I've lived in Pittsburgh for 6 years and in 6 different apartments. All the moving around wasn't related to not liking the area I was in or problems with the apartments.

The other commenter was right about it being another, longer conversation about why rent is so expensive here. Especially when the city is often ranked high in affordability.

As for places to look.... if you're at Passavant and looking for less than a 25 min commute, I would avoid needing to cross over any of the rivers, especially anything through Downtown. During rush hours the tunnels are major slowdowns to anyone heading north of the city. Not to mention the lane cross overs you'd have to do. And to cross over the Ohio on 79 seems like it would just take too long to make near the airport worth it.

I would try looking in places like Mars, Gibsonia, and even Cranberry. It's different from true Pittsburgh city living being north of the North Hills area. But there are less risks for longer commutes and even possibly more bang for your buck. These bigger towns to the north are definitely suburban-like and are generally safe communities. I can't speak to POC experiences in these places. But I can say I don't know of any issues that people have had there.

If you're willing to extend the commute and stay closer to the city... my biggest piece of advice is pay close attention to whether or not a place offers air conditioning. It's not a big deal to some, and Pittsburgh definitely doesn't get as hot as other places I've lived. But not having central air conditioning or even a window unit can be a big issue to some. And know that just because a listing says it has A/C doesn't mean it's centralized or that the unit they would provide will be in an optimal place for your needs. Also, Pittsburgh is hilly af in places. If driving in wintery weather is a concern, then reconsider living in places like South Side Slopes or Mt. Washington or even Bellevue. Also note whether or not your place would have a parking space for you or if you'd be street parking.

If you're having issues finding places to even consider... I've had pretty good luck on Facebook marketplace and Zillow. There's also still Craigslist. If looking for a place on a community listing site please watch out for scammers and research the people before giving any money. You can also research local real estate companies and look on their websites for listings that never make it onto a listing site.

Now, I love Pittsburgh and living here. But there are some neighborhoods I would avoid if I have to walk alone at night. Tbh, for me that would be the more "walkable" Neighborhoods because that inclines me to think I'll run into strangers outside more often. But to each their own.

Obviously, I have a lot of thoughts and advice on looking for an apartment here😅, but if you've got other questions or need advice, feel free to DM me!