I haven't rented for a while, but I do have answers to a few of your questions:

- Most leases I've signed in the past have been about 3ish months out from when the rental period begins. It could be more, it could be less- just depends on the situation. I once signed a lease less than a week before I moved in, but typically landlords will start showing a property approximately 3 months before their tenant moves out.

- I've never heard of anyone using an apartment realtor, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

- My *biggest* tip here is to avoid the newer construction apartment/"luxury" apartment complexes. If you're moving from a high COL area (say, the Bay Area or NYC), those might seem like decent prices, but in reality they are often more than twice as expensive as a totally nice apartment in an older building. For example- I rented a fairly nice 2 bedroom apartment in Highland Park a few years ago for $975/month. I've seen those new/"luxury" apartments charge $1700+ for a studio apartment. And I keep putting "luxury" in quotes, because those places don't seem like they're very well built or particularly luxurious at all- they just look "new". I've heard rent has gone up a lot in the past couple years, but I assure you that it's not dire enough to consider a $1700 studio apartment a "great deal".

Apartment brokers/realtors aren't a thing here.

Since you're moving for grad school at CMU, I'd recommend looking at Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Homewood, Point Breeze, Shadyside, and the Regent Square area (it's a mix of Swissvale, Wilkinsburg and Edgewood). If you don't have a car, these neighborhoods have bus lines that right by CMU or within a block in these neighborhoods. Even if you have a car, parking at CMU can be expensive so it may be worth it to plan on bussing to/from campus.

August is a popular move-in month because of students coming in, vacancies start popping up now - June. Depending on how particular you are, what you look for in an apartment (must haves vs nice to haves), you can start looking now.

Seems like Beeler Street in Sq. Hill might be a good location for you.

Hey man, I'm relocating here soon too. I signed my lease two weeks ago for an updated 1br row house in Millvale, August 1 move in date. I used Zillow and my house is owned by a property group. Definitely start looking now, the good spots will get listed early and signed fast. I did this all remotely from Kansas City. There is also some property groups that are recommended to avoid by other redditors so pay attention to that. Good luck!

Damn, where've you lived that you had to sign a lease a year in advance? That is crazy.

Must consider Shadyside. Contact Franklin West. They own a lot of older buildings in all price ranges. Also call sterling real estate. A friend recommends them. They have a couple big old buildings within walking distance of CMU.

On bikeability. Shadyside and Oakland are in a large relatively flat part of the city. CMU is also in the same flat part. Squirrel Hill is a hill climb or 2 depending where you live from campus. You will get used to biking the hills if you pick sq. Hill. Downtown, south side, north side, strip district and Lawrenceville are below CMU, so live there and you are biking up to CMU. Again doable, but you’ll be climbing.

I recommend looking in Facebook groups! That’s where I found my current and next apartment and signed leases.

To answer one of your questions - start looking now. My husband and I signed a lease for the place we rent now in mid-March ‘22 for August ‘22 move in. Places appear to be moving pretty quickly since August is usually student moving month and most people move in the warmer months. Good luck and welcome!

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Ok, so what part of the city is your job? And will you need to use public transit? Do you want to close to night life? Pittsburgh rental prices vary greatly on which neighborhood you choose.

Buy if you can