where to live in south LA -young, professional east coast couple w/no kids? (Los Angeles: apartment)

[goldenshell84]

My husband has been offered a position in Los Angeles (I think it would be based around Irvine). We are from the east coast (though both of us have lived in the midwest too) and are pretty conservative, clean cut, etc. We have no kids and no plans to have them in the next few years. We are looking for an area in which we'd enjoy living- somewhere walking distance to restaurants, stores, bars, beach?? would be fantastic. Also a place with other young couples would be nice as we are not going to know ANYONE when we move and will need to make friends etc.

He wants a small house, I want an apartment, we'd both prefer something that is fairly new. Our budget is around 2500/month.

For what it's worth, we live now in Hoboken, NJ (right outside of Manhattan) and just love it. Something like Hoboken would be great.

[NaplesRes]

you're looking for a beach town. they are the only places with the walkability and shops, etc. you seek. given where you're working the furthest you should look is belmont shore going south to seal, huntington, and newport. commute from belmont shore is about 35 to 40 minutes to Irvine in traffic and about 15 minutes if you can flex your time. the closest to irvine is newport.

getting a new place in a beach town will be difficult. doesn't mean it can't be nice, just likely not new.


newport is the most expensive. belmont has the best mix of young singles, professionals and families, in my opinion. Seal will be like belmont but just a tad slower. huntington is probably the busiest and maybe a bit younger crowd in the main street area.

[the one]

south LA? that means something completely different. by saying south LA (the new name for south central) you are saying you want to live in south central.

which is fine. i want to live here. but reading your post, maybe you meant the south bay?

i suggest you look at some south bay cities(altho they might be too suburban for you) and look at redondo, manhattan and the other beach cities. but your budget might have to change.

good luck.