As New Rental Units Hit the Market, Rent Growth Slows in Pittsburgh

A new report from CBRE analyzing the Pittsburgh rental market lends evidence to the house of pro-supply arguments.

1 minute read

February 28, 2018, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Adaptive Reuse

Don O'Brien / Flickr

A large supply of new apartments have hit the market in Pittsburgh recently, and landlords of older rental housing stock are finding it harder to compete, responding by slowing rent increases and reinvesting in properties.

"In a report issued Monday, the CBRE real estate firm found Pittsburgh is in the midst of a supply surge, with about 4,600 units being built within the last three years — more than in the previous 15 years combined," reports Mark Belko. "Another 3,479 units are set to be completed in the next two years."

All those new rental units are slowing rent growth in the city, and could be helping balance the entire market to the benefit of renters. Belko quotes directly from the report: "Quite simply, rent growth slowed in 2017 due to increased supply. Rent corrections are to be expected in 2018, but this will help support a healthy long-term outlook for the urban multifamily market."

Belko also speaks with real estate companies and landlords that own the older housing stock in question to corroborate the report's findings.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

1 minute ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

One side of the image shows a Chicago bus stop without a bench, the second image shows the bus stop with a yellow and blue bench.

Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago

A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.

2 hours ago - Block Club Chicago

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.