questions about moving to california (Los Angeles, San Diego: apartments, foreclosure, renting)

[mugawumpmusic]

I'm 19M, and my friend and I are planning to move somewhere in southern california (LA to San Diego) next year. Looking for a cheap place to live (under $1000/m), and a potential job. I'm an aspiring jazz musician and would like to live somewhere with a music scene, and a beach. I also won't have a car, so it's important that I'd be close to stuff going on. So far I've looked online for apartments and whatnot, and I get the fealing its only the tip of the iceburg. I've never rented before, and am looking for suggestions on how to find the right place for me.

I'd like to believe I've got great street smarts, but I've honestly never lived in a city before. Along with suggestions of places to go, I'd also appreciate knowing some places not to go, or what to expect if i did in fact go there.

[CESpeed]

You want Santa Monica or West Hollywood (Sunset Strip). If you want the beach, definitely Santa Monica. You'll probably want a roommate situation. And you REALLY want to get a car ASAP. The buses here (MTA) are not reliable. Also you can play on the 3rd St Promenade on the weekends but I don't know how to get a permit for that, try contacting the City of Santa Monica.

[FellowTraveler]

Originally Posted by mugawumpmusic

I'm 19M, and my friend and I are planning to move somewhere in southern california (LA to San Diego) next year. Looking for a cheap place to live (under $1000/m), and a potential job. I'm an aspiring jazz musician and would like to live somewhere with a music scene, and a beach. I also won't have a car, so it's important that I'd be close to stuff going on. So far I've looked online for apartments and whatnot, and I get the fealing its only the tip of the iceburg. I've never rented before, and am looking for suggestions on how to find the right place for me.

I'd like to believe I've got great street smarts, but I've honestly never lived in a city before. Along with suggestions of places to go, I'd also appreciate knowing some places not to go, or what to expect if i did in fact go there.

As someone who moved to Southern California initially without a car, I can tell you that while it is technically possible to exist in SoCal without a car, in any practical sense it makes life unlivable. But some areas are worse than others for the car-challenged among us.

In truth, Santa Monica is probably the one part of Los Angeles where you could live the way you might in a typical east coast city (i.e. without a car). Most everything is within walking distance and the public transportation is great (Big Blue Bus on top of the Metro). Venice would be a second choice for this kind of convenience, and both cities are "where it's at" for a young aspiring musician. If you are looking for gigs, you will find many in these two locales.

The only issue then is cost. If you are looking for a 2 bdrm apt. for under $1000 to share with your friend, that is doable in parts of L.A., but not in SM or Venice, which is definitely where you want to live given your lack of a car. My advice would be to find houses that are renting out rooms, and see if someone is looking for more than one roommate. If you want to live by the beach for $500 per person, three or four people to a house is the only way to do it. Go on craigslist or on roomates.com to find places.

Whatever you do, avoid the Valley like the plague. And when you see a place, make sure to check out the public transportation options before committing. On a map it may look like the subway stop or bus stop is close, but in reality it could be a long walk on a trash-laden street that doesn't even have a sidewalk and that goes under a freeway overpass. Seriously. This is what many many parts of L.A. are like.

And for goodness sakes save up your money when you come here, because within a couple of months you will be willing to saw off your own right arm for a car. Trust me. I came to SoCal for the weather and the opportunities, and I was the most anti-car person you could have met (still like taking the subway when I can), but it didn't take long for me to change my attitude. I don't know where you are from but L.A. is NOT LIKE THE EAST COAST. If you do not have a car in this town you will feel the stigma of it. Car-less individuals here are viewed as lepers or social pariahs, because even the illegal immigrants have cars here.

Where I was originally from (Canada), riding the subway/bus was considered totally normal, and even rich people ride the subway there. But when I came here and encountered the shocked looks on people's faces when I explained that no, I can't go the baseball game with you tomorrow because it takes 8 hours each way with 7 transfers in between to get to the game on the bus, I realized that telling them I didn't have a car felt pretty much like telling them I had a rare communicable disease and was going to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. When the shock wore off, pity was what I saw in their eyes.

