Real Estate Investing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (15218)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Allegheny County • Population: 13,443 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15218 (Pittsburgh, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Pittsburgh, PA (15218)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $213,647
Avg Monthly Rent $1,289
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,818
% Renters 44.0%

Market Analysis: 15218 Pittsburgh

ZIP 15218 in Pittsburgh, PA carries a durable set of headwinds. Home values near $214K and rents of $1,289/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 15218 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $214K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 15218 and stronger Pittsburgh ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 15218 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Pittsburgh averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 15218 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Pittsburgh:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,289/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
42 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Pittsburgh, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 15218

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$70,705/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $106,734 $1,100 7.4% +5.7% $106,734
2BR $141,410 $1,330 6.8% +6.6% $70,705
3BR $219,124 $1,700 5.6% +4.8% $73,041
4BR $335,244 $1,830 3.9% +5.2% $83,811
5BR $401,817 +5.1% $80,363

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$228K$199K$169K$140K$110K$81KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,313$1,243$1,172$1,101$1,030$960Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15218 Compare?

Metric 15218 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $213,647 $139,617 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 1.8% 2.0% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,289 $1,523 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15218? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 44% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 15218 (Pittsburgh, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Allegheny County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Real Property Management Keystone offers property management services in Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas. summary from their website

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Real Property Management Pittsburgh is a property management company in Pittsburgh, PA. summary from their website

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Real Property Management Three Rivers is a property management company in Pittsburgh, PA. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.8%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Pittsburgh, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
48%
Days Pending
1/2
42 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $213,647
Monthly Rent $1,289
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.8%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15218

Population: 13,443

💰 Median Household Income
$64,818
This area
$64,818
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.0%
This area
44.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.5%
This area
52.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.7%
Black/African American 21.6%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Asian 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 15218

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$31,932 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Dickson Prep STEAM Academy

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$34,966 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Edgewood El STEAM Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$34,966 Per Student
A Very Good

Environmental CS at Frick Park

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,029 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$25,865 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Faison K-5

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 7430 Tioga St, Pittsburgh
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Greenfield K-8

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 1 Alger St, Pittsburgh
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Minadeo K-5

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6502 Lilac St, Pittsburgh
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Westinghouse

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 1101 N. Murtland Avenue, Pittsburgh
👥
594 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Steel Valley SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3113 Main St, Munhall
👥
408 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$31,153 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 794 Off-Campus Students
C
Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology
52 students · 2.0 mi
C+
Chatham University
2,319 students · 2.6 mi
A
Carnegie Mellon University
15,596 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc
402 students · 3.3 mi
D
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
594 students · 3.4 mi
C
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
223 students · 3.5 mi
B+
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
34,525 students · 3.7 mi
C
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
145 students · 4.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 794 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA median home values land near $214K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,289/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Pittsburgh, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Pittsburgh, PA. Rents at $1,289/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Pittsburgh in PA worth investing in?

Pittsburgh, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $214K and rents near $1,289/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is it like being a landlord in Pittsburgh, PA?

The landlord environment in Pittsburgh, PA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Is the tenant base reliable in Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA offers a predictable renter base at the $1,289/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 15218 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15218 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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