You’re making the move to Los Angeles but you have no idea which neighborhood you should live in. Here are some tips that can get you into the right area.
- Move close to your job. As you may be aware, Los Angeles traffic is a HUGE obstacle in getting anywhere. What should be a 15 minute drive can easily turn into an hour commute, especially during rush hours when you’ll be trying to get to and from your job. If your job is on the west side, try to find a place that is west of the 405. Crossing under the 405 can take forever on its own, never mind the rest of your commute. Good west side neighborhoods to start in are West LA, Palms, Culver City, Santa Monica, and Venice.
- Are you looking to be near the beach? “Why would you move all the way out here and stop five miles short of the beach?” is what a Santa Monica bartender asked me once. It’s a good question. One reason would be you heeded the advice from tip 1 and decided that you don’t want to live in your car for two hours a day. Another solid reason is that prices definitely go up the closer you get to the ocean. That said, you didn’t leave Ohio to live in a sweaty downtown studio, did you? For the best prices close to the ocean, look in Santa Monica south of Pico, you could get lucky in Venice, maybe check out Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach. Go too far though, and you’ll be trapped on the 405 if you need to get into town.
- I want to live near celebrities: Well, you’re going to need to be at the same income level if you want to live up in the hills near celebrities. That said, you can increase your chances of running into celebrities by hanging around Montana Avenue in Santa Monica or hanging out at coffee shops and clubs in Hollywood and sometimes Silverlake.
- I’m moving with my family and I want a house: Well I will see you in the valley my friend. While it does seem that most people have kids and move up to the valley, budget permitting you can find plenty of other areas to get a house like Glendale, Silverlake (pricey), Burbank, or anywhere north or east of the Santa Monica mountains. Also check out Pasadena and South Pasadena.
- I’ll need to be near public transportation: Try to live near the still newish LA Metro if you can. It’s not quick, but it is comfortable for the most part. Depending on how far you’re going you could burn through some serious reading. Check out the Metro Rail and Busway map alongside your other interests to determine the best location for you.
- How do I find an apartment in Los Angeles: Most people start their search with Westside Rentals. Asking coworkers where they live and how their commute is can be very useful as well.
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