Relocating to Torrance from Houston (San Diego, Long Beach: rentals, month-to-month, job transfer)

[Seaoglass]

Hubby's job transferred him to the West Coast. My job will only be able to transfer me to Torrance and hubby gets to work from home. Hubby would love to live in Irvine (Closer to family in San Diego). However, I've heard that the daily commute to Torrance would be terrible for me. We currently live in Houston and are used to driving an hour in traffic, but everyone has said it would be a nightmare in L.A.

Torrance, Redondo Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Long Beach all came very highly recommended to us. Unfortunately, hubby has been looking in those areas for the past two days and has not had any luck with finding a place ($2k, clean, safe, modern, cat accepted, 3-6 mos, 2 parking spots).

We would only have to do this for six months. We would love to find a furnished place for 3-6 month lease terms, but again, not having much luck. I've even checked the vacation rentals as an option. I guess we may have to pay a little more in order to find what we want. It's going to be double what we pay now, but I guess that's part of the package.

He is now considering looking into the following areas: Cerritos, La Palma, Cypress, Artesia. Are they clean, safe, nicer areas? Does anyone have any suggestions about the commute to Torrance from these areas or recommend something else nearby?
In general, does anyone have any comparison of traffic between LA and Houston?
Should I just bite the Irvine bullet?

[jaypee]

Try Long Beach and El Segundo.
Or this one: http://www.padmapper.com/show.php?ty...25680&src=main

[JohnG72]

Irvine to Torrance would be more than an hour commute at rush hour.

The modern and particularly the 3-6 month lease are going to be a sticking point everywhere.

Other than that, your price range is correct for South Bay/Torrance and running a search of Padmapper as Jaypee stated shows that there are a number of units in that price range, all with 1 year lease requirements.

[Seaoglass]

Thanks for the suggestion. PadMapper is a great tool and I've found quite a few month-to-month options, although they are a little far from Torrance. We'll continue our search.

Would the commute from Los Alamitos or Cerritos be too far away?

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by Seaoglass

Thanks for the suggestion. PadMapper is a great tool and I've found quite a few month-to-month options, although they are a little far from Torrance. We'll continue our search.

Would the commute from Los Alamitos or Cerritos be too far away?

The 105, 91, and 405 west at 8am is a tough drive. You are looking at 45min-1hr from Los Alamitos or Cerritos to Torrance at that time.

[JTGJR]

Originally Posted by Seaoglass

Thanks for the suggestion. PadMapper is a great tool and I've found quite a few month-to-month options, although they are a little far from Torrance. We'll continue our search.

Would the commute from Los Alamitos or Cerritos be too far away?

It's not really a question of too far away. I do that reverse commute 105E - 605S - 91E each day and it's a 45min drive on my 40 mile commute. HOWEVER, I thank the powers that be that I'm not on the other side of the freeway. I'd guess that commute would run you 75-90 minutes on average in the morning and worse in the evening commute.

[Sparklediamond]

Irvine is Safe. Do not move off of the 91 fwy which are most of the locations you posted, the traffic is the worst. 405 is better. Irvine is ideal. It is the safest city in America and mid location between San Diego and Torrance off the 405 fwy. You will get used to it.

[Sparklediamond]

Long Beach may be your best alternative financially

[Sparklediamond]

I repeat ...the 91 is the worst fwy. it runs east and west bound. The 405 is North and South.