Where to Live? (Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood: apartment, to rent, insurance)

[FromChicago]

Hi,

I'm considering moving from Chicago to LA. I understand the tradeoffs - house/condo/apartment/commute...

My particulars:
- wife, 1 baby, 1 on the way
- looking for 2 to 3 bedroom house or condo
- safe neighborhood
- work in beverly hills
- willing to commute up to 1 hour

Generous local oracles, what advice have ye?

Thanks in advance.

[EscapeCalifornia]

What's your monthly housing budget? That'll make a huge difference.

[FromChicago]

Housing Budget <= 4K

[Rats]

do you want to buy or rent?

[EscapeCalifornia]

That's a very healthy budget if you want to rent a house. Buying's going to be tougher unless you have a good sized down payment.

[NDA]

If I worked in Beverly Hills, I'd consider:

In the city of L.A. Hancock Park, Cheviot Hills, Crescent Heights, West Hollywood, the area around Miracle Mile and Beverly Center, and the city of Santa Monica. You don't have to get on the freeway from any of those areas. Cheviot Hills is closest.

[NDA]

If you are willing to commute one hour the Vally is an option, but I know nothing about the Valley. It's a little cheaper and I don't think they are in LAUSD. I could be wrong. Pasadena is nice and I hear that L.A. people are buying addresses to send their kids to school there. I'm not familiar with Pasadena either but I know it has lots and lots of pretty areas.

[Rats]

with that awesome rent budget you could live in fantastic areas, such as brentwood, beverly hills, encino, sherman oaks, bel air, westwood, san marino, south pasadena, and la canada or the nice parts of glendale if you like the mountains

[FromChicago]

I would like to buy a home for my family, which I'm gathering puts me in 'the valley'. When I first move, I'll likely rent somewhere close to work for 6 months or a year.

Thanks for all of your ideas. Any more detail is appreciated - also if you can point me to a particular thread or resource, I'd sincerely appreciate it.

Thanks again.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by NDA

It's a little cheaper and I don't think they are in LAUSD. I could be wrong. .

Virtually all of the SFV is LAUSD.

I hope this guy's monthly housing budget was after 401(k) contributions, 2 X $5K Roth IRA (2008) contributions, private school tuition (when his kids are old enough), college savings contributions, medical insurance (if not covered at work), disability insurance, and auto insurance.