Possible relocation from London England to Los Angeles (Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks: rent, how much)

[damienuk]

Hopefully I have come to the right place - I am considering the possibility of moving to my companies office in Santa Monica (So Cal weather over London rain? Yes please!). But it would be for a good 2 or 3 years and so I would be looking to use the insane southern england house prices to buy a place in the US.

I have a few questions:

1) I know the area well anyway as my wife used to live over there. We have a 1 year old child, and therefore want the 'suburb' style life we have in England. Living in a city environment is not an option and we are considering Thousand Oaks or Valencia (Santa Clarita in general). If I sell my UK place, I would prob have a budget of c £550k to £600k US dollars so could that get us a nice family home?

2) Commuting!

Bear in mind I spend 1 hour and 15 mins a day with my head crammed against the window of a packed train for 45 mins and a walk at either end. So it is relative to this! Sitting in a car would be a pleasant change to this I can tell you. What would the commute be like time wise? Probably leaving at 7 or maybe a bit before, and leaving at 6:30 - 7 ish? My research has suggested 90 mins or so from both TO and SC in traffic, which would be ok.

Thanks for the help!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by damienuk

we are considering Thousand Oaks or Valencia (Santa Clarita in general).
have a budget of c £550k to £600k US dollars

What would the commute be like time wise? Probably leaving at 7 or maybe a bit before, and leaving at 6:30 - 7 ish?

90 mins or so from both TO and SC in traffic, which would be ok

Your budget is fine (assuming you meant $550K to $600K US dollars).

Your assumptions of traffic are accurate, though there may be other possibilities (closer to Santa Monica) to lessen the traffic burden.

Ninety minutes in traffic one way will end up being pretty unhealthy. Also, consider your typical day: leave the home at 7, arrive at work around 830, leave work around 630, arrive home around 730-8. Gone about 13 hours a day? Are you sure that is OK?

[damienuk]

Thanks - yes budget was US dollars.

I am away from home for a good 12 hours a day as it is - so it wouldn't really be any different. I normally leave home at 7:30, get to the office at about 8:45. Leave at 6:15 and get home at about 7:30.

Thats the norm for a London commute to the suburbs! I live in Surrey to the south west of London - prob about 30 miles out in a straight line. Trains are delayed every day as well. So you are left in cold and rainy weather on the platform for even longer than you want to be.

My main concern was a balance of what time I could leave, and what time I could get home. I am spending some time in the office in 3 weeks in SM, so I may do some trial runs (though I am staying in Marina Del Rey, so I'll have to turn straight back round! Maybe best staying in SC for a night...).

[DowntownVentura]

I think there is a huge difference in commuting from Thousand Oaks than Santa Clarita. Anywhere between Woodland Hills and Thousand Oaks to Santa Monica is pretty easy by going over the Santa Monica mountains to PCH. I would guess it would be a lot closer to 30-40 minutes than 90 minutes.

Santa Clarita, on the other hand, has no real easy way to the Santa Monica and would be a tough commute.

[impala666]

If you move from the UK to the US now you will take a hefty financial slap the $ is quite strong against the £ at the moment and the property prices (for good houses in good areas) have been hit more by the recession in the UK than in the US.
£400k an hour from London will buy a solid detached house in a “normal” area here that money will buy you a very big wooden shed in an “ok” area.
My son has just moved back to London to go to college and I have done some serious digging through the property prices in London so much so that I am even considering moving back myself.
Think very carefully before you commit, if you consider that your business will greatly benefit from the move then go for it. The general economy here is really in a poor state and its hard to imagine how you will benefit. Perhaps you should just open an office here and test the water first while leaving you family in the UK,you could rent for six months and really get the “low-down” if its worth it then make the move if not don't!
Is there a reason to work in SM ? If you want to live in TO if not why not set-up an office in Thousand Oaks and save yourself some hassle.
Sorry I misunderstood I thought you were moving your business to the US.
If you are taking up a post here its a different story it will all depend on how much you will be paid! Only you can work out if its worth it. The sun is no good if you are in an office and the car 10 hours a day.

[damienuk]

Yes - it is a transfer / taking up a post.

It is such a hard one. I mean, we spend a 2-3 weeks a year in Ca on vacation and we love it so much. But vacation and living somewhere are two different things.

Thanks for the advice though.

[osuzana]

Originally Posted by damienuk

Hopefully I have come to the right place - I am considering the possibility of moving to my companies office in Santa Monica (So Cal weather over London rain? Yes please!). But it would be for a good 2 or 3 years and so I would be looking to use the insane southern england house prices to buy a place in the US.

I have a few questions:

1) I know the area well anyway as my wife used to live over there. We have a 1 year old child, and therefore want the 'suburb' style life we have in England. Living in a city environment is not an option and we are considering Thousand Oaks or Valencia (Santa Clarita in general). If I sell my UK place, I would prob have a budget of c £550k to £600k US dollars so could that get us a nice family home?

2) Commuting!

Bear in mind I spend 1 hour and 15 mins a day with my head crammed against the window of a packed train for 45 mins and a walk at either end. So it is relative to this! Sitting in a car would be a pleasant change to this I can tell you. What would the commute be like time wise? Probably leaving at 7 or maybe a bit before, and leaving at 6:30 - 7 ish? My research has suggested 90 mins or so from both TO and SC in traffic, which would be ok.

Thanks for the help!

Sherman Oaks is a suburb environment and a much easier commute than from Santa Clarita or Thousand Oaks. If you are only going to stay for 2 or 3 years why not rent, especially if you are going back to the UK?

[BRinSM]

sherman oaks won't fit the OP's housing budget. However, you should be able to find something in TO for your budget. TO to SM with traffic is roughly 45 minutes to an hour each way down PCH. even though it is a slow drive, it certainly is a beautiful one. Santa Clarita is definitely further away and would be a much longer commute. However, home prices are more reasonable so that will be something you'll need to consider. Another area to consider is Woodland Hills. Homes there are a bit smaller and older, but definitely in your price range. Although it is technically in the city of LA, the schools there are the best in the district.