Help me schedule my neighborhood hunting visit! (Glendale, Santa Clarita: apartments, rental)

[Amiekbm]

Hello, LA!

My family will be moving to LA this summer for my husband's job from northern NJ/NYC. We have three kids, aged 7, 5, and 3. Husband is working in Burbank for WB. We are planning on renting for a year and then possibly buying a place. Our rental budget will be 2500 for three bedrooms, maybe a touch more. Currently we are looking at Studio City, Valley Village (due to the charter schools there), and Burbank. Probably Glendale and Sherman Oaks as well. Apartments and condos are fine.

What towns are we missing? We were considering Santa Clarita and Valencia but are concerned about the commute.

We will be in LA late this week. Friday we plan on getting up early and trying out the various commutes. Any advice for planning that?

Thanks so much, you all have been so helpful!

[BRinSM]

what is the max commute our husband is willing to expect? the areas close to burbank you mentioned are mostly nice, but they are older and often the properties are not upgraded. the santa clarita area would get you much newer homes/apartments and more space for your dollar, however you would be looking at a minimum 45 commute each way. there's a definite give and take when you move to LA.

[proudmommy]

The Metrolink goes into Burbank (I didnt check how far from WB) but it would easily get him from Moorpark and Simi Valley and Chatsworth into Burbank. Not sure if Santa Clarita Metrolink goes to Burbank - but same story if it does.

What do you expect your housing budget to be when you end up buying?

[Amiekbm]

Indeed, he currently walks 15 minutes to the train, spends 30 mins on the train, and 15 min on the subway on the way to work. So a 45min commute is ok! But trains run every 20 min or so during rush hour here, and it seems like metro link trans run every hour. We are also unsure of the parking situation at the metrolink station. right now he walks, and our house is worth more because it is walkable to the train. The wait list for parking at our current station is 7+ years long!

I know that WB has a free shuttle from the Burbank station to the lot, so that's a plus.

proudmommy, we plan on renting for a year or two, but unless our financial situation changes drastically, the absolute high end of our housing budget would be 500k.

[bhcompy]

I don't know of any metrolink stations that have a waiting list for parking. This isn't NYC