Frustrating Apartment Search (Los Angeles, Orange, Burbank: lease, how much, month to)

[fatmancomics]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

What if its a month to month lease situation, and Im leaving for a new place, and not because I cant pay my rent? Its a fat chance that I would actually get that remaining money that I put down back. Trust me, atleast here in Chicago, I know a lot of building managers that have scammed people out of unused money, and there is nothing the renter can do about it. I am willing to take that chance, but only if I am put in a livable situation for me.

In a previous response I stated that I have looked in other areas, and still havent found these so called like minded people. If I found a place that worked for me, if it wasnt as far as Burbank, maybe I would consider. But sorry, Im not traveling close to 4 hours a day, when I can travel half that and get the same type of jobs. Again, most people looking for roommates in those areas are between $600 and $900 a month. I can afford that, but found nothing that works for me. Im not going to room with a 35 year old accountant that hates any noise at all, when Im a mainstream industry guy that has a vast CD collection, constantly needs to network, and is looking to do more than stare at the walls when I get home from work. If you are not compatible and on the same page as your roommates, its going to get really stressful. Being younger and moving across the country in this job market, the last think I will need is more stress. So I can care less if Im rooming with someone whose mom and dad pay the rent.

Show me otherwise. Im not seeing it.

No decent apartment will do month to month right away unless you do something like Oakwood apts (which are furnished apartments that usually performers use to avoid staying in hotels for a long time, like someone else mentioned) and those are very expensive. Most leases are at least 6 months and, as long as you stay for the full six months and give the land lord a thirty day notice, you should have no problem getting back most of your deposit.

You keep saying that you're a mainstream industry guy but what exactly does that mean? I mean, gofers are "mainstream industry guys" too. In the end, you simply won't make it in this town if you're in "the industry" and you don't have a car anyway. Ever heard of filming on location? Most times, like in any job, you're expected to provide your own transportation for this. Are you an actor? How are you planning to get to auditions without a car? You do realize that the public transportation system here sucks, right? You do realize also that the areas that you want to live in are among the most congested too, right?

But again, no matter what you're told, you've already decided to be argumentative so I'm sure this post will just spur more excuses from you.

[The O-P]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

Thanks for the info. However, that place is already taken. It was the only nice thing that I saw. I e mailed the guy about an hour after he posted it, got a quick response. A few hours later e mailed more questions, and no response. A day later I called, no response. It must be a good area if it rented in a day and wasnt the most ideal of situations.

No, the reason it was rented in a day is because in 2008 there were only 500-600 rental units that came on the market in Santa Monica. Now factor in the fact that SM is a rent control city (meaning every newly available unit can be rented at the current market rate) and you are left with a very small stock of apartments that could be considered even remotely affordable. The same applies to West Hollywood, btw.

[Jer3784]

I do not work in performance, but instead mostly with talent scouting and development. In the past, I have mostly worked with record labels and new media (think TMZ, Myspace, Facebook, etc). While I do sing, I highly doubt that I will be seeking any performance opportunities.

Mainstream industry personalities are hard to explain, because everyone is somewhat different. It has nothing to do with personally being famous or making a lot of money. It has more to do with understanding the mainstream scene. I know its a bad example, but lets take Lindsay Lohan for example. I bet that before her fame, she clearly understood what she was getting into. Believe me, its something thats in your blood. But over time, the fame ate at her. And while Im sure the majority of the population would agree that she is a spoiled brat that has lost control, I would disagree Where as a mainstream industry personaility would agree that she has lost control, but would instead understand that its because she never had the opportunity to discover who she was. And thats the most tragic thing in Hollywood. So many people are eaten up by the fame and power, that they never figure out what they are all about. Go up to any mainstream industry professional, and they will all have stories that wil haunt you to death. But the idea is, there are there fighting for the only think they know. We all feed off each other. It sucks, but its true. The average person can never begin to understand that. Which is why I got pissed when someone compared my intentions to those of an MTV reality show. Believe me, I study this stuff. I know what life is really like for those so called stars, and its not as pretty as even you might think.

But how am I supposed to create a common point between me and my lets say 35 year old accountant roommate? Hes in a routine of getting up for work, going to work, getting home, eating, and then maybe a few early evening laughs before bed. Where as in my world, Im not only in a dog eat dog inustry, but one where the majority of my networking is going to be done after hours at a party, event, or club. And gosh .. what if I have guests at the apartment. Its going to be hard to live with someone thats middle age, has no connections or interest in that industry, doesnt like being around people after hours, and doesnt like having a roommate that isnt always on time from work and socially drinks. Not to mention that I am bi, and would have a different dating lifestyle. Again, no common ground or understanding will only equal disaster. Therefore, because I know its more than likely that my work will be in Santa Monica or West Hollywood, I want to live in those areas. I just thought that since the industry is there, that the social scene is there, so I thought that maybe I could find a good roommate there. And commute times will be doable.

You dont need to be famous or make a ton of money to be a mainstream industry personality. If you run with a young, good looking, hip, mainstream industry crowd, you would be surprised at how far you can get ahead. But I cant even think about that if I cant get into a good roommate situation. I mean gezz .. atleast someone that will "live" with me, instead of being lame.

No one gave bad advice. Instead they gave advice that isnt relevant to my situation. Instead of telling me ways I can get a place outside of those areas, maybe pass along some ways to find roommates in those areas. I will check out that Oakbrook Apartments, but if its really pricey, I cant do it.

As for month to month leasing, I have seen a good amount of it. The one really nice place I found was a month to month. So its not the majority, but is out there.

