Anyone from LA? Need advice...

**Ocean Machine** · 09-18-2009, 07:38 AM

In the next six months, I'll be moving to LA for grad school, and I'm starting to think about where to live.

I'll be transferring within my company, and the locations I'll be mostly likely to find a job are (in order): Woodland Hills, El Segundo/Redondo Beach/Manhattan Beach, Century City, and Carson. I'll be going to school at one of these three schools (again, in order of likelihood): USC, UCLA, LMU, or UC Irvine. The only other consideration is that my gf will be living in Pasadena and I'd like to be able to visit a few nights a week.

Really preliminarily, I was thinking downtown would be a good place considering I won't know where I'll be going to school likely until I'm in the middle of moving. I was thinking a one-bedroom condo in a high rise, although I don't know how much those go for. I'll have about $60K to put down towards a down payment.

Any advice from those who know the area well?

**JTG1984** · 09-18-2009, 08:52 AM

Yeah my advice is that I hope you have a good job because downtown L.A. is not cheap. My ex gf was paying almost 3000 to rent a two bedroom apt. in downtown. I know UC Irvine is on the bottom of your list but if you do end up going there its going to be a drive. I dont know about LMU but I guess if your going to any of the other schools it would be a decent spot.

**TigerL** · 09-18-2009, 08:38 PM

LA's pretty spread out with the freeways, suburbs, and all. I lived in West LA a for a few years around 2000. West LA is where UCLA, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills is located. It's a nice area that doesn't get too hot. Not cheap. I paid $1000/ month for a studio but this was more than 5 yrs. ago.

Get a map of LA and take a look to get an idea of distance. Know that traffic can make a big difference in the drive and there are lots of cars in LA with the "rush hour" lasting several hours. Public transport not good.

UCLA, Century City are close to one another.

Woodland Hills is in the Valley.

USC is close to downtown LA.

UC Irvine is about 45 mins - 1hr. drive on the freeway from the Westside in Orange County.

Pasadena, a nice area, can also be about an 1 hr. from the Westside.

Downtown area being revitalized when I left. When I was there, downtown LA not particularly known for being a happening place post-work hours.

**knght990** · 09-18-2009, 08:57 PM

I lived in Westwood in the UCLA apartment housing. I remember it being pretty good, was within walking distance of classes and had parking in the building, but i had 3 school assigned roommates. I liked UCLA but I absolutely hated living in L.A.

**Ocean Machine** · 09-20-2009, 05:33 AM

It sounds like living near school or work would be prohibitively expense, which I expected. Is downtown less expensive? My rent budget would probably be about $1K a month, but I'll probably look at buying if I get a relo package. I'm not really interested in having roommates. Can you find condos downtown for like $250K?

**JTG1984** · 09-20-2009, 10:12 AM

	Originally Posted by Ocean Machine To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It sounds like living near school or work would be prohibitively expense, which I expected. Is downtown less expensive? My rent budget would probably be about $1K a month, but I'll probably look at buying if I get a relo package. I'm not really interested in having roommates. Can you find condos downtown for like $250K?

If my first response wasnt clear enough, the answer is NO.

**rara avis** · 09-20-2009, 10:53 AM

I know little about LA- but
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
is a great website if you're cruising real estate in an area. They tie in a lot of good info (maps, neighborhood info) to the page with each property's listing.

**Hamburglar** · 09-20-2009, 12:25 PM

	Originally Posted by Ocean Machine To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It sounds like living near school or work would be prohibitively expense, which I expected. Is downtown less expensive? My rent budget would probably be about $1K a month, but I'll probably look at buying if I get a relo package. I'm not really interested in having roommates. Can you find condos downtown for like $250K?

I think you might be very happy in Sherman Oaks with that budget. FYI Sherman oaks is at the 405/101 interchange...Very convenient for commuting.

**Causa Mortis** · 09-20-2009, 03:22 PM

	Originally Posted by Ocean Machine To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It sounds like living near school or work would be prohibitively expense, which I expected. Is downtown less expensive? My rent budget would probably be about $1K a month, but I'll probably look at buying if I get a relo package. I'm not really interested in having roommates. Can you find condos downtown for like $250K?

Not even close. Entry to something decent is probably 400.

09-18-2009, 07:38 AM	#1
Ocean Machine New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 32	In the next six months, I'll be moving to LA for grad school, and I'm starting to think about where to live. I'll be transferring within my company, and the locations I'll be mostly likely to find a job are (in order): Woodland Hills, El Segundo/Redondo Beach/Manhattan Beach, Century City, and Carson. I'll be going to school at one of these three schools (again, in order of likelihood): USC, UCLA, LMU, or UC Irvine. The only other consideration is that my gf will be living in Pasadena and I'd like to be able to visit a few nights a week. Really preliminarily, I was thinking downtown would be a good place considering I won't know where I'll be going to school likely until I'm in the middle of moving. I was thinking a one-bedroom condo in a high rise, although I don't know how much those go for. I'll have about $60K to put down towards a down payment. Any advice from those who know the area well?
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09-18-2009, 08:52 AM	#2
JTG1984 Member [49%] MBTI: ISTJ Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,982	Yeah my advice is that I hope you have a good job because downtown L.A. is not cheap. My ex gf was paying almost 3000 to rent a two bedroom apt. in downtown. I know UC Irvine is on the bottom of your list but if you do end up going there its going to be a drive. I dont know about LMU but I guess if your going to any of the other schools it would be a decent spot.
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09-18-2009, 08:38 PM	#3
TigerL Member [24%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 986	LA's pretty spread out with the freeways, suburbs, and all. I lived in West LA a for a few years around 2000. West LA is where UCLA, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills is located. It's a nice area that doesn't get too hot. Not cheap. I paid $1000/ month for a studio but this was more than 5 yrs. ago. Get a map of LA and take a look to get an idea of distance. Know that traffic can make a big difference in the drive and there are lots of cars in LA with the "rush hour" lasting several hours. Public transport not good. UCLA, Century City are close to one another. Woodland Hills is in the Valley. USC is close to downtown LA. UC Irvine is about 45 mins - 1hr. drive on the freeway from the Westside in Orange County. Pasadena, a nice area, can also be about an 1 hr. from the Westside. Downtown area being revitalized when I left. When I was there, downtown LA not particularly known for being a happening place post-work hours.
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09-18-2009, 08:57 PM	#4
knght990 New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 56	I lived in Westwood in the UCLA apartment housing. I remember it being pretty good, was within walking distance of classes and had parking in the building, but i had 3 school assigned roommates. I liked UCLA but I absolutely hated living in L.A.
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09-20-2009, 05:33 AM	#5
Ocean Machine New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 32	It sounds like living near school or work would be prohibitively expense, which I expected. Is downtown less expensive? My rent budget would probably be about $1K a month, but I'll probably look at buying if I get a relo package. I'm not really interested in having roommates. Can you find condos downtown for like $250K?
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09-20-2009, 10:53 AM	#7
rara avis Core Member [163%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,521	I know little about LA- but To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. is a great website if you're cruising real estate in an area. They tie in a lot of good info (maps, neighborhood info) to the page with each property's listing.
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