Going from NYC to CA. Suggestions?

[5pyg1a55]

Santa Monica is wonderful, but living there was very isolating; all the friends I met there rarely left the Westside. It's nice to visit on a Sunday for lunch.

Might also want to check out around Beverly Hills and surrounding neighborhoods (Beverlywood, Century City, Miracle Mile). These areas are centrally located. Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood and Hancock Park would be perfect for you, too.

LA has a similar cost of living as NYC, so be realistic. $3k here gets you a nice 2 bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood, or a decent 3 bedroom apartment in an OK neighborhood (or a luxury 2 bed in an OK neighborhood). $6k may or may not get you a house in a nice neighborhood. I'd imagine a poolhouse in Bev Hills, Hancock Park or Hwood hills would be at least $10k per month.

A penthouse apartment solo would offer more privacy: I find having your office separate from your bedroom essential. Never mind the awkwardness of bringing dates home to a place you share with roommates- very uncomfortable.
If you have as much money as you do, I cannot understand why you'd want to live with roommates if you don't have to. Roommating has got to be the worst part of the late teens/early 20's period. It's something people aspire to not have to do anymore. And apartment/condo living is just part of city life. Many apartments here have luxury amenities, like pools, gyms, saunas, etc...

In any case, watch out for the realtor tricks on trulia and the other sites: they might list something as "Hollywood Hills" but then on the map it will actually be in Hollywood. Same scheme they use with advertising "Hancock Park" (very desirable), but then the place ends up being in Koreatown or MidCity (not desirable).

[PDF]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

the time it takes to get to the beach from Westwood.

Oh, yeah. Was it lighter when you lived there? But yeah that's the rough estimate/average.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by PDF

Oh, yeah. Was it lighter when you lived there? But yeah that's the rough estimate/average.

I didn't go to that area often, but when I did, I don't recall it taking that long.

[Dyeam]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

Santa Monica is wonderful, but living there was very isolating; all the friends I met there rarely left the Westside. It's nice to visit on a Sunday for lunch.

Might also want to check out around Beverly Hills and surrounding neighborhoods (Beverlywood, Century City, Miracle Mile). These areas are centrally located. Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood and Hancock Park would be perfect for you, too.

LA has a similar cost of living as NYC, so be realistic. $3k here gets you a nice 2 bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood, or a decent 3 bedroom apartment in an OK neighborhood (or a luxury 2 bed in an OK neighborhood). $6k may or may not get you a house in a nice neighborhood. I'd imagine a poolhouse in Bev Hills, Hancock Park or Hwood hills would be at least $10k per month.

A penthouse apartment solo would offer more privacy: I find having your office separate from your bedroom essential. Never mind the awkwardness of bringing dates home to a place you share with roommates- very uncomfortable.
If you have as much money as you do, I cannot understand why you'd want to live with roommates if you don't have to. Roommating has got to be the worst part of the late teens/early 20's period. It's something people aspire to not have to do anymore. And apartment/condo living is just part of city life. Many apartments here have luxury amenities, like pools, gyms, saunas, etc...

In any case, watch out for the realtor tricks on trulia and the other sites: they might list something as "Hollywood Hills" but then on the map it will actually be in Hollywood. Same scheme they use with advertising "Hancock Park" (very desirable), but then the place ends up being in Koreatown or MidCity (not desirable).

Thanks for the sound advice.

I've been doing my research, as I do a lot with big life changes (surprise). For example, this house
on trulia, 6k rent, 3 beds.. 1500 a room. Seems like a nice neighbor hood (says Hancock, which you mentioned was good). Reason I'd want roommates, to answer you question, is because when I go to LA, I will know no one there. I'd be nice to bring some friends from home with me, and share a big house rather than live in an apartment on my own, maybe in a nicer area, but paying more for less space. Way too used to that here in NYC. I've google mapped the house, street-viewed it, and the address is accurate.

I also looked into Santa Monica, as it is popularly suggested. Personally, I have no need to be that close to the beach in order to pay that premium. I get that there's parts that are cheaper, but those cheap ones, that look nice are hard to find. I'll look more into the other neighborhoods you mentioned.

[5pyg1a55]

Oh dear:

"This home is available furnished for short term only. The list price is the weekly rate. Rentals for one month or longer will be at a lower rate."

$6000/week sounds about right to me for this house and area.

These types of rentals are fishing for studios to use their properties for filming. Even if you had $12 or $20k for rent, the owners might be weary about renting to to a group of younger guys.

[SportyandMisty]

To the OP: I suggest you take the question to the Los Angeles sub-forum - you'll probably find people with more direct experience to give you info.

See for example Top 10 Best Places to Live in LA

[PDF]

Originally Posted by Dyeam

Thanks for the sound advice.

I've been doing my research, as I do a lot with big life changes (surprise). For example, this house
on trulia, 6k rent, 3 beds.. 1500 a room. Seems like a nice neighbor hood (says Hancock, which you mentioned was good). Reason I'd want roommates, to answer you question, is because when I go to LA, I will know no one there. I'd be nice to bring some friends from home with me, and share a big house rather than live in an apartment on my own, maybe in a nicer area, but paying more for less space. Way too used to that here in NYC. I've google mapped the house, street-viewed it, and the address is accurate.

I also looked into Santa Monica, as it is popularly suggested. Personally, I have no need to be that close to the beach in order to pay that premium. I get that there's parts that are cheaper, but those cheap ones, that look nice are hard to find. I'll look more into the other neighborhoods you mentioned.

The one thing you're going to find out that a "reasonable" drive to beach or nightlife is going to depend on traffic. You say you don't want to be that close to the beach, but traffic isn't always going to give you the same driving time.

Sometimes it will take 25 minutes, quite a few days it will take double that. Just throwing out numbers.

I think it will definitely help for you to visit first.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by PDF

The one thing you're going to find out that a "reasonable" drive to beach or nightlife is going to depend on traffic. You say you don't want to be that close to the beach, but traffic isn't always going to give you the same driving time.

Sometimes it will take 25 minutes, quite a few days it will take double that. Just throwing out numbers.

I think it will definitely help for you to visit first.

Agreed on everything, especially visiting first for a week or two.

Re: driving times: I'd assume the OP would try to avoid going out in rush hour if he works at home.
But it's true, the driving times - like rents can on a single block- vary wildly.

It once took 15 minutes for me to get from Bev Hills to Santa Monica...at 1 in the afternoon on a Wed hitting all green lights. But it's also taken an hour and 20 to get back to BevHills, leaving Santa M. at 5:30pm (best and worst times ever clocked). Same sort of range going to/from Downtown and HWood. Your times sound like a good, realistic, average range.

Can't remember where this quote comes from, but it sums up your point pretty well:
"Everywhere in LA is 20 minutes away...without traffic."