Please watch as I pull a rabbit out of this hat! (Burbank: apartments, rentals)

[SandyCo]

I'm on the lookout for a new apartment in the Valley along the 101 corridor. My neighbors (who are also the managers) have driven me just this side of crazy with their incessant arguing. I finally came unglued last night and confronted them. It ended with their door being slammed in my face.

I need to find a two bedroom apartment for $1,200 - $1,250. That's what I meant when I talked about pulling a rabbit out of my hat! This is going to be a difficult and arduous search, but I'm hopeful. My two kids are still living with me, or I'd be looking for a one bedroom. I work in Woodland Hills, where prices are coming down because that area was way overbuilt during the housing bubble, but they're certainly not affordable for me.

Anyway, please wish me luck as I try to accomplish the impossible! And if anyone has any tips, please pass them on. In addition, if there are any areas that should have a "keep out" sign, please post about those as well. Thank you!!!

[Perkins Well]

On a positive note, it looks like a good time to find affordable rents. I would do the usual...craigslist, westsiderentals, and driving around different neighborhoods when you have time. I'm sure you can find something nice in Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Reseda, Tarzana, South Burbank/NoHo/Studio City. Don't be afraid to negotiate the price too.

Good luck.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

I need to find a two bedroom apartment for $1,200 - $1,250.

HousingMaps

[SandyCo]

Thanks, Charles! Unfortunately, nothing showed up as being affordable on that map. I'm going back to my tried and true method of finding an area I'd like to live in, and then walking around collecting phone numbers from the "For Rent" signs. I have a good credit history and I've paid my rent on time here for 11 1/2 years; hopefully that will count for something!

[BRinSM]

maybe there is a decent area of van nuys where you could find that price. i've also noticed that rents have dropped slightly, but the decent areas of the valley you would probably consider are nearly as expensive as the westside.

[katenik]

that's a pretty tall order you have there, sandy. studios over the hill from you are going for around $1100 right now, and 2BRs are starting at $1600, so i can't imagine finding one in a decent area on either side of the hill that would fall within your budget. that said, i recall that regular poster, "knoxtown" got a deal on a 2BR in north hollywood for around $1300, and has since vacated that place to move closer to his job. he was a little hesitant to move there because of north hollywood's mixed rep, but in the end, i don't think he had any complaints about the area. perhaps, you could find out from him if it's still available, or if there are similarly-priced units where he used to live.

i wish you the best of luck. i would hate to be apartment hunting on a tight budget right now.

[fatmancomics]

You should consider Chatsworth or Granada Hills. You'll more than likely take surface streets to work and it will take just as long as the freeway (if not less) but it meets your price and they're still decent neighborhoods. My wife and I just moved out of a 2 bd/ 2 bth apartment in Chatsworth that we were paying $1250/mo for.

[Mr. Mysterious]

You tricked me!

[SandyCo]

My budget has increased to $1,300 a month (oh, the pain!). And even that is going to be difficult. So far, I've talked to a guy I work with who lives in Tarzana. He said that Burbank and Etiwanda is pretty good, but I should stay away from apartments on Collins St. This is exactly the kind of insider information I'm looking for.

Fatmancomics, did you like the building you were in? Can you please share a little more info - like why you moved from there? Thank you!

[msnorman67]

Are these kids able to work?