Hello, Info on LA Suburbs Please (Los Angeles, Long Beach: real estate, rent, condo)

[Richard Beddington]

Hi.

I am 34, married with 2 kids and have accepted a new job in Los Angeles. I'd like to live in a White suburb, do you have any recommendations?

[maminel]

Why are you only looking for a white suburb?

[Richard Beddington]

Originally Posted by maminel

Why are you only looking for a white suburb?

Because in America people are free to live wherever they wish and I wish to live in a White area.

Would you be asking the same question to a Mexican or Black if they wished to live in an ethnic neighborhood? I don't think so. That would be politically incorrect, while it is PC to harrass me for wishing to live in a White area. I am not some evil racist, just a regular White guy who wants to live in a nice, White suburb.

-Richard

[fastfilm]

There aren't any. If your income is that of a genuine multi-mega-millionaire, you can live in Palos Verdes, Pacific Palisades, Holmby Hills, Bel Air, San Marino, Han**** Park or Malibu, the only sectors in Los Angeles county that have a majority of "old money" socialites or nouveau riche Film people, who both of whom still tend to be Caucasian.

You shouldn't have taken the job in Los Angeles if that was your expectation. Haven't you "done your homework?" Los Angeles has more foreign born residents than any section of the United States, with 300 illegal immigrants from Mexico or South or Central America entering the city PER DAY. I'm not going to go into the political ramifications necessarily except to say that the quality of life issues here are terrible if you're not rich enough to cocoon yourself.

[GregJ]

Some people just want to argue. LA's a great place to live. You've probably been influenced by the BS in the media that LA's constantly in a state of racial unrest, gridlocked, burning/shaking, and life is unbearable. Well, then why does LA consistently outrank most of the rest of the nation in median housing costs? Are people going to blow $750k to live in a sh*thole? No!

One stereotype that is correct is that LA is a vast sprawl of an urban area with almost no mass transit unless you want to ride a bus (NO!). The west side is liberal, affluent and white (although many asians are moving in). The SF Valley is hispanic in the older areas and pretty upscale and decent in the hills, and in the western end. San Gabriel Valley has great areas like Pasadena, La Canada, Arcadia, Glendora, and the north end of Monrovia. East and South LA: forget it. Beach cities like Hermosa and Redondo: untouchable prices. I'm partial to the southbay (Torrance and Long Beach). It's probably more of what you're looking for (stable neighborhoods, original owners, relatively "affordable" housing, good schools). The suburbs are ok also but remember the traffic: the north end (Santa Clarita, Canyon Country, etc), Ventura County in the west, and Orange County are great places to live also. Anyplace though, expect to spend over $550k (or more) to buy a condo or older 2/1 house, $700k+ to live in a house big enough for the family you've described. Can't help you with rent info though. Check the LA Times website's real estate section. It's usually got some good info for relocators.

Good luck with your new job. You'll love LA.

[fastfilm]

Let me refine GregJ's assessment with the observation of someone who's lived in Los Angeles for a half century. People "afford" those 700K 2 bedroom houses by piling 14 people into them, comprised of families with 5 working adults to afford same. This is what you'll be living next to in any but the richest neighborhoods. And you probably won't be able to converse in English with them.

I went through the earthquake in which 2 of my across the street neighbors were killed (2 of the "only" 60 that perished because the quake occured so early in the morning, 4 a.m.) and the entire demographic of the neighborhood changed within one year as those who could afford to move did, so I'll concede I put more emphasis on natural disasters than some. However, our famous foothills do have an all too timely "fire season" that coincides with the autumn desert winds' reversal (the Santa Anas of Raymond Chandler fame.) Most everyone here knows at least one person whose house has burned to the ground.

There are trade-offs for everything. L.A. has the famous weather. It also has a wretched school system (my husband's a teacher in same so I have more info than most) and a dominant sub-culture that is very averse to American ways. We live in what is considered a "normal" middle class area wherein I clean vandals' graffiti off the streets at least once a week, my dogs have been shot at while confined in my own back yard, my property has been destroyed by my non-English speaking neighbors, we have a gang-related homicide every few months, cars stolen frequently, etc. etc.

Gregj must live in something better than a "normal" middle class neighborhood or just be, bless him, an incredible optimist.

