Hello, Info on LA Suburbs Please (Los Angeles, Torrance: apartment, buying a house, neighborhoods)

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by TriciaK57

Richard ~ You should check out Coto de Caza. It is approx. 90% White. There may be four or five Black, Hispanic or Asian persons, but their hair is dyed blonde so you'll hardly notice. Oh, and don't be alarmed by the abundance of brown skin, full lips big boobs, and big hips (popular since J.Lo)you might spot in the area - those are just typically tanned, multi-plastic surgeried, permed O.C. peeps... still White as far as the census is concerned. Your "home"... er ... "house" will be nicely appointed, about 3,000 sq. ft. and will cost you about $1.2 million or you can lease one for about $4,200. For that price, look at what else you get: a community surrounded by gates with its very own country club, a remote to open and close the entrance gates {gasp}, a big binder full of rules/regulations you must abide by (i.e., what to wear at to the club,what color to paint your house and what type of landscape to put in your backyard - the usual, most important things); cozy living with about 14,000 other like-minded residents. All this within an 8 mile radius - what else, on earth, could you ask for?

Wow, it only costs 1.2 mill for that? I can afford that, if I really wanted to. Are you sure it isnt closer to 2.2 mill for 3,000 sq ft. gated white community?

[Josh22]

To Richard Beddington: Most of these people here don't know what they are talking about.

I live in Torrance, and these people here don't know what they are talking above. I've had my car broken into, the mirrors stolen, and the APT we lived in has been robbed once or twice, and my moms car broken into multiple times. I live in East torrance.

Now, west Torrance though is pretty safe. You're borderline PV, nuff said. East torrance is a different story. All the gangs of torrance live in East torrance, and it's borderline Carson.

West torrance and East torrance are two different cities. In west torrance you see old white people walking around. In east torrance you see graffiti, trash, and a bunch of mexicans sitting around waiting for someone to pick them up for work. (no racial offense intended here, it's just the truth)




As a matter of fact, go to google.com and in the search type in "Eastside torrance". What do you see? All gangs. Yep



So if you're going to move to torrance don't be fooled - make sure you you live in the right part of Torrance. West torrance is safe. North is mostly safe, although not as good as West. South torrance, I have no idea. East torrance isn't safe.

Otherwise, if you can afford PV, Redondo, hermosa, then move there. (:


You even got rappers coming outta East torrance: http://hellafyderecords.com/diablos.htm

[OCCASparky]

Even in "da OC" there are problems. Traffic sucks (think two hours each way to downtown LA on a good day), crime is increasing, there are lots of homeless, and I live a stone's throw from Santa Ana.

So much for the television version. In my neighborhood there's no spacing between me and my neighbors (literally 8 feet between house walls) and the beach? ROFLMAO--great--try either paying $10 for parking and then fighting for a spot. Even if you get there, half the time it's blackballed cause the bacteria count is too high.

And that's in Huntington.

People here are pretentious, self-centered, obnoxious, "it's-all-about-me" attitude types. It reflects in the way they interact with others on the freeways, etc.

Save your money, keep your kids in a decent school, be happy.

White neighborhoods or not is irrelevant. Even the "white" neighborhoods are declining unless you live in serious "old money" neighborhoods. If you can't afford seven-figures for a house, be prepared for a three hour commute cause all you'll be able to afford is the IE (Inland Empire).

[smu7070]

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

If you can't afford seven-figures for a house, be prepared for a three hour commute cause all you'll be able to afford is the IE (Inland Empire).

That is a severe exaggeration. Single family homes in nicer areas of Orange County start about $400,000-$500,000, and condos start for as little as $270,000-$300,000 (1 bd, 1 bath).

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by smu7070

That is a severe exaggeration. Single family homes in nicer areas of Orange County start about $400,000-$500,000, and condos start for as little as $270,000-$300,000 (1 bd, 1 bath).

Are you sure. My uncle has a pretty average house in anaheim hills, and it is worth 850k. Newport, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach, etc. all cost more than his house, so if his house is 850k, .......

Santa Ana, fullerton, placentia, anaheim, garden grove dont count as orange county in my opinion since they are nothing special.

I think it is not fair to lead people on. If you want the benefits of the OC (i.e. nice school,nice neighborhood), you will pay at least 800k for a small single family home or 450+ for a condo.

