Family moving to LA from Australia. (Vista, Santa Monica: hardwood floors, renters, condos)

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by drunk on kool aid

PS to forum members: Are there public swimming pools in Santa Monica + environs?

Santa Monica college has a great pool, maybe too great considering the crowds. LA also has a number of city pools (including Venice and westwood) as well as Culver city.

[Cloudwalker]

Can you be more specific than Silicon Beach? Do you mean Santa Monica or more like Playa Vista? If you stretch to $4000 you'll prob be able to find a 2 bedroom house in either of those places. Maybe look around the Del Rey area which is a bit cheaper than SM/Venice, mostly single family homes.

[melbournekiwi]

Originally Posted by Cloudwalker

Can you be more specific than Silicon Beach? Do you mean Santa Monica or more like Playa Vista? If you stretch to $4000 you'll prob be able to find a 2 bedroom house in either of those places. Maybe look around the Del Rey area which is a bit cheaper than SM/Venice, mostly single family homes.

Playa Vista - to be more specific

[StreetLegal]

Sorry to say it OP but LA could be a disappointment for you if you are coming from pristine Melbourne. Here in large urban areas in the USA the public services and cleanliness are not up to Aussie standards. I could be wrong but hope you'll tell us what you think after you've been here a while...

[jw2]

Another thing to consider is commuting by bicycle to Playa Vista is very easy between Playa Vista south to Torrance/Redondo Beach or north to Santa Monica. . All on a Class I (off street) bike path along the sand.

Even though you are planning to be a pedestrian, at first anyway, remember what side of the street cars are coming as you step off the sidewalk. Look left

[ElysianEagle]

Santa Monica, Culver City, Westchester, Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, Marina Del Rey, West LA would be your best bets. The South Bay is a bit too far IMHO. Good luck on the move and welcome to LA :-)

[erin_elise_]

if looking for single family homes, look to ladera heights as well.

5 min away from playa vista, and in an extremely family friendly neighborhood.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by StreetLegal

Sorry to say it OP but LA could be a disappointment for you if you are coming from pristine Melbourne. Here in large urban areas in the USA the public services and cleanliness are not up to Aussie standards. I could be wrong but hope you'll tell us what you think after you've been here a while...

Well at least they have the option of doing this. Not so easy for an American or anyone else wanting to move to Australia.

This is nothing against the OP, but it's amazing how so many people can come here to live/work but try doing the reverse in other countries.

[Cloudwalker]

Um, no. The US is not an easy place to get into. Like virtually all countries, including Australia, if you have strong family ties, a special skill or a job offer in a field with shortages, the visa process is relatively smooth, but if you don't have those things going for you, it is extremely difficult to get a work or migrant visa for the U.S.

[fryga]

You have a 3 year old, you have to find housing in a good school district, so your choices are very limited and pricey. A private preschool will set you back $1500/mo or more, depends which area, so add that to your rent calcs. Also you'll find that a lot of private preschools here are totaly horrid, even the pricey ones. At 4 yrs old your child will qualify for Transitional Kindergarden if they were born between Sept and Dec months. As to good elementary schools in this area: none in Venice, so so in Playa Vista, none in Marina Del Ray, Farragut Elemt. In Culver City, and schools north of Montana St in Santa Monica, and most in Brentwood. 2 bed ugly appt will cost you about $3k, and a single family house at least $4,500 + utilities. Don't waste money on high house pmt./rent, you'll need it for all the other expensive stuff here. Housing is very competitive here, some private landlords will not rent to families with kids.