Best commute to Westwood (Vista, Woodland: apartment, renting, home) - Los Angeles - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

Californiabound01 · 06-28-2010, 09:49 PM

Hi all, so according to my last post I thought my husbands job was in Downtown LA but just found out it is in the Westwood area. This makes a big difference in the area we choose to live. Westwood seems very nice but it is way out of our price range. We are looking for a 2 bedroom apartment with a budget of $1600-$1800. We have a two year old son, I will be a stay at home mom and my hubby will be working Monday through Friday standard hours maybe 7am to 5pm. We are looking for an area with easy parking, not so crowded, and more of a suburbian feel than the city, safe too. What area would be the shortest commute for what we are looking for. I was thinking maybe Encino or Woodland Hills but I have been told that it will still be an awful commute even though they are only about 10 miles away. I also really like Calabassas, would that be totally out of the question as far as commuting times go?

Thanks in advance for the help.

BRinSM · 06-28-2010, 09:57 PM

southern culver city is more suburban and in your price range. there are even parts of westwood that you could probably afford if you dig deep enough. encino wouldn't be too far, neither would sherman oaks as you could avoid the freeway and take one of the canyon roads (ie. benedict canyon). if you really want suburban and your husband doesn't mind using public transit, there are a number of express buses that run to westwood from places like santa clarita.

Californiabound01 · 06-28-2010, 10:06 PM

Thanks for the info, My husband will have a company vehicle so he won't be using public transportation. A friend of mine lives in Semi Valley and she said it is a great place and not a very bad commute because it is connected to one of the least busy freeways. She also told me the commuting times from Encino, Sherman Oaks, or Woodland Hills would be horrible because of the freeways I would have to take. To me it seems like those places are a lot closer than Semi Valley. I was really leaning towards Encino, do you think that fits the lifestyle I described above?

BRinSM · 06-28-2010, 10:16 PM

WHAT!!?!???!??!?!?!?! simi valley is over 2x as far from westwood as woodland hills, which isn't very close. it is true that the 118 freeway that runs through simi valley isn't congested very often, but the rest of the drive on the 405 will be terrible. just take a look at a map and see how far it is from westwood. i don't think your friend knows where westwood is if she is making those statements, or maybe you didn't fully understand her.

Californiabound01 · 06-28-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRinSM

WHAT!!?!???!??!?!?!?! simi valley is over 2x as far from westwood as woodland hills, which isn't very close. it is true that the 118 freeway that runs through simi valley isn't congested very often, but the rest of the drive on the 405 will be terrible. just take a look at a map and see how far it is from westwood. i don't think your friend knows where westwood is if she is making those statements, or maybe you didn't fully understand her.

Yeah, that's what I thought too, I think I will stop taking her advice.

BRinSM · 06-28-2010, 10:30 PM

probably a good idea. she may just want you to move close to her.

JohnG72 · 06-28-2010, 10:37 PM

Culver City.

sirinyat · 07-01-2010, 06:02 PM

It sounds like this group is pointing you toward Culver City, although there are other parts of the Westside that are more "suburban" too, such as Del Rey, Marina Del Rey, or Mar Vista. The Westside is, in general, pricey, but if you're renting, your stakes aren't as high. Come to LA and see what suits your needs. There are a lot of young families out here.