to see various units.
Outside sources of information that may prove helpful in your search include two local publications. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette typically has a number of apartments and houses listed for rent with the Sunday edition being the most comprehensive. The Guide to Living in Pittsburgh is a publication by students in the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science. It can be purchased at the Carnegie Mellon Bookstore.
* We in Housing Services believe strongly in the caveat "RENTER BEWARE." While Pittsburgh is a friendly city and most individuals will go out of their way to give you assistance, there are some who may try to take advantage of a student new to the area. In order to ensure that you are going to be satisfied with your living environment and you get what you pay for, DO NOT RENT A SPACE OR A UNIT WITHOUT FIRST INSPECTING IT. An apartment or house may sound as if it meets your desires perfectly on the phone, but it takes an on-site inspection to be sure it's in an area you feel comfortable with, is of adequate size and does not display any serious maintenance issues.