Live in Santa Clarita - Work in Universal City - Good Idea? (Los Angeles: apartment, for rent)

[arch1773]

We are moving to LA this summer. As per CNN Money Santa Clarita is one of the best and reasonable place to live around LA. I understand that elementary public schools are good in that area as well. I will be working in Universal City. Wondering if any locals can confirm that

1) Schooling system is good in Santa Clarita?
2) Does the public transport (train, bus) goes from Santa Clarita area to Universal City and if so, how long does it take to get there?
3) Any other Pros and Cons of living in Santa Clarita area?
4) Can you also recommend any other areas other than Santa Clarita which may offer easier commute to Universal City and have good school system.

Thanks in advance.

Archie

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

1) Schooling system is good in Santa Clarita?

Check out www.Greatschools.net


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2) Does the public transport (train, bus) goes from Santa Clarita area to Universal City and if so, how long does it take to get there?

I am unaware of any public transportation. Car is unfortunately your best means of transportation.

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3) Any other Pros and Cons of living in Santa Clarita area?

Pros:Clean, safe, educated, few illegals, beautiful, well-planned, good shopping..

Cons:Traffic
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4) Can you also recommend any other areas other than Santa Clarita which may offer easier commute to Universal City and have good school system.

La Canada-Flintridge, California

[miracle]

Burbank is a best area and very close to Universal City but the best areas are more expensive than Santa Clarita,

pros, Burbank is as a district within los angeles but is an independent city.

cons, is very expensive and have a more urban and races diversity than a suburb that is what I think you are looking for.

Other suburban places not far from Universal City are Agoura Hills....Thousand Oaks, Calabasas.

But if you dont mind a more urban life try better Burbank, some parts of Glendale and Pasadena, are very close to Universal City. And if money is not a problem try Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Toluca Lake, are districts within the city of Los Angeles down the hills-side of the Valley, very very close to the Studios and very well located in the northern west portion of the city, with many good schools and lots things in and around.

Crescenta Valley is very good, but conmuting is hard crossing to the Valley from Verdugo Hills through Glendale and Burbank, and is very expensive, and not all parts are as safe as someone think about that suburban northeast end of Los Angeles, the only real good area there is La Canada-Flintridge but is extemeley more expensive than Santa Clarita and very asian, no latinos there and no blacks, but many asians even more than whites, and in my opinion worth it better living in places such as Studio city of similar income than there, that is very isolated from the rest of the city.

[midnightbirdgirl]

newportbeachsmostwanted, I rarely disagree with you, but I must here.
You said Santa Clarita was well planned, well it wasn't.
They do not have any of the infrastructure to support all the building they did, and are doing in that area. From the water supply, to the sewage, it cannot support the amount of people that are there, let alone all the new construction.
Then we have the mess, on the 5 freeway. Any time of day it is awful where the 14 meets the 5, for miles you just do not move...poor planning.
MBG

[arch1773]

Thank you guys for your invaluable feedback. I have taken Santa Clarita off my list and have added the areas that you have recommended. Burbank is out of question since it is too expensive. Could you recommend any decent/professional/family areas with $3000-$3500 rent for a 3 bed house close to Universal City that also offers public transport to Universal City....I am moving from Chicago and used to reading/emailing in the train. Thanks again.

[Chinghis]

Hm. If you can afford $3500 for rent, you should be able to find something reasonably close to the express Transitway that runs through the San Fernando Valley and connects to the Red Line subway in North Hollywood. From there, it's only one stop to Universal City. I've never taken it, but rumor has it the Transitway is kind of useful. Here's a bus map of the Valley/Burbank/Glendale that shows its route: http://www.mta.net/images/sfvbg.pdf

And here's the schedule: http://www.metro.net/images/901.pdf (broken link)

If you really want to take a train, you could live Downtown and take the Red line out to Universal City. You'd be going against rush-hour traffic, so it would probably be pretty mellow. I don't know about getting a 3-BR apartment downtown, though. Mainly lofts and such, I think. Here's the Metro map: http://www.mta.net/images/rail_map.pdf

Good luck.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by arch1773

Thank you guys for your invaluable feedback. I have taken Santa Clarita off my list and have added the areas that you have recommended. Burbank is out of question since it is too expensive. Could you recommend any decent/professional/family areas with $3000-$3500 rent for a 3 bed house close to Universal City that also offers public transport to Universal City....I am moving from Chicago and used to reading/emailing in the train. Thanks again.

Unless you require a mansion, Burbank is easily in your price range. One of these even has a pool:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sea...max&bedrooms=3

[miracle]

3.500 is enough for a good place very close to Universal City such as toluca lake, the best in that section of the City, if you like conmuting and want something larger try north Glendale with good homes on that range, or Woodland Hills, and some parts in the flats of Studio city, encino and sherman oaks.

[Stoneybrook]

Not aware of public transportation, everyone here drives. Good schools? Not downtown, with children. I recommend Woodland Hills (expensive- minimum one million), La Canada, and San Marino - gorgeous ($ same as Woodland Hills), and these have top notch schools. Burbank has decent schools, and you shoudl be able to afford a house there for 3500. Glendale is OK, but the schools system has somehwat deteriorated in recent years. Unfortunately, good public schools + reasonable housing in LA often means you need to drive a LONG WAY or spend a lot of money.
I think you may really like Thousand Oaks or Calabasas, but again, you would be looking at a pretty long drive (at least 45 minutes or so each way- but surpisingly, rush hour traffic that way is not as bad as you may think) and expensive housing. There are some areas of Northridge that are beautiful and famliy oriented, unfortunately the schools are just so-so. There is a very good, albeit somewhat crowded elementary school (look up Castlebay), but middle and high schools are not so good. Northridge is also more affordable 700-800,000 is good to buy a nice house. If your children are very young (like mine) and you may move before middle school, consider this area. Be wary of the winds in certain areas during the winter months- a definite negative for the San Fernando Valley, Northridge in particular.

We live in LA, seem to be approx similar in life stages, and are considering the opposite move (LA to Chicago), any thoughts?

[SCVhometeam]

Looks like there are some suburbia phobes around here.
You asked for some local response, but in reading the responses they sure didn't sound like SCV locals to me.
So if you would consider putting Santa Clarita back on your list...
1) schools are great. It is why we have so many folks moving out here and away from the areas that others in this forum have mentioned. If you are serious about school quality, do your homework. SCV schools are xlnt.
2) If you want public transportation to Universal City, take the Metro Blue line from one of three stations in Santa Clarita direct to Burbank station, and from there it looks like there is a short and direct bus line from Burbank station to Universal City. How easy is that? Read your emails on the train.
3) It is suburbia out here. Infrastructure has generally kept up with growth. One of the posters was way off the mark. As for traffic, I'll take it up here anytime over rush hour in any of the areas others have mentioned. If it was all that bad, would CNN/Money have recommended Santa Clarita as one of the top 20 places to live in the US? I don't think so. You didn't mention any crime concerns, but you might want to factor that in with the areas mentioned.
4) Housing stock. Generally in the price range you will get bigger and newer out here than you will in any of the areas mentioned by the posters.
For more information on the Santa Clarita area, take a look at my website at www.SCVhometeam.com. You might also want to read my Blog on the housing market in our area.
Good luck. You've gotten lots of advice, but it didn't look like anything from a real local. By the way, in addition to growing up here, I am a Realtor. contact me... or not. But that's how I see it.
Warmest regards.