Nice Place to live in LA ???

[udaii_d]

Hi all,

Just now I saw the post of another Indian (Uday). Yah! It’s really true that the name of Uday is not much in India. Anyway it’s a coincident.

Hi Uday,

To avoid confusions among our friends can you please put you Initial also. Mine is M.Uday


Cheers!
M.Uday

[dsuday]

Thanks guys,

I was able to make a nice little checklist which should be helpful in finding apartments for my needs.

As I am in a temperory resident permit I will be moving out of US in another 3-4 years, I was wondering since I am single and make somewhat okay salary Is it worth risking buying a decent home (my visa allows owning property) here as an investment and sell it when it is time to go back home. Since the housing market seems to be falling these days I hope there might be some good deals. If I have to buy what would be a great area to invest in ?

[jessemh431]

I think a condo downtown Long Beach might be a good investment because it seems as though it's becoming a popular place, especially as many move to condos and try to live the urban life.

But, overall, I don't think it's worth it. The housing market may continue to fall until God knows when, or it may turn right back around in a year or two and shoot higher than it is now. If I were you, I wouldn't take the risk. I would continue renting if you'll only be here a few more years.

[Boy'sMom]

I've spent the last hour reading threads about LA. I'm frightened.
I am a small-town girl - everyone knows everyone else - which I hate. I have lived larger areas (Cocoa Beach, Knoxville, suburb of Denver) but nothing like L.A. My husband, two sons and I are involved in the community - we coach soccer (I am the local rec. league president), my son plays select soccer in another town, one is in Boy Scouts, etc. We hike and ride bikes. I teach archery at a rural Appalachain area school, where I am a third grade teacher. There is no opportunity here for my husband to have a good job. So he took a job in LA.
I know it will be a BIG change for all of us. I am looking for a middle-class neighborhood - SAFE - competetive soccer league, churches, small private school or neighborhood school, etc. (I spent some time in San Bernadino and Rancho Cuca Monga a few years ago.) His salary is in the lower $100,000 and I'll be teaching school (I hope). Currently I am the bread winner so anything he makes will be a bonus. We live simply, though it's not quite Mayberry. Our community here is riddled with drugs and we are just looking for a new start as our boys reach the tween years. Is there an area where we should be shopping for a decent, safe place to live? Keep in mind - I am aware that L.A. ain't nowhere close to Rural Appalachia!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Boy'sMom

I've spent the last hour reading threads about LA. I'm frightened.
I am a small-town girl - everyone knows everyone else - which I hate. I have lived larger areas (Cocoa Beach, Knoxville, suburb of Denver) but nothing like L.A. My husband, two sons and I are involved in the community - we coach soccer (I am the local rec. league president), my son plays select soccer in another town, one is in Boy Scouts, etc. We hike and ride bikes. I teach archery at a rural Appalachain area school, where I am a third grade teacher. There is no opportunity here for my husband to have a good job. So he took a job in LA.
I know it will be a BIG change for all of us. I am looking for a middle-class neighborhood - SAFE - competetive soccer league, churches, small private school or neighborhood school, etc. (I spent some time in San Bernadino and Rancho Cuca Monga a few years ago.) His salary is in the lower $100,000 and I'll be teaching school (I hope). Currently I am the bread winner so anything he makes will be a bonus. We live simply, though it's not quite Mayberry. Our community here is riddled with drugs and we are just looking for a new start as our boys reach the tween years. Is there an area where we should be shopping for a decent, safe place to live? Keep in mind - I am aware that L.A. ain't nowhere close to Rural Appalachia!

Where (in LA) did he get his job?
What is your rent budget or housing price range?

[jessemh431]

Yes, it completely depends on where his job is. You may end up living 2+ hours from work.

One of my favorite areas for families is Santa Clarita/Valencia. Very safe, new, good schools, and not extremely crowded.

Next, try Orange County-areas such as Mission Viejo and Irvine are some of the safest in the country. If you make more than your husband and he makes 100k, you will live very comfortably here. With that much money, you could also try a beach city such as El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Palos Verdes. Maybe go inland into South Pasadena, San Marino, Westwood, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Studio City, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, or Hidden Hills. But, it all depends on where you will be working and if you like hot summers/cool winters or moderate temperatures year round, or even snow up in Big Bear City.