Where to live? working in Santa Monica (Woodland, Brentwood: to rent, neighborhood)

[ewilson33]

My husband daughter and I will be moving to LA in a few months. My husband got a job and will be working about 5 miles NE from Santa Monica. Does anyone have any advice where to live. We are looking for good place to raise kids. I know traffic can be bad and my husband doesn't want to commute for more than 45 min. in each direction. We will probably want to rent for a year before buying and would be willing to spend up to $3000. month. for a 3 or 4 bedroom. Thanks!!

[CESpeed]

If you can afford $3000 per month, what's wrong with Santa Monica itself? You might even want to check out Brentwood or Westwood since that sounds like the area your husband will be working in. There are lots of threads on all three.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by ewilson33

My husband daughter and I will be moving to LA in a few months. My husband got a job and will be working about 5 miles NE from Santa Monica. Does anyone have any advice where to live. We are looking for good place to raise kids. I know traffic can be bad and my husband doesn't want to commute for more than 45 min. in each direction. We will probably want to rent for a year before buying and would be willing to spend up to $3000. month. for a 3 or 4 bedroom. Thanks!!

where is that location? santa monica abuts a mountain at its northern edge, so five miles NE sounds like it could be over the hill. if that's the case, then you should be looking to live in the valley, if you want a to avoid a long commute. being five miles from anywhere in this town doesn't mean you're "near" it when traffic is involved.

[LASam]

Yeah, Katenik has a good point. If he is going to work in the valley you should look at Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Agoura. If he is going to work in Santa Monica you should look in Northern Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood.

[caliguy92832]

You know, Arnold Schwarzennger used to be a regular in Santa Monica. He used to go to church there (he might still), he did bodybuilding workouts at Golds and Worlds gym, even opened up his own restraunt there. Lou Ferrigno also lives there.

[SurekRZA]

At 3,000 a month you might be able to find a 3 bedroom in Santa Monica itself. My suggestion is to choose Encino. Its a 10 minute drive to Santa Monica without traffic and when there is traffic you can avoid that 405/101 Intersection. You will probably have more luck finding something for 3,000 or less in Encino with a good neighborhood.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by caliguy92832

You know, Arnold Schwarzennger used to be a regular in Santa Monica. He used to go to church there (he might still), he did bodybuilding workouts at Golds and Worlds gym, even opened up his own restraunt there. Lou Ferrigno also lives there.

Arnold moved to Brentwood. I think he still goes to the same church and ocassionally the same gym though.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by SurekRZA

At 3,000 a month you might be able to find a 3 bedroom in Santa Monica itself. My suggestion is to choose Encino. Its a 10 minute drive to Santa Monica without traffic and when there is traffic you can avoid that 405/101 Intersection. You will probably have more luck finding something for 3,000 or less in Encino with a good neighborhood.

how does one do that without encountering all the other commuters who have the same idea? there aren't that many ways to travel between the westside and the valley, and when there's traffic, they are all a mess.

i brought up the valley because it isn't clear to me that OP's husband's job is in santa monica at all, and might, in fact, be over the hill. i would never suggest that someone move to the valley in order to commute to santa monica.

[SurekRZA]

Originally Posted by katenik

how does one do that without encountering all the other commuters who have the same idea? there aren't that many ways to travel between the westside and the valley, and when there's traffic, they are all a mess.

i brought up the valley because it isn't clear to me that OP's husband's job is in santa monica at all, and might, in fact, be over the hill. i would never suggest that someone move to the valley in order to commute to santa monica.

I used to work in Santa Monica and commuted from Encino and Koreatown. Traffic in the morning wasn't that bad comming from Encino. You have to also consider that the working commute is not her only concern but housing as well in a good but affordable neighborhood.

[greggd]

If you are freeway only, the commute is bearable. Its the surface streets that double the time.