I'm ready to finally move to california... i think (Los Angeles: sales, real estate)

[ijustcantwait]

I'm 21 and I have wanted to go to california for the longest time. I"m trying to write this and not sound cheesy but oh well. i seriously wake up and go to sleep with this on my mind and i am so ready to move i think i will no matter what answers i get but still, someones elses opinion would be nice. i've been saving since before i graduated but everytime i finally get close to my goal something happens, (my car dies, family needs extra money, hours get cut at work) and now i think if i just keep waiting this may never happen, so for once i just have to do something with out constantly second guessing myself and using excuses. so I have about 6000 dollars and i really want to be around the LA area. i am extremely scared of going out there and then getting forced to move back because i couldn't make it, i feel that would be one of the worst things in the world. How long would i be able to make it in california with 6000 and where are some of the better places to live where it is still in my price range? This is a big step for me and i greatly appreciate any help. oh and does anyone have experience finding homes for rent on crigslist cause i looked and some are actually very nice and i was just wondering if they're legit.

[Charles]

Why do you want to move to Los Angeles, California?
Where are you moving from?
What line of work are you in?
Where will you be working?
What is your housing budget?
What do your parents think of your idea?

Here's a nice tool for finding craigslist rentals on a google map interface:

HousingMaps

[EscapeCalifornia]

How long your money lasts depends mainly on your living arrangements. If you rent a room in house in the ghetto, you might last 6-10 months. If you want a 1 bedroom apartment to yourself in a nice area, you're probably looking at 3-4 months tops. Jobs are scarce now so don't expect to find one quickly. Have you ever been to LA?

[Dark of the Moon]

Please read the sticky "FAQ for people moving to Los Angeles" and then, if you have specific questions, ask them here.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

How long your money lasts depends mainly on your living arrangements. If you rent a room in house in the ghetto, you might last 6-10 months. If you want a 1 bedroom apartment to yourself in a nice area, you're probably looking at 3-4 months tops. Jobs are scarce now so don't expect to find one quickly. Have you ever been to LA?

I think 3 to 4 months might even be pushing it.

Nita

[Jay100]

You should probably visit first. Look at some places and go on some interviews. Then decide. I would expect to pay around $1000 a month minimum for an ok place.

[jc76]

Have you read 'The Grapes of Wrath'? If not I recommend doing so.

Being 32 and having made the "move" to L.A. 3 times now I can give you some advice from experience.
Bring more than 6K, sure that's a nice piece of change, but really L.A. is going to strip you of about half that just to get set up. Then about 1500 of it will be gone every month on rent, if you do get lucky and find a room or something for around 6-700 you will still need to eat and have other expenses. I am estimating 6K will get you 3 months if you are super tight with your spending. Maybe I'm wrong, but seems like money goes pretty fast out there, did for me anyways.
Maybe you should visit first? I'd say stay a week or 2 and see how things go. Even being frugal with your cash it goes fast.
I would NEVER sway anyone from their dream and I hope the best for you, but it took me many attempts (and tons of cash) and still it never paned out because I just could not find work for the life of me. When people say it's tough to find work out there, times it by 3 and that's the truth.
Either way, good luck and if it's your dream then look into it...but don't lose yourself in the mix.

[jeena]

I have family in the San Diego area, and no one seems to be doing well except one brother-in-law who found a job at Auto Zone. Another relative is in the real estate business and was forced to get a second sales job in another field, but he isn't making money at the second job either. Another relative is a screenwriter in Hollywood, but can't get any projects due to the cutback in spending by the studios. My niece works for a S.D. dentist who cut back her hours to part time forcing her to get a second job at Starbucks, and her Mom is a hairdresser and says her clients don't come in as often as they used to.

The economy in California sounds dismal from listening to my relatives complain about financial problems (they have lived in Ca. for years), so people who want to relocate from other areas should listen to the posters here regarding how bad things are right now before making a final decision to move.

[tezman]

If you do not have a job, I suggest you look into sublets or getting a roommate. There are tons of sublets around UCLA right now because of summer. They usually go for $700 but you will be sharing a 2br apartment with 4 people. Rooming with someone in a nice area will usually run from 700-1000 per month. Of course, you could always get room with someone for $500 in Van Nuys or South Central and hear bullets flying at night.

Also, craigslist is legit if you know what neighborhood you want to live in.

[KnoxTown]

Double your money, then come.