So in L.A., not having a car is equivalent to being confined to a wheelchair. That pretty much sums it up.

I just realized that without intending it I have answered your last question - telling you what to expect. Honestly L.A. is a vibrant, dynamic city that is more addictive than crack cocaine (not that I have tried crack cocaine), and I bet you will love it here. But you will want a car. And until you have one I insist that you consider Santa Monica and Venice above all else, because they are the only places where you will even survive without one.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by FellowTraveler

As someone who moved to Southern California initially without a car, I can tell you that while it is technically possible to exist in SoCal without a car, in any practical sense it makes life unlivable. But some areas are worse than others for the car-challenged among us.

In truth, Santa Monica is probably the one part of Los Angeles where you could live the way you might in a typical east coast city (i.e. without a car). Most everything is within walking distance and the public transportation is great (Big Blue Bus on top of the Metro). Venice would be a second choice for this kind of convenience, and both cities are "where it's at" for a young aspiring musician. If you are looking for gigs, you will find many in these two locales.

The only issue then is cost. If you are looking for a 2 bdrm apt. for under $1000 to share with your friend, that is doable in parts of L.A., but not in SM or Venice, which is definitely where you want to live given your lack of a car. My advice would be to find houses that are renting out rooms, and see if someone is looking for more than one roommate. If you want to live by the beach for $500 per person, three or four people to a house is the only way to do it. Go on craigslist or on roomates.com to find places.

Whatever you do, avoid the Valley like the plague. And when you see a place, make sure to check out the public transportation options before committing. On a map it may look like the subway stop or bus stop is close, but in reality it could be a long walk on a trash-laden street that doesn't even have a sidewalk and that goes under a freeway overpass. Seriously. This is what many many parts of L.A. are like.

And for goodness sakes save up your money when you come here, because within a couple of months you will be willing to saw off your own right arm for a car. Trust me. I came to SoCal for the weather and the opportunities, and I was the most anti-car person you could have met (still like taking the subway when I can), but it didn't take long for me to change my attitude. I don't know where you are from but L.A. is NOT LIKE THE EAST COAST. If you do not have a car in this town you will feel the stigma of it. Car-less individuals here are viewed as lepers or social pariahs, because even the illegal immigrants have cars here.

Where I was originally from (Canada), riding the subway/bus was considered totally normal, and even rich people ride the subway there. But when I came here and encountered the shocked looks on people's faces when I explained that no, I can't go the baseball game with you tomorrow because it takes 8 hours each way with 7 transfers in between to get to the game on the bus, I realized that telling them I didn't have a car felt pretty much like telling them I had a rare communicable disease and was going to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. When the shock wore off, pity was what I saw in their eyes.

So in L.A., not having a car is equivalent to being confined to a wheelchair. That pretty much sums it up.

I just realized that without intending it I have answered your last question - telling you what to expect. Honestly L.A. is a vibrant, dynamic city that is more addictive than crack cocaine (not that I have tried crack cocaine), and I bet you will love it here. But you will want a car. And until you have one I insist that you consider Santa Monica and Venice above all else, because they are the only places where you will even survive without one.

I agree with just about all of that but I must say that taking the subway/train does not have the stigma taking the bus had when I was a kid. I took the Hollywood train last night: caught it at 7th/Fig at 6:45 and was at Hollywood/Vine just before 7- not bad. Then I walked to 1313 Vine for a screening. The train was packed with every stripe of commuter imagineable.

I used to get funny looks when I told my co-workers I took the train to work or to Hollywood, etc. Now the tide seems to have turned because now THEY are getting funny looks from people who can't believe they drive, with gas as high as it is, from their homes adjacent to Metrolink and local stations, into downtown. Once you realize they have their heads up their you-know-what's, the stigma gig kinda disappears. Then YOU get to feel superior.

