Probably moving to LA, need housing advice
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Probably moving to LA, need housing advice
Hey everyone, strongly looking at moving to LA after I get out of law school. If do a get a job in LA, it'll almost certainly be downtown or maybe in Century City.
Trying to sell my wife on moving there... we visited last month and she liked Pasadena and some other places. I'm pretty familar with LA, but not that familar. We decided we'd either like to buy a decent condo/townhome somewhere relatively convenient to downtown like MDR, Pasadena, Venice or maybe downtown itself, or to try and buy a house somewhere less convenient, but it seems like all the houses have very little land. Is it possible to find a house that has a quarter acre of land that isn't super expensive? If so, where might I be living? The San Fernando Valley? Inland Empire? thx
Trying to sell my wife on moving there... we visited last month and she liked Pasadena and some other places. I'm pretty familar with LA, but not that familar. We decided we'd either like to buy a decent condo/townhome somewhere relatively convenient to downtown like MDR, Pasadena, Venice or maybe downtown itself, or to try and buy a house somewhere less convenient, but it seems like all the houses have very little land. Is it possible to find a house that has a quarter acre of land that isn't super expensive? If so, where might I be living? The San Fernando Valley? Inland Empire? thx
Last edited by Work; 02-25-2007 at 08:10 AM.
#2
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montray pok
Posts: 3,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are certain areas where you can get an unusually large lots of lands near Pasadena such as San Marino (2 million starting) , Rosemead, Eagle Rock, Altadena, Monrovia and glendora.
Venice is beautiful and great weather but the 405 commute sucks and they have old dilipitated homes since they don't really build any more or a glass fish tank like condo in Marina Del Rey. Traffic will be excruciating at times.
Century city is very much like Venice but the beach is a little further. Again traffic will suck to get to LA although it is the lighter way.
There are lots of places to live, but I would rent for a few months until you get a good feel of what environment you like.
Venice is beautiful and great weather but the 405 commute sucks and they have old dilipitated homes since they don't really build any more or a glass fish tank like condo in Marina Del Rey. Traffic will be excruciating at times.
Century city is very much like Venice but the beach is a little further. Again traffic will suck to get to LA although it is the lighter way.
There are lots of places to live, but I would rent for a few months until you get a good feel of what environment you like.
#3
Registered User
iTrader: (34)
I agree with Charlie. The best thing you can do is rent until you get a better feel for the cities and people that will be living in that area. Stay away from living in downtown. They have new apart developments directly in downtown that is aimed to attract the young and hip, but they dont mention the homeless and drugs just one block in any direction away from your apartment.
Land is not cheap in L.A. Half an acrea will require you to head North to Palmdale, Landcaster (est. 50-70 miles). Head East to Ontario, Phillips Ranch, Riverside, San Bernadino (70-150 miles). Or Southeast to Corona, Temecula.
All these have large homes and bigger lots than cities near downtown that wont go over $1 mil. The problem will always be traffic!
Land is not cheap in L.A. Half an acrea will require you to head North to Palmdale, Landcaster (est. 50-70 miles). Head East to Ontario, Phillips Ranch, Riverside, San Bernadino (70-150 miles). Or Southeast to Corona, Temecula.
All these have large homes and bigger lots than cities near downtown that wont go over $1 mil. The problem will always be traffic!
#4
Sponsor
Shine Auto Project
Shine Auto Project
iTrader: (89)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: osaka ~ los angeles[213]
Posts: 11,517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i agree with both of them i was doing mortgage for 2 years before going back to school and i have seen the market skyrocket like no other
a close friend of mines picked up a new town house in El Monte off of Tyler and paid $428k, really nice townhouse although its in El Monte which maybe 3 years ago it probably wouldve been like $180-$220k...
houses are really expensive especially the closer you get to LA, but the traffic sucks nowadays i would really consider you move near work...
if you really wanted land palmdale, lancaster, IE or any of the outskirts the houses are huge with big *** lots but its really far i would rather live in a smaller comfortable home than something that is that far considering that traffic is ridiculous and only getting worse day by day
a close friend of mines picked up a new town house in El Monte off of Tyler and paid $428k, really nice townhouse although its in El Monte which maybe 3 years ago it probably wouldve been like $180-$220k...