[Jessica233]

I would first like to thank Richard for his thought provoking question. The responses are giving Richard the best information about our great city than he could have received from just asking "where's a nice place to move?" I find the original question hilarious though and it's awfully hard to hold back from responding when someone could ask something so COMPLETELY naive about LA. There are so many wonderful things to offer and unfortunately, we have some glitches that you need to work through in order to understand how this big engine runs each day. "Ain't no fixin' LA" so I've heard. I tell people who are new to LA, just as I once was, hey, it takes at least 6 months to even start to like it but before that, you'll struggle and you will probably hate it and wonder why you ever came.

Of course, it will probably take you a lot longer to find the best place to live if you come from a place where everyone is narrow minded and follows the same path to the white side of town. It's apparent Richard comes from such a place, but so do a lot of middle-Americans, so I don't really blame him that much. We don't have "white neighborhoods" and THANK GOD because I can't imagine what it would be like to go back to such a way of living. I grew up in a "white suburb" in the mid-west and we wondered what it was like each day to be one of the 6 black kids in our high school. Nowadays, I look back and laugh, and say, if only people knew that there is a much better, more insightful, diverse, interesting, challenging and, better yet, well rounded way to socially exist in your neighborhood. Well, Richard, welcome, good luck to you and I hope you change your mind soon. You might have to go back white world after all if you don't. OH here's a tip: try Orange County!

[fastfilm]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

There are trade-offs for everything. L.A. has the famous weather. It also has a wretched school system (my husband's a teacher in same so I have more info than most) and a dominant sub-culture that is very averse to American ways. We live in what is considered a "normal" middle class area wherein I clean vandals' graffiti off the streets at least once a week, my dogs have been shot at while confined in my own back yard, my property has been destroyed by my non-English speaking neighbors, we have a gang-related homicide every few months, cars stolen frequently, etc.

This is a terrible, terrible way for American middle class folks to have to subsist on a daily basis. It all changed in my neighborhood, in the space of 12 years, into this once the majority here was comprised of illegal immigrants. They are old-fashioned bigots, prejudiced against anyone not from their "home country," and who, God forbid, doesn't speak the foreign language of their "home country." It's "okay" to shoot at my dogs and destroy my property, because I am gringo, is the thinking.

Jessica, what is supposed to be GOOD about no one speaking English? I would have to learn five different languages to converse with my newer neighbors, so I can't even be nice to them in any language they understand. What is supposed to be GOOD about people who are so obsessed with the cultural ways of their "home country" that they despise every aspect of American culture, break every law here in deference to maintaining the cultural ways of their "home country" and never, ever let you forget that they despise you, the person born here, with every fiber of their being?

What is supposed to be GOOD about people screaming "The Race! The Race! Our Race only!" In any other part of America, this awful sentiment would be as suspect as that of the Ku Klux Klan and rightly so. But in Los Angeles, "viva La Raza" is supported as vastly more important to individuals than any allegiance whatsoever to the country they moved to.

I keep thinking the people that post that they love L.A. are the people I pointed out as one of only 3 types that can comfortably live here, the rich, the illegal or the violent. As you all are all so well-spoken, it's obviously the first category. Be glad you are not "normal" middle class in a "normal" middle class area of Los Angeles like I am, one that would appear to all others elsewhere to embrace every aspect of dreaded, dangerous slums of other cities. But here, it's "normal."

[Richard Beddington]

I turned down the job.

After seeing those Mexicans making a ruckus on the freeway on the news I realized it isn't a safe place. I also read that prisoners are deported after their sentences back to Mexico and then they simply return to America to rape/murder again.

It's unfortunate also that California is now apparently, "Aztlan". What the HECK is that?

[fastfilm]

Richard, follow the money. If a job pays really well, you can cocoon yourself from provincial strife. This is true of Los Angeles or anywhere.

I have imparted my views of Los Angeles from the viewpoint of someone who is not rich enough to cocoon herself. I am also basing my claims on personal observation and factual data, not abstract philosophies.

I would have to admit that what bothers me most about the La Raza movement is its parallel to white supremacy. To be so xenophobic as to dislike all others who are not your race is identical to being Ku Klux Klan. This is so deja vu, and such a step backwards. This country worked VERY hard to overcome social setbacks with civil rights, that to see such tribalism re-emerge is very depressing.