Re: Ideal locations for renting an apartment? Working in Santa Clarita (Los Angeles: crime, how much)

[CALGUY]

It always cracks me up when people need a place close to "night life".
You can commute the 20, or 30 miles to that "night life" on week ends, like most working people do.
Unless you are out partying every night, why is a short commute to "night life" so important?
I would rather have a short work commute on the days I work.
Working in Santa Clarita, you should be looking at rentals there, instead of a place miles from work.


Bob.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

It always cracks me up when people need a place close to "night life".
You can commute the 20, or 30 miles to that "night life" on week ends, like most working people do.
Unless you are out partying every night, why is a short commute to "night life" so important?
I would rather have a short work commute on the days I work.
Working in Santa Clarita, you should be looking at rentals there, instead of a place miles from work.


Bob.

Why the hell would a young, single, 20-something want to live in an overpriced Stepford-like environment where watching a game from the bar of a chain restaurant is considered "entertainment" ?

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Not really, you could take the 170 freeway which goes into the 5 to Santa Clarita. The 405 and the 170 end up in the same place. Sherman Oaks is nice, but except along Ventura Blvd., pretty dull.

There is nothing that would interest you in Van Nuys, North Hills or Granada Hills. Nothing.

They asked for an apartment within L.A. that is close to Santa Clarita without being there.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by skygazer1

Why blow $1700/mo on rent! Working in Santa Clarita puts you in a great advantage buying a home in Palmdale. Its about the 20 miles away. Compared to the bleary-eyed workers who fight all the way into LA from there, you'd have a breeze of a commute

Only the nightlife thing may disappoint. But, what's most important to you, building equity and financial freedom, or blowing it away on rent and booze?

They didn't express that they were looking for a home, just wanting to rent close to Santa Clarita and be close to nightlife in L.A.


Your Palmdale suggestion would apply if they wanted to settle down and buy property.

[skygazer1]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

They didn't express that they were looking for a home, just wanting to rent close to Santa Clarita and be close to nightlife in L.A.


Your Palmdale suggestion would apply if they wanted to settle down and buy property.

A rental is a home, but the worst deal for a home, especially if you pay a LOT for one. The way to go is to rent a cheap room for a short time, save up for your down payment, make your FICO as good as you can, and get an FHA loan on a real property!

This is just my "expression" of a good life plan, they can certainly take it or leave it

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by skygazer1

A rental is a home, but the worst deal for a home, especially if you pay a LOT for one. The way to go is to rent a cheap room for a short time, save up for your down payment, make your FICO as good as you can, and get an FHA loan on a real property!

This is just my "expression" of a good life plan, they can certainly take it or leave it

Agreed +1

[CALGUY]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Why the hell would a young, single, 20-something want to live in an overpriced Stepford-like environment where watching a game from the bar of a chain restaurant is considered "entertainment" ?

You completely missed the point.

Monday through Friday is the usual work week for most people, and on weekends, that is the time to go for the night life.
The object should be to live close to work, and save the longer trips to go to where the night life exist, on week ends.


Bob.

[scg949]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Why the hell would a young, single, 20-something want to live in an overpriced Stepford-like environment where watching a game from the bar of a chain restaurant is considered "entertainment" ?

kttam186290, I think you totally get where I am coming from. Within 20 minutes from work and within 20-25 miles from nightlife would be the optimal combination for me. I think the areas you mentioned make a lot of sense.

I'll look at a place in Northridge and shall look online into the other areas you mentioned. There is a lot that can be done with google maps and craigslist, you're right.

For those of you who are saying "why stay close to nightlife" and "why not just go out on the weekends", and "why not live in Palmdale", and so on - you guys are all right. Although from your angle it may make perfect sense, it is simply not the right thing for me right now. If you read my original post, my question was quite specific.

This morning, I drove the same route. It took only about 18 mins from Nordhoff, Sherman Oaks being a few minutes longer.

I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to give me some feedback.

[scg949]

How is the south side of 210 in Sylmar? Do you guys think this is a good area?

I looked at the Northridge location today. Although on the freeway it is only 18 minutes (from work, at 5:30PM), once I exited the freeway to get to my destination, it took a while on surface streets. Also got a chance to drive around in the Granada Hills area.

[timtemtym]

Northridge has a lot going on because is is a university area. There is a lot in the works for that area too with redevelopment. Plus CSUN always has events going on. If you're a 20-something, it's not that bad. A lot of CSUN students are 20's to early 30's. Kids don't just go straight from high school into there. It has a lot of students who worked for a few years. So the area isn't just 18-22 year olds.

The types of apartments and amenities you can get in Santa Clarita are way newer and nicer and more affordable than anywhere in the valley, but I get that you don't want to be stuck out in suburbia just yet.

Have you looked at Burbank? It's a straight shot and anti-commute in the morning up the 5 meaning no dealing with those transition roads. Burbank has some areas in your price range and a LOT going on. Plus you have the added safety of it being Burbank police which patrol a much smaller area and keep the city very safe.

Just north of downtown are a lot of areas where people are redoing those old 50's style apartments and putting in nice amenities. I go to the 24 hour fitness over there sometimes and it is a nice one! People are nice and chatty if you take your headphones off.

There is a lot of nightlife in Burbank and also North Hollywood. There are a lot of little theaters and hangout restaurants. There is a Tex-Mex restaurant/bar there that feels straight out of Austin. It has a big outdoor area with a bar and games.