houses are really expensive especially the closer you get to LA, but the traffic sucks nowadays i would really consider you move near work...
if you really wanted land palmdale, lancaster, IE or any of the outskirts the houses are huge with big *** lots but its really far i would rather live in a smaller comfortable home than something that is that far considering that traffic is ridiculous and only getting worse day by day
#5
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: 818 lc
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i love going to la to play but would never live there
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
#6
Sponsor
Shine Auto Project
Shine Auto Project
iTrader: (89)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: osaka ~ los angeles[213]
Posts: 11,517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by xkevon
i love going to la to play but would never live there
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
you forgot about glendale
#7
CHRIS (350) FTL
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: the gay area, ca (I miss LA)
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by xkevon
i love going to la to play but would never live there
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
the air sucks and the area just seems dirty to me
i like to be around trees, mountains, and a quieter environment like
pasadena, la canada, la cresenta, montrose, tujunga, altadena areas are good places to live but housing can be a little bit more expensive i think
there are many condos in montrose, la cresenta, and mayb in altadena area
it also takes about 15 min to get to la w/o or little traffic
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tujunga, CA
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used to live in a townhouse called Rosecourt in Pasadena. The price range should be around $800K. Very nice, quiet neighborhood and the freeway is like few blocks away from house so it's convenient.
#10
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The land of haters
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pasadena for the win. It's clean, nice, and it's not too far from Los Angeles.
Don't move anywhere near downtown, that place is ghetto. Try to stay west from the 110 as far as possible.
if you're looking for an apartment, here is a great website for listings.
www.westsiderentals.com
good luck!
Don't move anywhere near downtown, that place is ghetto. Try to stay west from the 110 as far as possible.
if you're looking for an apartment, here is a great website for listings.
www.westsiderentals.com
good luck!
Last edited by r3v; 02-25-2007 at 03:27 PM.
#13
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nowhere in la is nice...sorry i am a san diego kid and i hate living near la right now....i can't wait till my job transfers me back....no offense to those that live in la but it is not home to me...traffic sucks...it's smoggy...oh an it sucks....
edit...
although i must admit fake ***** everywhere is the only upside...
spearmint rhino city of industry...if you've been there you already know what i am talking about...
edit...
although i must admit fake ***** everywhere is the only upside...
spearmint rhino city of industry...if you've been there you already know what i am talking about...
#15
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LBC or In the Hills of Chino
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LA sucks, way too many people, way overpriced, I prefer the beach. If you are buying just move to san diego. You will get better value for a home in a nice area. I live in LA, and its not where i'd want to settle down. My opinion.
#16
my car is dirty
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: los angeles --> columbus
Posts: 13,035
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by xkevon
oh yea i did forget glendale
glendale is nice too
too many bros though
glendale is nice too
too many bros though
but glendale and burbank have a lot of new condo's that are gonna be available soon, what with all the new developement [americana in glendale, that huge thing in front of the new amc in burbank] and pasadena's got those sick condo's above the paseo.
crazy expensive, but really nice.
tujunga's a place most people try to avoid cuz it looks like crap when you're driving through the main streets but up in the mountains there are AMAZING homes, and available land. sunland/sun valley, too. up around la tuna canyon most homes sit on large plots of land because most people have horses... i've seen some beautiful homes up there. not far from downtown at all.
#17
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Riverside CA
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Riverside!!!!! hahahaha had to represent..... but anything in socal is gonna cost and ur not getting much of it..... (land wise) but pasadena is nice.... i went to school out there.... and not too far from all the surroundings .. like going to work in LA but like everyone says check it out first and see what u like
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by buffmanjeff
LA sucks, way too many people, way overpriced, I prefer the beach. If you are buying just move to san diego. You will get better value for a home in a nice area. I live in LA, and its not where i'd want to settle down. My opinion.
#19
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montray pok
Posts: 3,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can buy it, and if you ever need to move just rent it out and hope the best for appreciation to get your maximum return. That's if you've finance at the rate where the rent covers it and if you're lucky with some positive income return and 3-5 month of emergencies.