One can definitely 'survive' without a car if you live in Mt Wash, or South Pasadena, or Pasadena. I know, I've done it AND played in a band part-time (one of the guys picked me up- I paid for gas). But a car does make alot of things more accessible and quicker, true.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by FellowTraveler

As someone who moved to Southern California initially without a car, I can tell you that while it is technically possible to exist in SoCal without a car, in any practical sense it makes life unlivable. But some areas are worse than others for the car-challenged among us.

In truth, Santa Monica is probably the one part of Los Angeles where you could live the way you might in a typical east coast city (i.e. without a car). Most everything is within walking distance and the public transportation is great (Big Blue Bus on top of the Metro). Venice would be a second choice for this kind of convenience, and both cities are "where it's at" for a young aspiring musician. If you are looking for gigs, you will find many in these two locales.

The only issue then is cost. If you are looking for a 2 bdrm apt. for under $1000 to share with your friend, that is doable in parts of L.A., but not in SM or Venice, which is definitely where you want to live given your lack of a car. My advice would be to find houses that are renting out rooms, and see if someone is looking for more than one roommate. If you want to live by the beach for $500 per person, three or four people to a house is the only way to do it. Go on craigslist or on roomates.com to find places.

Whatever you do, avoid the Valley like the plague. And when you see a place, make sure to check out the public transportation options before committing. On a map it may look like the subway stop or bus stop is close, but in reality it could be a long walk on a trash-laden street that doesn't even have a sidewalk and that goes under a freeway overpass. Seriously. This is what many many parts of L.A. are like.

And for goodness sakes save up your money when you come here, because within a couple of months you will be willing to saw off your own right arm for a car. Trust me. I came to SoCal for the weather and the opportunities, and I was the most anti-car person you could have met (still like taking the subway when I can), but it didn't take long for me to change my attitude. I don't know where you are from but L.A. is NOT LIKE THE EAST COAST. If you do not have a car in this town you will feel the stigma of it. Car-less individuals here are viewed as lepers or social pariahs, because even the illegal immigrants have cars here.

Where I was originally from (Canada), riding the subway/bus was considered totally normal, and even rich people ride the subway there. But when I came here and encountered the shocked looks on people's faces when I explained that no, I can't go the baseball game with you tomorrow because it takes 8 hours each way with 7 transfers in between to get to the game on the bus, I realized that telling them I didn't have a car felt pretty much like telling them I had a rare communicable disease and was going to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. When the shock wore off, pity was what I saw in their eyes.

So in L.A., not having a car is equivalent to being confined to a wheelchair. That pretty much sums it up.

I just realized that without intending it I have answered your last question - telling you what to expect. Honestly L.A. is a vibrant, dynamic city that is more addictive than crack cocaine (not that I have tried crack cocaine), and I bet you will love it here. But you will want a car. And until you have one I insist that you consider Santa Monica and Venice above all else, because they are the only places where you will even survive without one.

I agree with just about all of that but I must say that taking the subway/train does not have the stigma taking the bus had when I was a kid. I took the Hollywood train last night: caught it at 7th/Fig at 6:45 and was at Hollywood/Vine just before 7- not bad. Then I walked to 1313 Vine for a screening. The train was packed with every stripe of commuter imagineable.

I used to get funny looks when I told my co-workers I took the train to work or to Hollywood, etc. Now the tide seems to have turned because now THEY are getting funny looks from people who can't believe they drive, with gas as high as it is, from their homes adjacent to Metrolink and local stations, into downtown. Once you realize they have their heads up their you-know-what's, the stigma gig kinda disappears. Then YOU get to feel superior.

One can definitely 'survive' without a car if you live in Mt Wash, or South Pasadena, or Pasadena. I know, I've done it AND played in a band part-time (one of the guys picked me up- I paid for gas). But a car does make alot of things more accessible and quicker, true.

