Two Careers - Culver City and La Verne (Pasadena, Santa Monica: apartments, rent)

[rdwh]

My husband and I have been relocated for his company to work in the SoCal office in La Verne. My job opportunities are primarily focused in the Culver City/Santa Monica area. I've been doing lots of research to try and find somewhere we can live in the middle, but haven't had much luck. Can anyone suggest a location that has rents around $1,700/month for a decent (2 bedroom+) apartment or mortgages between $2000 - $2500?

I'm wiling to commute up to an hour and a half or so via public transport (if possible) or drive about an hour.

Thanks!!

[Magisan]

Try Pasadena, Monterey Hills, Hermon, or Highland Park (in order of nicer to more gritty depending on your definition, the last 3 are gentrifying quickly) There's a train running through or near all of the above that can take you to Culver City that's slated to run by summer. These sections would be a compromise btwn the 2 areas and place you into some neighborhoods with character. I would rent first before purchasing. Ultimately for home buying, these neighborhoods may fall into your budget of 2-2.5K with the exception of the pricier parts like South Pasadena. There's a section of Pasadena slightly north of the 210 fwy. by Old Town with some great housing stock if kids are not a consideration for schools.

[1200RT]

Is there no possible way for you to find work closer to La Verne?

You say you've been doing a lot of research regarding 'what is in the middle' and 'haven't found much', because there isn't much, unfortunately.

[JohnG72]

Are you willing to consider Downtown?

Culver City is about a 40 minute drive most days from downtown(shorter on holiday/off days...as little as 20 minutes with no traffic). La Verne is a bit of a drive but its all reverse commute.

[genjy]

Pasadena would be a good choice.

Pasadena has everything you would need as a resident: shopping, grocery stores, entertainment, apartments, houses, condos, light rail, buses, parks, schools, colleges, etc.

From Pasadena to Santa Monica, you would take the 110S to Downtown. That stretch of 110S is pretty fast at all hours, but the traffic picks up around the 5 interchange near Downtown LA. From DTLA, you would get on the 10W toward to coast, which is a parking lot all the way to Santa Monica. The whole drive should take just a little bit more than an hour.

From Pasadena to La Verne, your husband would hop on the 210E and that's it. It's a reverse commute with very little traffic except around Arcadia and the 605 interchange. This drive should take about 30-35 minutes.

[rdwh]

Thanks everyone! We've focused in on Pasadena, Monrovia, and Arcadia. Now comes the new challenge of finding apartments

Any suggestions on where to look for apartments? I've been monitoring craigslist, but there's a lot of crap to wade through.

[Troof]

Pasadena, Monrovia, Arcadia to Culver City in the AM will be one gnarly trip.

I will try to snap some photos of that side of the freeway in the AM.

This is a toughy as there is no simple solution here...