[cowboyxjon]

I know you aren't in LA right now, and i know you are planning on arriving without a car, but I found it helpful to drive around and look for 'for rent' signs. I rented an apartment in Redondo Beach, with a roommate, for $600/month (total rent: $1200), which was a STEAL compared to what some of my friends were paying. The unit was a house that was converted into three apartments and wasn't a dump, although it wasn't extremely fancy. Yes, Redondo is somewhat suburban and family-friendly, and not right next to Santa Monica or West Hollywood, but it really worked out. Just thought I'd share.

My landlord only advertised in the Daily Breeze and said that she wanted to attract good, long-term tenants, so that's why she charged slightly less than surrounding apartments and didn't advertise everywhere. It might sound kind of odd, but it worked for her, and we had the same (nice) neighbors for the entire time I lived there.

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by fatmancomics

No decent apartment will do month to month right away unless you do something like Oakwood apts (which are furnished apartments that usually performers use to avoid staying in hotels for a long time, like someone else mentioned) and those are very expensive. Most leases are at least 6 months and, as long as you stay for the full six months and give the land lord a thirty day notice, you should have no problem getting back most of your deposit.

You keep saying that you're a mainstream industry guy but what exactly does that mean? I mean, gofers are "mainstream industry guys" too. In the end, you simply won't make it in this town if you're in "the industry" and you don't have a car anyway. Ever heard of filming on location? Most times, like in any job, you're expected to provide your own transportation for this. Are you an actor? How are you planning to get to auditions without a car? You do realize that the public transportation system here sucks, right? You do realize also that the areas that you want to live in are among the most congested too, right?

But again, no matter what you're told, you've already decided to be argumentative so I'm sure this post will just spur more excuses from you.

Both of my apartments have been month-to-month leases. In addition, I know several other people who have found them. You just have to look.

[Jer3784]

Originally Posted by cowboyxjon

I know you aren't in LA right now, and i know you are planning on arriving without a car, but I found it helpful to drive around and look for 'for rent' signs. I rented an apartment in Redondo Beach, with a roommate, for $600/month (total rent: $1200), which was a STEAL compared to what some of my friends were paying. The unit was a house that was converted into three apartments and wasn't a dump, although it wasn't extremely fancy. Yes, Redondo is somewhat suburban and family-friendly, and not right next to Santa Monica or West Hollywood, but it really worked out. Just thought I'd share.

My landlord only advertised in the Daily Breeze and said that she wanted to attract good, long-term tenants, so that's why she charged slightly less than surrounding apartments and didn't advertise everywhere. It might sound kind of odd, but it worked for her, and we had the same (nice) neighbors for the entire time I lived there.

Yeah, I heard Redondo Beach is a really nice area. However, isnt that all the way in Orange County?

EDIT : I have looked in Santa Monica and West Hollywood papers, but no luck. I see her point though.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

Yeah, I heard Redondo Beach is a really nice area. However, isnt that all the way in Orange County?

EDIT : I have looked in Santa Monica and West Hollywood papers, but no luck. I see her point though.

Reading this comment, and your previous comment about Century City being an "outlying area," I think you need to get a map.

[DontH8Me]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Reading this comment, and your previous comment about Century City being an "outlying area," I think you need to get a map.

There's a lot more than a map that he needs to "get" - something tells me he'd refuse that too. I doubt you even know what a "mainstream industry personality" type of map looks like, never mind how to read it.

This thread has provided more entertainment than I had originally expected, quite amusing!

[nori_garsi]

Westwood and Century City are right between Santa Monica and West Hollywood. They are only a few extra bus stops away.

I'm going to reiterate the fact that you should look at places close to UCLA. UCLA has public rental listings you can browse online and they are mostly shared places. Students might also be easier for you to live with since they may not mind the noise as much.

Seriously when I went to grad school we (my "team" or cohort) all lived near campus and we would get together in SM and it was only ten min. driving so it can't be ridiculously longer by bus. If you're that picky about who you live with maybe you should try and find a studio. The place I rented when i went to uCLA rents studios for a little under 1000 and it's a nicer, gated community. You may be able to find something in your range in a nice area near SM or WeHo.

I think you're going to have to give a little in terms of your wants because you may not find exactly what you're looking for, especially if you are unable to come out here and look in person (which has always worked out best for us IMO). We're trying to help you but we can't make miracles happen.

[Jer3784]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Reading this comment, and your previous comment about Century City being an "outlying area," I think you need to get a map.

Look at Google Maps. Redondo Beach is about 21 miles away from mid Santa Monica. Add that to if I do get work in West Hollywood, its another 5 miles. What is about 45 min traveling time in a car, is going to be about an hour and a half on the bus each way. That is of course if there is decent transportation into Santa Monica in the first place, because Im sure it isnt "safe" to travel through compton and a lot of the more less known neighborhoods. Even more so if you are not highly familiar with Southern California.

Nori, I would check into university housing sites and such, but I am not a student. Clearly that would have been my first option, even if I was taking just one class. As for studios, I have found some decent priced studios. However, they all seem to be directly off Santa Monica Blvd. I have no problem with this, seeing as though it would be my bus route in and out of West Hollywood and Santa Monica. But I also hear that its not always the safest place to live. Its going to be hell enough taking that bus later at night, so I dont need to put myself in anymore danger.

I honestly thought that Century City was a bit past West Hollywood. When looking it up though, it still might not be the safest option. Its right by Pico. Isnt there a few rival gangs that run through that area?

Trust me .. if it was up to me and there was better public transportation throughout the area, I would most likely set up in Manhattan Beach. I heard its a great place to live, tons of hip young people hang out and work in Hermosa Beach, and that Dockweller is an experience in itself. Similar with Venice. But again, the possibility of traving into the areas I need to are not possible.

DontH8Me, what is a mainstream industry personality map? LOL