Recently moved from Canada so I don’t have any credit or verifiable income, but can put a good down payment down (40k) cash or so.

@Raphael TurnerVirginia Credit UnionVirginia Credit Union League has a list of over 190 members.

When I saw the landlord on September 19th, I showed him traps with roaches in them, empty cabinets in the kitchen and our dining/storage room and told him that we wanted to seek a rental credit for Sept & Oct given the house's lack of habitability. 

You will most likely be credited for what you paid in one state on the other state's tax return.  

With taxes in mind, do you feel the same applies to the ancillary townships just outside of the Pittsburgh city limits (i.e., Ross Township, Avalon, etc.)? 

Go to the search bar and look for "application screening" or "tenant screening" and you'll get enough to make your head spin.Generally, you want them to have a recent Landlord reference, make 3x the rent, and have a decent credit score.

The mechanism for avoiding double taxation in these circumstances is usually a tax credit for taxes paid to another state.

In case utilities are included, would it be substracted from the rental income when applying for a mortgage ?

So they ask for checks and credit card to their company.

I have excellent credit and will put 40% down. thanks in advance for any advice.