You can only afford an apartment in a high crime area in this huge metropolis?

I've got a great high end rehabbed in historic Jefferson Chalmers near the canals.

Research MorningSide,Jefferson/Chalmers,East English Village.  

Jefferson/ Chalmers 3.

Good old Wikipedia, says 50% of the HR economy is connected to DOD and another 30% to other "federal sources", like NASA, Jefferson Labs, Veterans Affairs, etc.

Had a chance to manage a project a couple years ago in the Jefferson heights area.

On the North Side along 90/94 I would look at Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Albany Park/Mayfair.

The top school districts were UPPER ARLINGTON CSD, LOGAN HOCKING LSD 37, GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS CS, DUBLIN CSD 2513 FRA, HILLIARD CSD 2510 FR, COLUMBUS CSD 2503 FR, WESTERVILLE CSD 2514, GAHANNA JEFFERSON CS, OLENTANGY LSD 2104 D, BUCKEYE VALLEY LSD 2, BIG WALNUT LSD 2101, JONATHAN ALDER LSD 4 (direct export names for the school districts from our multiple listing service) 

Seeing your point, and knowing the difference, I would think you want to check out some of the more aggressive lenders in town like Jefferson Bank, or Frost (Although Frost not so much).  

Renovation question**NEW IN TOWN**Do Pittsburgh Pennsylvania have special renovation codes from your experience that are worth learning about the metropolis or suburbs?