Monday, June 26, 2006

What is the best place in LA to move to? -

I am moving to LA and I need to know where I should be looking to buy a house. I am 23 and I need to live in a vibrant place with shopping, eating and clubs close by. It should also be a safe and family oriented place.

Unemployment in California is well above the national average. If you do not have a GUARANTEED job offer you would be well advised NOT to come here. Jobs here are almost non existent.

Nice. Report Abuse

It really depends on what fits your budget. cities/districts (beginning with high end living, and dropping to the middle class standard, may not be in exact order of income, these are the cities closest to Los Angeles, although quite friendly): Bev Hills, Calabasas, all beaches (not really for families), Los Feliz (district, usually ideal for young people with the financial means ),Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, San Marino (this is perhaps the most expensive following Bev Hills, and may perhaps be the most family oriented in all of L.A. County), Claremont (although it is not as close to Los Angeles, this city was named one of America s top ten cities to live in) Pasadena (be careful here, Pasadena has some of the most beautiful areas in L.A. county, and some of the ugliest, just stay SOUTH of I-210, I think you should live here. Most of Pasadena North of that begins to look run down ), Sherman Oaks (cool lively city, good for young people, has it s high end sides, and uuummm... low end? I don t know how to say this one. South Pasadena (excellent city, very secluded, adjacent to San Marino, the homes on the East side of the city are a little more upscale, the West side of the city is middle class still quite nice), La Canada and Sierra Madre, (beautiful cities, very private), Alhambra (is among the most affordable cities, it has its nice and ugly sides, San Marino and South Pas around the corner), Glendale (this city, as Pasadena, may be one of the largest metropolises), Hollywood (yeah, I don t know why it s here on the list either, I don t want to move it up though, anyway, fun city, nice and bad sides, perhaps the most fun and diverse). Okay, I think you should state you budget. Type your budget on details and I will be back later, this got a bit too messy.

Ya know, you really should rent first until you learn the area. We all do a lot of changing in our 20 s and what you see as a utopian buy today could be your worst nightmare in two years. If you re thinking that if you don t like an area and will sell your house and move, think again. This housing market is not going to rebound into the buy-and-flip mode anytime soon.Rent for a year. You say you want the area to be safe and family oriented? It will take a little time to complete that sort of reality check. Hang on to that down payment for now.The other good L.A. folks can fill you in on the rest of the details.

Silverlake / Los Feliz / Echo Park area. If too expensive, Atwater, Mt. Washington, Highland Park.Old neighborhoods revitalized within the last 10 years or so (some still in the process). Cool old houses, neighborhood restaurants (no chain crap here), real-deal old bars, tons of live music clubs, vibrant arts scene.Safe is relative in LA, but I d say these neighborhoods are safe. Family-oriented is a little tough since a lot of the places I mentioned are in the hills and people don t have flat yards for kids to play and the streets are small and curvy. But they still live here with kids. But mostly they live here with dogs ;-)

It depends where you get a job. You live within 5-10 miles of your job. You drive where you must for the night life.Every area in LA has great shopping. The area with clubs is NOT anywhere close to a nice area to raise a family.LA is far too big to select a place to live before you know where you will be working. Unless you don t mind taking a chance on having a 2 hour commute.

I really hope you don t think that you can purchase a nice huge and spacious 2500 sq. ft. 4bd 3.5ba for $295,000 in LA.Go to Century 21 and type in Los Angeles so you ll see what I m talking about.

i would suggest hollywood hills or century city. if you can afford these areas that is. they are fairly close proximaty to every thing you are looking for and are pretty good areas.