What do I need to do to move to LA for a month? (Los Angeles: extended stay, apartment) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

midwestcal2012 · 08-26-2014, 10:45 AM

There a number of things that hold me back from moving permanently. However, I have been wanting to move for two years now and I would be rather upset with myself if I did not at least do a sort of "test drive" of Los Angeles.

I have enough money right now where I could rent a room off of craigslist, pay my student loan for the month, my other expenses, and then come back to where I live now and pick up again. I do still have some questions though about the official things.

I do not intend to bring my car out there (I know what you're thinking but I want to see what I can make happen). Therefore, do I need to bother getting a California drivers license? Say I end up driving a company car short term while I am there. Would that mean I need one?

Would the place I am staying at be considered a temporary address?

Would I be a temporary resident? And pay California taxes? How do you become a temporary resident?

I imagine I might have more questions as I get closer to a move so I'll just continue to post to this thread as I do so.

quixotic59 · 08-26-2014, 11:09 AM

We just finished a 6 week stay in Los Angeles. We stayed at a vacation rental. All our ID's worked fine as well as credit cards. We rented a car with a NY driver's license. We paid our bills online and rented a UPS mailbox to receive some items we needed to order. The UPS rental minimum is 3 months and cost about $100 but was worth the convenience of having a mailing address. After 6 weeks we returned home and resumed our lives. No fuss, no muss.
Well except for the fact that we hate NY and want to move to LA permanently.

jen5276 · 08-26-2014, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quixotic59

We just finished a 6 week stay in Los Angeles. We stayed at a vacation rental. All our ID's worked fine as well as credit cards. We rented a car with a NY driver's license. We paid our bills online and rented a UPS mailbox to receive some items we needed to order. The UPS rental minimum is 3 months and cost about $100 but was worth the convenience of having a mailing address. After 6 weeks we returned home and resumed our lives. No fuss, no muss.
Well except for the fact that we hate NY and want to move to LA permanently.

I would love to see how you do with this...I am also in NYC (hate it) and am aiming for the move to LA by next year.....

midwestcal2012 · 08-26-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quixotic59

We stayed at a vacation rental.

Can I ask how much that was?

Quote:

Originally Posted by quixotic59

rented a UPS mailbox to receive some items we needed to order. The UPS rental minimum is 3 months and cost about $100 but was worth the convenience of having a mailing address.

That's a good idea! I just might do that. So if someone asks for my LA address, could I just give that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by quixotic59

want to move to LA permanently.

I sympathize. Thanks for your response!

PDF · 08-26-2014, 11:26 AM

If you are only staying for a month, then things like it being a temporary address and paying taxes don't even enter into the equation. More like a vacation.

MordinSolus · 08-26-2014, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDF

If you are only staying for a month, then things like it being a temporary address and paying taxes don't even enter into the equation. More like a vacation.

This. You're not moving to LA, you're visiting.

midwestcal2012 · 08-26-2014, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MordinSolus

This. You're not moving to LA, you're visiting.

I've heard thought that if you stay a couple of weeks and make any money you have to pay CA taxes.

Also, I was debating going to Central Casting to extra work (not really trying to be an actor, just if I can make a little bit now and then while I'm there). Wouldn't it be better to list an LA address?

quixotic59 · 08-26-2014, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestcal2012

Can I ask how much that was?

That's a good idea! I just might do that. So if someone asks for my LA address, could I just give that?

I sympathize. Thanks for your response!

We have rented a number of places in the LA area over the years. They ranged from "guest room" to three bedroom beachfront house. The prices ranged from about $100 a day to $450 a day. Very dependent on the size and location of the rental.

We use VRBO.com (which is affiliated with Homeaway.com). Both very reputable.

Yes we use the UPS address. When they give it to you they tell you to write the box number without the "P.O. Box" in front of it. Everyone thinks it's an apartment number.

quixotic59 · 08-26-2014, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen5276

I would love to see how you do with this...I am also in NYC (hate it) and am aiming for the move to LA by next year.....

jen, we have done this for the past 4 years. We literally do no extracurricular stuff here in NYC. No movies, no dinner out, no theater, no concerts etc. (Just to give you an idea). We save all that money and use it towards the extended stay in LA. We are both teachers so we happen to have the time during the summer. It has created a bit of debt but it was well worth it. We have gathered an enormous amount of information about LA and the surrounding areas. We really have a feel for daily life having gone shopping in numerous supermarkets and pharmacies, used dry cleaners, bought clothing and shoes, and many other day to day errands. Even managed to find two doctors that took our insurance when the need arose.

We hope to move there in two years when I retire. Financially, I will have a modest pension ( it will allow us to survive) and my wife hopes to get a job in a private school. Our income will probably drop by 50% but we realize that the money we make here gives us no happiness. For us, less money and living in LA will be a massive improvement in quality of life.

Please note that the time we have spent there has also allowed us to see the problems (btw, it's not so much the traffic, which we have plenty of here in NYC, it's more the drivers' lack of attention to the road!!!). But, for us the positives outweigh the negatives.

I strongly recommend an extended stay, if possible, before moving. And DEFINITELY line up some kind of unemployment BEFORE moving.

MordinSolus · 08-26-2014, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestcal2012

I've heard thought that if you stay a couple of weeks and make any money you have to pay CA taxes.

Also, I was debating going to Central Casting to extra work (not really trying to be an actor, just if I can make a little bit now and then while I'm there). Wouldn't it be better to list an LA address?

Why are you trying to get a job for a month-long vacation? Isn't the point of your trip to get to know the city? You can't do that if you're trying to find work for no reason.