If you can't spend $2k for rent why are you here? (San Diego: violent crime, safe neighborhood)

[buffyuna]

Originally Posted by maggie2101

I happen to like old apartments. I had a 1 bedroom in a 4-plex in Hollywood with hardwood floors, large living room with balcony, formal dining room, a service porch for washer/dryer, and parking in back of the building.

My best friend's father lived in the exact same apartment when he was growing up in the 40s.

Older buildings are ok if they actually remodel them! Most of those places look like they just slathered white paint over every surface and called it a day!

[Nerdlord]

Studio - 2 Bed Apartments | LUXE

$1800 for Class A brand new studio.



Class B/C properties in similar areas will be < $1500.

[buffyuna]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Well everyone is different.
Some people just don't want to live in Vegas,Chicago or Atlanta even if it's cheaper.

Also the entertainment industry is only one sector of the economy in L.A
It's not like Vegas where working in the Hospitality industry (Casinos,hotels) is pretty much the only game in town.

There are also quite a few people that are from here , natives and they live with family that might have the house paid off or a cheap mortgage payment. It seems pretty common in L.A.

Also a lot of people do leave L.A and CA, but they are mostly replaced by other people usually higher income people so it doesn't really bring the population down.

Are you making somewhat close to six figures now? It's only a small part of the population that makes $100,000+ in L.A
It's not super rare, but not really common either.
Average household income is $56,000 yr.

Maybe Vegas was a poor example I will admit. And I read that the middle class out here makes $100-300k, and with how expensive rent is I don't doubt it. Where are these $56k people living, in the outskirts or Long Beach?

[Nerdlord]

Originally Posted by buffyuna

Maybe Vegas was a poor example I will admit. And I read that the middle class out here makes $100-300k, and with how expensive rent is I don't doubt it. Where are these $56k people living, in the outskirts or Long Beach?

Well they don't live in new construction class A apartments, I can assure you that.

Millions of people live in East LA, South LA, Pacoima, Panorama City, Montebello, Pico Rivera, El Monte, etc.

[buffyuna]

Originally Posted by jacktravern

Chicago has awful weather, a terrible reputation for crime, ATL is a little too humid and altogether southern for some of us, and Vegas is cool, but my salary would be about 20K less. The homes are cheaper I'm sure all over the mid-west and the south, but do I and others REAAAALY wanna live in Nebraska or Arkansas........Uggggh NO . If things were too cheap here, then everyone and they're mama would come to Southern California and this place would be as crowded and ugly as NYC. No thanks.

But you could afford a super safe neighborhood in Chicago for the same price as a meh neighborhood in LA so the crime wouldn't be a factor! I moved from Chicago because all I could afford was $550 in rent and that meant I had to live in a borderline neighborhood. For what I'm paying in LA I could be living by the beach with all the boogie hipsters instead of slumming it.

[buffyuna]

Originally Posted by Nerdlord

Studio - 2 Bed Apartments | LUXE

$1800 for Class A brand new studio.



Class B/C properties in similar areas will be < $1500.

But that's like a suburb right? Its still expensive to be outside of the city imo.

[buffyuna]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yeah I lived in an older apt in Hollywood..I don't really see the point in paying a huge premium for a newer looking building and access to a gym and pool . You can get a gym membership a lot cheaper than that and probably a much nicer gym that what these buildings offer.

I can see paying more for something you own..but for rent it doesn't seem like a good value..everyone is different though..

For me its the fact that these places are probably filled with lead paint coupled with the dated appliances. A dishwasher shouldn't be a luxury but it seems like it is in LA. And if you want appliances that aren't basic or from the 80's you better be prepared to pay some serious cash. Its depressing.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by Nerdlord

Where can I rent a "semi luxury" apartment in downtown Chicago for $1,000? What's that even mean? Semi roach infested? I wouldn't touch a $1,000 1BR apartment in the Loop with a 10 foot pole.

Nice apartments in the Loop start at $1,800-2,000 per month just like many nice areas of LA. The difference is the boonies of Chicago are way cheaper.

Similar to how Denver Metro used to be some areas still but even Parker is expensive now.

[Mr_Geek]

Champagne taste on a beer budget doesn't work anywhere.

[dylan_505]

Coming from NYC, LA rent is super cheap to me.