First time STR Investor in Pittsburgh, PA -- Need advice!

[Alison Pidgeon]

Hello! I read through some posts, but didn't find anything recent related to what's happening in the Pittsburgh, PA market in terms of short term rentals and investing. I am looking to buy a property for a short term rental, but also to use when I travel to the area for work. My office is in Oakland, but I am open to renting anywhere "the numbers work." I am looking at: Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Downtown, Southside, Mt. Washington, the Strip District and Oakland. Are these good areas for STR? Are there any areas you would recommend I look at that I did not list? I am familiar with commercial investing so this would be my first residential/STR investment and I want to make sure I am choosing the right location and/or potentially filling a niche that is not common in that area. Any other advice you have about the Pittsburgh market would be helpful!

[Patrick O'Shea]

Alison, I have a 6 unit building in Southside and I rent two of them right now as mid-term rentals to traveling nurses on Airbnb. They are booked out 6 months solid with all the healthcare facilities in the area. I'm earning twice the LTR rate and I plan to move other units to this model as leases expire. I know your talking about STR, but this model avoids the tax on rentals less than 30 days and I find management pretty easy with less turnover. I've been doing this for 6 months.