Need Advice! Moving from Madison to LA (Long Beach, Fullerton: real estate, rent)

[heatherskyler]

We're planning to move from Madison, WI to LA or somewhere nearby in about a year. Is there a place with an artsy, funky, walkable lifestyle that also has good schools and semi-affordable housing? (400,000 or under) Thanks for any suggestions!

[Charles]

Where is your job?
What line of work are you in?
Kids? Ages?

[heatherskyler]

My husband works for Waste Management, which has places he'll need to visit throughout L.A. I'm a writer and editor for a magazine right now, and don't yet have a job in CA. My kids are 8 and 6.

[BRinSM]

considering you have kids, i wouldn't live in the city of LA. However, there are some nice areas that have what you are looking for in the area. Fullerton comes to mind as well as Costa Mesa. Parts of Long Beach might also be an option. $400,000 should get you a decent home in these cities, especially in a year as real estate prices continue to fall throughout the state. Ultimately, you'll need to decide on where to live based on where your husband will be working.

[NaplesRes]

Long Beach has what you're looking for but I agree with the above poster that your commute time should be the most important priority when living anywhere in southern california.

[KnoxTown]

Find out where you are working... then find a place.

[timelesschild]

I've got a good idea.... wait to buy a house until the prices finish falling. Just rent for now, in an area that makes sense for the next two years.

Within the city of LA, there are several very good elementary schools. Mt. Washington Elementary and Ivanhoe Elementary have extremely high test scores. Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts is very well-recommended by parents who have children attending it. Both Ivanhoe and Los Feliz are in funky, artsy, walkable areas (Silverlake and Los Feliz, respectively); however, you're going to have a REALLY hard time buying a house for your stated budget. That's why I'm recommending them for your enjoyment during the 2-year wait while the housing bubble finishes bursting.

There are more... try these websites:

Great Schools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community

School Performance Maps

[heatherskyler]

Thanks for all the advice. Here are the locations where my husband could work--maybe I could get some suggestions based on these locations? Pico Rivera, CA; Carson, CA and LA Express, CA

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by heatherskyler

and la express, ca

Huh?

[jackhand]

Find an area with a good high school. Elementary and middle schools are important. But, not as important as high school. Check out El Segundo. Probably too expensive but you will find it fascinating. A small town by a big city.