big family relocating to LA, are we nuts?? (Glendale, Thousand Oaks: apartments, rentals)

[nobunagana]

- We have 4 kids (ages 5 to 12) who we'd like to keep in sports (gymnastics, tae kwon do, football, etc).
- We are in our early 30's
- I am an experienced software dev manager. I am making around $140k with 10% bonus in the chicago area now and expect to be able to get a decent offer around $150 to $160 in the LA area with a relocation package (based on conversations with recruiters and job prospects).
- My wife has been stay-at-home for the last 10 years but wants to get going on a career in the entertainment or music industry (and doesn't have unrealistic expectations for fortune and fame).
- We will avoid daycare (wife will work while kids are in school)
- We've always wanted to move out west but have each only been out there once when we were younger.
- We like the idea of the weather and the opportunity and have never felt "at home" where we grew up and where we are now
- we have some family about an hour north of LA
- I expect to find work in the Culver city/Santa Monica area or Glendale/Burbank area
- I'd prefer to keep my average commute to under 40 minutes

I hope to find a safe place to rent (to start), 3 or 4 bedrooms with at least 1800 square feet with above average schools that has good opportunities for kids (sports, etc) but is within an hour or less of the city.

My fears
- $150k isn't enough to rent a liveable sized house in a decent area and keep kids in sports? Wife start part time work but it will be an unknown amount of extra income for an unknown amount of time
- if I find the right neighborhood, commute will be terrible
- water is running out in CA?
- earthquakes/half of CA is going to sink into the Pacific
- crime


Are we nuts to think this will work out for us? Is there a place that meets our expectations? I've done research and have my ideas but I'd love some feedback from people who actually live in the area. Thanks!

[nightlysparrow]

Exactly how much out of that salary are you willing to spend on rent? Remember in a SFH you will pay electric and water and which are both high here.

[radiolibre99]

Glendale, Burbank you can probably make it. Outside the valley, it might be questionable. You're standard of living might drop.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by nobunagana

My fears
- $150k isn't enough to rent a liveable sized house in a decent area and keep kids in sports? Wife start part time work but it will be an unknown amount of extra income for an unknown amount of time
- if I find the right neighborhood, commute will be terrible
- water is running out in CA?
- earthquakes/half of CA is going to sink into the Pacific
- crime

-Money and schools depend on location, location, location, but is enough for some good areas
-Most commutes are terrible. It's part of life here. However, no ice, snow, sleet, etc. to drive in. The freeways are free though, many have 6 lanes, and there's a lot of them
-Water rates may seriously rise, and rationing is possible if this year's El Nino doesn't happen
-California's San Andreas Fault is a slip/strike fault, so the Pacific Plate is moving north. Thrust faults are what they show in movies, sinking like you imagine is not possible
-Crime is extremely localized, you're from Chicago, same thing really

[nobunagana]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Exactly how much out of that salary are you willing to spend on rent? Remember in a SFH you will pay electric and water and which are both high here.

I am expecting to pay around $3k to $4k in rent but am worried about what will be left over for sports and kids expenses, etc. For example, right now I pay $235/mo for USAG gymnastics (plus tons of meet fees), $115/mo for martial arts, and ~$500 a year for football.

Are sports a lot more expensive than what I am paying now?
I am paying around $240/mo for gas, utilities, and electric now. What should I expect to pay for a ~2000sq ft SFH? I assume less gas and more electricity (AC all year instead of heat in the winter).

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Glendale, Burbank you can probably make it. Outside the valley, it might be questionable. You're standard of living might drop.

Sorry if I ask an obvious question, but what areas does the term "the valley" all cover? Is there a map somewhere with annotations that show all these "terms" that people in LA know?

I do expect a smaller house and to not eat out nearly as often as we do now, but I am hoping for more opportunity for my kids.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by nobunagana

I am expecting to pay around $3k to $4k in rent but am worried about what will be left over for sports and kids expenses, etc. For example, right now I pay $235/mo for USAG gymnastics (plus tons of meet fees), $115/mo for martial arts, and ~$500 a year for football.

Are sports a lot more expensive than what I am paying now?

I am paying around $240/mo for gas, utilities, and electric now. What should I expect to pay for a ~2000sq ft SFH? I assume less gas and more electricity (AC all year instead of heat in the winter).

Sorry if I ask an obvious question, but what areas does the term "the valley" all cover?

You will not need a/c "all year." Most days are temperate except a few weeks in summer, and things cool down at night for easy sleeping. And no humidity! Costs will even out about the same.

Here's a sample from my end of the LA Metro. Top, TOP schools systems with great sports (but don't know about those sports fees, sorry):

Houses for Rent in Agoura Hills, CA - realtor.com®

"The Valley" means the San Fernando Valley. You don't want the schools there. Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks are in the Conejo Valley. Burbank and Glendale are in the San Gabriel Valley. Just Google these for more info. Illinois is the second-flattest US State (FL #1) so you will need to get used to the concept of hills and valleys out here.

[V8 Vega]

The San Fernando Valley goes from Glendale to Sylmar and from Burbank to Chatsworth. The next valleys over a mountain range Simi Valley and Valancia are newer.

[cmarlin20]

The Agoura Hills area area also came to my mind, its a good family area..

[nobunagana]

Originally Posted by cmarlin20

The Agoura Hills area area also came to my mind, its a good family area..

I've used trulia to research and was looking a lot around the Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Woodland hills areas but I keep seeing things saying that the commute from these areas to Culver City, for example, would be as high as an 1 to 1.5 hours, is that accurate?

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by nobunagana

I've used trulia to research and was looking a lot around the Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Woodland hills areas but I keep seeing things saying that the commute from these areas to Culver City, for example, would be as high as an 1 to 1.5 hours, is that accurate?

That all depends on what time of day you travel. Agoura to Culver City 1.5 hours in rush hour? Sure. But off hours, 50 minutes. We're talking about the 101 to the 405 route. People really get into listening to recorded books. You can easily work your way through the unabridged versions all the bestsellers

Note: Woodland Hills is in the Valley, meaning LAUSD.