Questions about LA. (Glendale, Irvine, Orange: affordable apartments, lease, insurance)

[BrandonB]

Alright so im a 20yr old male and in few months I plan to start applying for jobs in video game development. Right now LA is going to be the first place I apply in. The reason is not for the movie and tv show LA. The reason LA is my first choice is I do have a few friends there and game development jobs are plentiful in California.

Now I am doing as much research over the next few months before I apply for jobs so I know exactly what I am getting into and what I need. So any help is much appreciated. Also I come from a very small town in Iowa so I know things are going to be drastically different so I am trying to prepare as much as possible.

Now for my first question where in LA would be best for me to live if I am getting into game development. I know it depends where company is located also so a variety of options given would be great. How much a studio or 1 bedroom apartment estimation would be great.

Next question I may need a car upon that time its unsure at the moment but what would rent on a car be like there and until I would be able to get another one? Now this is just to make sure because I am not sure what will happen near future.

Alright also how much money I will need probably saved up for the move? I know most game development studios give you relocation money so I am just curious how much I would need to make the move, so I can kinda figure out how much I should get saved back plus relocation money.

Also anything you think I should know before considering this move. It will be a couple months before I start my job search so the more I know the better I guess I should say.

[dereistic01]

depending on the location, your looking at $800-$1200 for a studio, $1200+ for a 1 bedroom.

you can buy a fairly good car for around $3000, i bought a 1992 bmw for $2000, someone backed into the drivers side door, it's not a bad dent at all, but nobody wanted it with the dent so i got it cheap.

i had $10,000 saved up, but i also have 2 checks equaling $16,000 coming from my student loan. if you are going to have a job immediately, id say you need at least $5,000. you are going to have to pay first and last months rent up front, and possibly a security deposit. and if you buy a car, the best thing to do is pay cash, if you can afford it. plus, depending on how long it takes you to find an apartment, you might be staying in a hotel for a while.

just keep checking craigslist, you will find most everything you're looking for on there.

[CESpeed]

If you are from a small town you probably want to stick to Burbank or Glendale. If you want to rent a car, there's a place called 699 rent a car but be careful they will try to stick you with a junker. (but I got a nice one) If you are moving here with a job and have good credit, you will need about three month's rent and expenses about $ 6000 - $7500. (rent = $ 750 - 1000 for a studio/single or $ 850 - $1250 for a 1 bedroom plus if you live comfortably around another $1000 - $1500 for expenses) thus why I'm moving to Arkansas. L.A. can be beautiful if you live on the Westside or east Hollywood/Los Feliz area, or in Mulholland or the Sunset Strip otherwise, it's nothing like the movies. Stay away from downtown, except to shop, no matter how much they've renovated even around the Staples Center there's nothing there. To get basic necessities, you would have to travel at least 15-20 min because there are no grocery stores, etc., in the immmediate area.

[dereistic01]

burbank is nice. i live really close to burbank, everything i need is within 5 miles.

[bhcompy]

Activision and other developers are located in the Santa Monica area. Pretty pricey and mostly urban or urban/suburban hybrid

Blizzard and others are in the Irvine area(Orange county), still pricey, but mostly suburban sometimes the areas are even close to rural(Rancho Santa Margarita isn't too far and can give you a bit of a country feel because of the landscape, same with Santiago Canyon area and such which may have affordable apartments since there is a community college there)

As far as move expenses, my experience renting is that you usually need the first months rent(anywhere from 600 to 1500 depending on area and luck) and security deposit which again varies from area to area but i've usually seen it around the same price as the monthly rent.

as far as a car, cant help you there. insurance expenses will be more in LA than the irvine area and smog checks are required every few years for cars, so make sure any car you purchase has passed smog recently

[woogexx]

you dont need first and last months rent AND a deposit. places dont ask for first and last AND deposit. Id have enuff for the next months rent and $ for bills & for food and stuff.....so like next months rent+600 at lease....

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by woogexx

you dont need first and last months rent AND a deposit. places dont ask for first and last AND deposit. Id have enuff for the next months rent and $ for bills & for food and stuff.....so like next months rent+600 at lease....

No, they don't if you have good credit. If you have crappy credit, they ask for first and a security equal to DOUBLE the rent, so they may as well as for first, last and security because it equals out to the same thing.

Obviously, the more you have the better off you'll be.