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by smu7070

That is a severe exaggeration. Single family homes in nicer areas of Orange County start about $400,000-$500,000, and condos start for as little as $270,000-$300,000 (1 bd, 1 bath).

Where? Santa Ana?

And we're talking a FAMILY here. You gonna shove a family of four in a one-bedroom condo?

BTW--I live near Los Cab in Fountain Valley. One BR/One BA condos (600 sq ft) are going for $325K IF they're available. Don't forget the $300/month association fee! Cheap 2BR condos are going for in the 400's. Our friend bought a "reasonable" 2BR townhome off Bushard in HB and it was 550K.

Reasonable my butt.

A townhome ($275 association fee) down the street from me is 3BR/2BA and they're asking $625K.

Define "nice" and you'll have a point of reference. Even condos in LaHabra are going for high 300's. SFR's there are going for well over 500K. And the commute even from there still stinks. Been on the 57 or the 91 lately?

Face it--if you want anything in any semblance of a decent neighborhood, be ready to spend upwards of 700-800K. LA or Orange County.

[smu7070]

Originally Posted by OCCASparky

Where? Santa Ana?

And we're talking a FAMILY here. You gonna shove a family of four in a one-bedroom condo?

BTW--I live near Los Cab in Fountain Valley. One BR/One BA condos (600 sq ft) are going for $325K IF they're available. Don't forget the $300/month association fee! Cheap 2BR condos are going for in the 400's. Our friend bought a "reasonable" 2BR townhome off Bushard in HB and it was 550K.

Reasonable my butt.

A townhome ($275 association fee) down the street from me is 3BR/2BA and they're asking $625K.

Define "nice" and you'll have a point of reference. Even condos in LaHabra are going for high 300's. SFR's there are going for well over 500K. And the commute even from there still stinks. Been on the 57 or the 91 lately?

Face it--if you want anything in any semblance of a decent neighborhood, be ready to spend upwards of 700-800K. LA or Orange County.

Northern Orange County is actually more expensive then south Orange County it seems. I was able to find a 3 bed, 1.5 bath house in Mission Viejo for $600,000 quite easily; and in Rancho Santa Margarita it may even be less. In that same location, 3 bed condos start at about ~$430,000. That probably wouldn't be such a good idea if you commute to Los Angeles, however.

[enlightenme]

Originally Posted by smu7070

Northern Orange County is actually more expensive then south Orange County it seems. I was able to find a 3 bed, 1.5 bath house in Mission Viejo for $600,000 quite easily; and in Rancho Santa Margarita it may even be less. In that same location, 3 bed condos start at about ~$430,000. That probably wouldn't be such a good idea if you commute to Los Angeles, however.

Oh man, it is like when you see gasoline for under $3.30 a gallon and you get excited and call it cheap. It is still over a half a million dollars for a small house or condo. It sure ain't easy being middle class in wonderful SoCal!

[smu7070]

Originally Posted by enlightenme

Oh man, it is like when you see gasoline for under $3.30 a gallon and you get excited and call it cheap. It is still over a half a million dollars for a small house or condo. It sure ain't easy being middle class in wonderful SoCal!

Such is the unfortunate reality. What perplexes me is the median (household) income in Orange County is only about $59,000! http://www.city-data.com/county/Orange_County-CA.html

How does that work? Do we just have a lot of renters or something? Are people just saving furiously? Interest only loans?

[OCCASparky]

Originally Posted by smu7070

Such is the unfortunate reality. What perplexes me is the median (household) income in Orange County is only about $59,000! http://www.city-data.com/county/Orange_County-CA.html

How does that work? Do we just have a lot of renters or something? Are people just saving furiously? Interest only loans?

You hit it with the last one. Something like 70 percent of the mortgages here are interest-only/negative amortization loans. Bad news if you don't convert them to fixed eventually.

Fortunately I got in early (if you call 2001 early) and have been able to stick with a fixed-rate loan (refinanced twice as rates fell). So if I move (a possibility) I'll have a decent amount of equity to buy a new place.

BTW--I've interviewed for a couple of jobs out of state and the ex-Californians I've run into swear up and down they'd NEVER move back in a million years. Go figure.