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City of Pittsburgh

Investing in Central North Side

A Pittsburgh investor's snapshot of Central North Side — typical rents, rent-to-price, renovation values, and how the numbers pencil for rentals and flips.

Rental snapshot

Balanced
Rent-to-price0.66–0.77%/mo
Price / unit (2–4 unit)$200K–$270K/unit
1-BR rent$1,150–$1,400/mo
2-BR rent$1,550–$1,800/mo
3-BR rent$1,950–$2,200/mo

Flip / value-add snapshot

Premium
Renovated ARV$330-$545K
Typical buy range$163-$293K

Mexican War Streets area. ARV rising.

How Central North Side pencils

  • rents alone will not carry the debt at list — this is an appreciation or value-add play, not a cashflow one
  • there is a real spread between buy price and renovated value, so a value-add works when you buy right
  • entry prices sit near the top of the metro

Against the rest of the metro

140th
best rent-to-price of 192 submarkets
82%
of Pittsburgh submarkets are cheaper to buy into
1.92×
renovated value vs. typical buy price

What a typical Central North Side rental looks like

Purchase (midpoint of the range)$228,000
Rent (typical 2-bed)$1,675/mo
Down payment (25%)$57,000
Principal & interest (7%, 30yr)$1,138/mo
Taxes & insurance$418/mo
Vacancy & maintenance (7% + 10%)$285/mo
Estimated cashflow$-165/mo

-3.5% cash-on-cash on the down payment alone

Self-managed, before closing costs and rehab. Midpoints of the published ranges — a real property will differ, which is what the analysis on an actual address is for.

Want Central North Side deals as they come up?

I'll talk through the market, your buy box, and your goals — then send off-market and new Central North Side deals that fit.

If Central North Side works for you, look at these

Similar entry price, rent-to-price and renovated value.

Directional investment estimates showing where the numbers point — not an appraisal, and not a statement about any community or its residents. Always run real comps and rents on a specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.