Moving to LA from MI (Long Beach, Orange: apartments, vacation, rental)

[MissCC]

Ive been wanting to move to Cali for a long time and finally decided to take the jump! Ive read through a lot of the forums so ive gotten a LOT of good information, so thank you to everyone! So very helpful.

A little info on the situation, looking in
long beach
belmont shores
west LA
San digeo?

ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE OCEAN
the closer the better, the happier I will be! haha, im open to all areas as long as its safe and fun...

Im looking for a one - two bedroom no more than 1300 a month (perferably with parking) I would rather spend less, but if thats what I have to pay for ocean I suppose i have to! I work from home so commuting isnt a problem(web design) and I have looked up 24 hour fitness /ballys (already a lifetime member) ...they seem to be everywhere, so again not a problem. Im also a group fitness instructor so I would love to get a side job doing that to meet some new people.

Any specific areas I should be looking for? More single /young oriented...Im 22 and moving with no one out there that I know!

[CESpeed]

Downtown Long Beach is on the beach and has work/live places there. I'm not 100% on the rates, but it's the only area of Long Beach besides Belmont Shore I would recommend to anyone.

As for West LA, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Rey are all out of your price range, but if you dont mind being about 15-20 away from the beach to be in a more price friendly safe area consider Culver City.

[MissCC]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Downtown Long Beach is on the beach and has work/live places there. I'm not 100% on the rates, but it's the only area of Long Beach besides Belmont Shore I would recommend to anyone.

As for West LA, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Rey are all out of your price range, but if you dont mind being about 15-20 away from the beach to be in a more price friendly safe area consider Culver City.

ive actually found a lot of places in those areas u mentioned for a decent price that looked okay.....am I just getting bad areas?

[CESpeed]

Be more specific. L.A. tends to be spotty.

[MissCC]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Be more specific. L.A. tends to be spotty.

ahh gotcha, well I cant really be specific since I dont know the areas well...Ive just been looking at apts, looking at a map and kinda figuring out where everything is. I appericiate the help !

[CESpeed]

If you can tell me the addresses, streets, anything, I'll try to help. A good measure for if it sounds too good to be true, check all prices not just your range. If there are waaay more out of your range, be careful. There are some bargains, but more often than not it's not a desirable area.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Downtown Long Beach is on the beach and has work/live places there. I'm not 100% on the rates, but it's the only area of Long Beach besides Belmont Shore I would recommend to anyone.

As for West LA, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Rey are all out of your price range, but if you dont mind being about 15-20 away from the beach to be in a more price friendly safe area consider Culver City.

I lived near Woodruff and Spring and it is as suburban/bland as it gets. Area is west of El Dorado Park. And there are lots of apartments near Ximeno, east of the traffic circle, safe and convenient. And what about the places near CSULB, off Bellflower? There are tons of apartments and the area is perfectly safe. Areas around universities are usually acceptable.

On the other hand, I would definitely avoid the center of town. It has gotten alot worse over the years. That would be PCH and Cherry, or Orange. Haven't been downtown in a long time.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by MissCC

ive actually found a lot of places in those areas u mentioned for a decent price that looked okay.....am I just getting bad areas?

if you are finding something near the beach for $1300, make sure it is not a weekly rate for a vacation rental. it's hard to find rent that low in a decent part of LA that's nowhere near the beach, so that sounds suspect to me.

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

I lived near Woodruff and Spring and it is as suburban/bland as it gets. Area is west of El Dorado Park. And there are lots of apartments near Ximeno, east of the traffic circle, safe and convenient. And what about the places near CSULB, off Bellflower? There are tons of apartments and the area is perfectly safe. Areas around universities are usually acceptable.

On the other hand, I would definitely avoid the center of town. It has gotten alot worse over the years. That would be PCH and Cherry, or Orange. Haven't been downtown in a long time.

I agree. PCH and Cherry is not a good area. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by how nice Downtown has become. When I lived in LB in 1999, it was really bad and they had just started the rehab. I think they did a really good job. The far north part of Long Beach (the other side of Bixby Knolls) is not good at all, either. Basically avoid 90805 and 90813.

[MissCC]

thank you everyone!! ill try to post somethings im looking at , you are extremly helpful CE!