Internship Offer in LA next summer, moving from Illinois (Pasadena: sublease, sublet)

[GSDubsILL]

Okay, so I have an offer I love in LA, an area I've always wanted to spend time in. Problem is, I don't know what to look for in a place to live, or where to look. The specifics are:

My take home would be around $22-2400/month from mid-May to late August between Spring and Fall semesters 2015. The office I will work out of is on Spring Street, a block or so west of the river downtown. I don't plan on bringing a car. So, my questions are:

What are good spots in the area to live? I know it's a major city, so "safe" is kind of a misnomer, but I'd like as good an intersection of decent area and affordable rent as I can get. Suggestions I've heard so far are around USC, maybe Koreatown, and South Pasadena (Gold Line goes right through and comes out like two blocks from work).

When should I expect to start looking at subleases? I'm assuming that's the best option for living there.

[BRinSM]

subleasing is not common in LA. you'll need to find a short term rental, which are very expensive and hard to find. in fact, it may eat up your entire income. make sure you have some savings if you want to have any extra cash to play around with.

[east_of_edendale]

If your workplace is on Spring Street, a block west of the river downtown, then you will be working near Chinatown, which is just north of Downtown. In terms of neighborhoods, Chinatown and Downtown are in easy biking and public transit distance. USC and South Pasadena are also possibilities if you want to use public transit, but the commute will be longer (20-40 minutes.) The challenge will be finding a place on your budget. A summer sublet may be possible, since some of the USC students are gone, but most likely you will need to look at a roommate situation regardless of the neighborhood.

[Mike121]

Your best option is to rent a room or to share an apartment, since short term sub leases are rare. Craigslist is an okay place to look for short term rent or rooms for rent.

[BeatAngMoh]

For a 3 month stay, and given the location, and the fact you are a student here on short duration, I would say your best option is to target housing around USC. Very few landlords will rent to you given your specifics -- unless they are able to get a very high premium rental payment from you -- except for those who normally rent to students looking for someone to occupy their unit during the summer lull. Plus, you have no furniture. If you rent what is normally student housing you will have some furniture. Look for shares as well though any aspect of your search is premature at this point given the school calendar. USC goes on summer break at the beginning of may so you can look during the Spring. I'm sure you will find proper housing in that area.