No beach, though. And Buster's in So Pas only has jazz on the weekends. We are trying to start a jam in Highland Park/Mt Washington- I know Antigua @ Fig and Ave 57 hosts jazz acts now, for what it's worth.

[FellowTraveler]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

I agree with just about all of that but I must say that taking the subway/train does not have the stigma taking the bus had when I was a kid. I took the Hollywood train last night: caught it at 7th/Fig at 6:45 and was at Hollywood/Vine just before 7- not bad. Then I walked to 1313 Vine for a screening. The train was packed with every stripe of commuter imagineable.

I used to get funny looks when I told my co-workers I took the train to work or to Hollywood, etc. Now the tide seems to have turned because now THEY are getting funny looks from people who can't believe they drive, with gas as high as it is, from their homes adjacent to Metrolink and local stations, into downtown. Once you realize they have their heads up their you-know-what's, the stigma gig kinda disappears. Then YOU get to feel superior.

One can definitely 'survive' without a car if you live in Mt Wash, or South Pasadena, or Pasadena. I know, I've done it AND played in a band part-time (one of the guys picked me up- I paid for gas). But a car does make alot of things more accessible and quicker, true.

You are right, there is not nearly as much stigma attached to riding the subway. My feelings of stigma were cemented in Orange County, where believe it or not I actually tried to live without a car when I first moved here. The stigma and the transportation system are far worse in O.C. than they are here in L.A.

I think the subway system in L.A. is ok but it won't take you everywhere you want to go, hence it is better as a supplement to your automobile rather than a replacement for it. If you live and work near Metro stops, there is no reason to drive to work. But you can't rely on public transportation to take you all over the city the way you can in more condensed, east coast cities.

I hope with $115 oil and climbing that Angelenos slowly change their attitudes to public transportation. And I do feel the attitudes changing slowly. This is a fantastic place to live in so many ways but the over reliance on the automobile is the one thing that really hurts the city.

[CESpeed]

I don't think reliance on cars hurts the city. Cars are a very important part of L.A. culture. If you are moving here, you have to adapt to our way of thinking rather than "Angelinos need to change their attitude about cars". You came here we didn't come to your city. And yes, there is a social stigma attached to not having a car. No woman I know will date a man without a car. In L.A., no car means no money (no job) and no woman with any self-respect dates a man without a car (no job). (I am not talking about teens) If you are young you might be able to get away with no car until 19 or 20 but by then you should have a car (job) and your car tells a person what kind of job have (how much you earn). Welcome to L.A.

[JTGJR]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

No woman I know will date a man without a car. In L.A., no car means no money (no job) and no woman with any self-respect dates a man without a car (no job). (I am not talking about teens) If you are young you might be able to get away with no car until 19 or 20 but by then you should have a car (job) and your car tells a person what kind of job have (how much you earn).

That's a great reflection of the superficiality that LA is known for.

I'll bet there are just as many people driving $50K+ autos and living paycheck to paycheck as there are people who can actually afford them. Wheels don't tell people how good your job is or how much money you make (with obvious exceptions), they tell you how much money a person hopes to make.

Could you also tell how much money someone makes based on the house they bought last year? Ooops, it's now in foreclosure?

[CESpeed]

Can you please explain to me what's so superficial about understandig the male ego and knowing most men prefer to have the ability to take care of the woman they are dating and dating men who fit that criteria? In this day of "equal" opportunity, most men do not want to be the sole bread winner and I don't have a problem with that and I'll pull my own weight and I'm not going to support a man, either. Which means he must have a car and a job. I didn't say a $50,000 car, but he should be able to get himself from point A to point B, pay his own rent/mortgage, etc. just like I have to.

[JTGJR]

Simply, the belief that the car that one drives is an indication of their job or wealth. It's superficial to be that presumptive - but it's the LA way. What they look like is who they are. Though I also wasn't aware the you were an expert on the male ego. Certainly not this male.