Middle class rental under $1600? (Los Angeles, San Diego: middle-class, for sale, apartments)

[SoCalNative]

I've accepted a job located in downtown LA, my husband works for Costco and will transfer to whatever Costco warehouse is closest to the neighborhood we chose to live in.

Our criteria:
- under $1600/month
- located close to metro line
- located close to a Costco (so husband doesn't have to commute)
- safe neighborhood
- pet friendly (we have two small dogs)
- prefer a 2BR, but we can downsize to 1 BR

We currently live in a middle-class San Diego neighborhood and are very happy. I've been lurking this website for a few days and we like the look of Los Feliz, South Pasadena, and Silverlake, but they are out of our price range. Is there anywhere comparable? We don't need a trendy hip neighborhood, just a place that is somewhat affordable.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. This board is very informative.

[bhcompy]

there is a costco in Signal Hill and a metro link out of Long Beach that will take you downtown. Rent should be affordable for you in Long Beach.

There is a metro station I believe a few blocks to the west of the signal hill costco on around Willow and PAcific or Willow and Long Beach Blvd.

Signal Hill and the California Heights area are around the stations over there and should be safe and affordable.

Long Beach on the whole is fairly pet friendly

[CESpeed]

Your commute won't be fun from Long Beach. Everyone who lives in LB works Downtown you will be looking at a 1 1/2 to 2 hr commute each way. There is a Costco in Burbank (also Los Feliz 5 miles away) There is Metrolink service from Burbank to Downtown. The bus service from Burbank to DLA might actually be decent though I normally recommend if you don't have to use MTA buses, don't they are normally horribly unreliable but in my experience, the 92,93 and 94 buses are usually decent. Check metro.net | Transit Services and Information for Los Angeles County for schedules. I believe you should be able to find something in Burbank in your price range. craigslist: los angeles classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events has less expensive listings and you can select dog friendly rentals. Please read my warning post before going on Craig's list though.

[SoCalNative]

Thank you for your candid replies. While I'm okay with commuting, I'd like to limit my commute time to 1 hour or less. I agree, I think LB may be out of the question.

I really like the idea of Los Feliz, so long as we can find a rental in our price range. Is there a close metro line? Would it be considered the gold line?

[CESpeed]

The Gold Line is actually out of Pasadena. The station in Burbank is the Metrolink. Los Feliz is not far from the Burbank Metrolink, about 10 - 15 min. If you wanted to take the Redline (subway) to DLA, the closest stations to Los Feliz would be Hollywood/Western or Vermont/Sunset.

[SoCalNative]

what about the area near the costco in marina del rey? Is there some sort of reliable public transit from there into downtown LA? The LA bus system sounds awful. But, the subway and metro systems sound decent.

Or if there is no reliable public transit, how long is the commute from that area (Santa Monica and Marina del rey) into downtown LA?

[CESpeed]

Peopel generally take the Green Bus but unfortunately you end up on the unreliable MTA. It should take about two hours to get from Marina del Rey to Downtown LA.

[SoCalNative]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Peopel generally take the Green Bus but unfortunately you end up on the unreliable MTA. It should take about two hours to get from Marina del Rey to Downtown LA.

Wow! Two hours is a crazy commute. Is that two hours by taking MTA or driving?

[CESpeed]

MTA. Driving with moderate traffic will be about 45 to an hour.

[JTGJR]

There is a Costco on the west side of Hawthorne at Rosecrans Ave. and the 405. This would put you within reasonable distance of the Green Line. I don't "mass transit" can't tell you which transfers. You could look in the Hollyglenn area just east of Aviation Blvd, between Rosecrans and El Segundo Blvd. Probably a 10min walk to Costco and less to the green line.