Out-of-State Investor Newbie to the Pittsburgh

[Marky Suazo]

1. I'm an out-of state investor living in NYC. I'm currently in the market for a multi-family property in Pittsburgh. I'm looking at a few different neighborhoods and would like some insight into the pros and cons of each. I'd really like to avoid the rougher areas. Are any of these neighborhoods considered "bad" in terms of high turnover, crime, vacancies, etc. The areas I'm currently considering are:
2. 15235 Penn Hills
   
3. 15214 Observatory Hill
   
4. 15226 (BrookLine)
   

[Anthony Angotti]

Originally posted by @Marky Suazo:

1. I'm an out-of state investor living in NYC. I'm currently in the market for a multi-family property in Pittsburgh. I'm looking at a few different neighborhoods and would like some insight into the pros and cons of each. I'd really like to avoid the rougher areas. Are any of these neighborhoods considered "bad" in terms of high turnover, crime, vacancies, etc. The areas I'm currently considering are:
2. 15235 Penn Hills
   
3. 15214 Observatory Hill
   
4. 15226 (BrookLine)
   

Penn hills is huge and ranges from D class in some pockets to B- in others. 

Observatory hill is OK, but street by street a bit with regards to crime/tenant quality they attract. 

Brookline is largely B class though there are a few pockets that have a bit more crime. They are few and far between though. 

I could copy and paste these to most neighborhoods in Pittsburgh though because each neighborhood has more and less desirable pockets. It's a very street by street type city so to speak. However as I tell everyone. There are good tenants everywhere and bad tenants everywhere. It's all in your screening. The less valuable neighborhoods just require more time to find them typically. 

Regarding turnover there's demand for rentals throughout the city. So as long as you (or your PM) maintain good practices and pick properties that aren't weird and maintain them well/update them you won't have much of a vacancy problem.