Coming from Australia to study.... (Westwood: real estate, apartment complexes, rentals)

[MissThreadBare]

Firstly, allow me to say a big hello all the way from the land of kangaroos, beach culture and Sam Worthington.


I am currently studying at a Sydney university who offers the option of internationl exchange for our final year. I will be applying for universities in California, with my preference being UCLA.It is two years away, but I would like to begin getting financially prepared so that I don't have the burden of that stress when I am trying to excel at my studies.I have lots of questions, so hopefully I don't overwhelm everyone.


RENTING
I have been investigating rental prices in the Westwood area, so I am aware of what I need to budget there. I am also interested in other suburbs that would have easy access to UCLA. I would ideally like to live alone and would be looking for a secure apartment building to give me a sense of security. I would like to avoid driving if possible, as I prefer public transport (especially to keep costs down).In Australia, getting a lease through a real estate agent is advised, as private rentals aren't very secure and could turn into some messy legal situations. Because of this, applying for a lease is a bit of a carry on. Potential tenants are required to supply evidence of income, references, proof of employment, etc and they aren't necessarily going to get that lease. Most people have to apply a few times before they are successful - kind of like a job interview. Is trying to get a lease in LA this complicated? And would being an international student make it harder for me to secure a lease?


LIVING EXPENSES
I have a fair idea of what to expect with regards to renting costs, but what about other expenses such as cable, electricity, telephone, groceries, etc? And when it comes to living a lifestyle that would allow me to eat out a couple of time a week, go to the movies once in a while, rent DVDs on a Friday night and maybe go out to a bar on a Saturday night, what kind of weekly budget would you say you would need? As for groceries, presently I like to eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh vegies and plenty of meats - would this be expensive to live on in LA?


HEALTH CARE
The one thing I find intimidating about moving to the States is the health care situation. In Australia my health care costs me zero. I can go to the doctor for free, I can attend the ER for free. I have the understanding that I would have to get health insurance. Is that a major weekly/monthly expense?


WORKING
I am hoping to bring enough money with me that I would not have to work, but just in case, how hard is it for a foreigner to get a job? I would also need something that would be flexible enough to fit around my Uni schedule. At the moment I work as an administration temp. Are those kind of jobs easy to come by in LA? Thank you for your time everybody. I look forward to your no doubt sage advice.

[malj10]

I can help you out a bit with your questions. I am an Australian as well, but different circumstances to you (I work here).

Renting:
It is different here from Aus in terms of the process of renting a place. Noone really uses agencies here, rather it is done privately either through a landlord or a building's management company in the case of larger apartment complexes. You do however, still have to provide the same kind of documents/information e.g. proof of income/savings, prior rental history, references, credit check etc. Given you won't have these this can be a challenge, however it is doable. When I was looking for my first place in SF some places did indeed knock me back because of this but the key is just explaining your situation to the landlord. Once you get your first place it makes it easier to move in future. As you would be a student though, it is probably a good idea for you to look at apartment buildings that are affiliated with UCLA to make this process easier.

Living expenses:
Whilst I am in SF at the moment, the cost of living is comparable (perhaps a little higher in SF). I live by myself in a 1BR apartment and to give you an idea, my monthly cable, internet, cell phone, electricity and gas comes to about $250. You can go cheaper than this or more expensive depending on your usage of course. Groceries here I find are alot cheaper than Aus, but it is important to compare the price of them relative to everything else here, which in the end can make them a decent chunk of your weekly budget. I get away with about $60 worth of groceries per week, although I must admit I don't tend to hit the vegetable/fruit section very much so you'll probably want a bit more than $60pw. I can't really help you on the other discretionary stuff as its totally dependent on you - but just keep in mind that the drinking age here is 21.

Health care:
This is going to be your second biggest monthly expense behind rent. Healthcare is vastly different to Australia. Some employers provide healthcare insurance for employees with the employee paying some portion per month (as in my case). However many employers don't and so you must pay for it yourself. As you would only be working on campus, it is very unlikely you will get subsidized healthcare however the one thing going for you would be your age and clean bill of health which will lower your monthly cost, however you will still be looking at the very least, a couple of hundred bucks a month for coverage.

Working:
As an international student you would be here on an F1 visa. An F1 visa allows you to work under certain conditions, being, 1) you can only work on campus and 2) for only 20 hours per week maximum.

Hope that helps

[MissThreadBare]

Thank you so much for your insight. It's great to hear from another Aussie who understands trying to get my head around the conversion. Now I just need to make sure I save hard for the next two years so I can be financially secure. I am also planning on going to LA for a two week holiday at the end of this year/start of next year so that I can get a feel for the place and investigate some things in person.

[Mr.Bungle]

When my sister was at UCLA 2 years ago I believe she rented a 2 bedroom apartment for around $1400/month. It wasn't terrible and it seemed to be mostly college students living there. It was across from a cemetery, that is all I remember as I only went there once.

When the time gets closer you may want to get a membership to westsiderentals.com to see listings for apartments. Apartmentratings.com is also a decent tool, but you have to take some reviews with a grain of salt. More people exagerate and only post negative experiences rather than their positive experiences with the apartments.

Private rentals can be hit or miss. I would familiarize myself with California landlord-tenant law before renting so you know your rights. Landlord/Tenant Book Index - California Department of Consumer Affairs

Good luck to you!