Working in Santa Monica... (Oxnard, Santa Barbara: apartment, rent, lofts)

[Starwind0079]

Hi, everyone,

I'm going to be taking a job at a company I'm interning for here in Santa Monica after I graduate from school next June. I became curious about what it would actually cost to live around here and so I've started researching some rent prices out here. It is expensive, obviously, but I was born, raised and am currently going to school in Santa Barbara, where it's roughly equally expensive.

Currently I'm living in Marina del Rey and I only drive 15 minutes to work. Not a bad place, but I'm wondering what else is out there.

Where would you recommend I look at to live? I'm single, so a simple studio or apartment is fine. I'm not big on partying or nightlife, so I don't care about that (in fact my only hobby is working out, so anyplace with a gym is fine...!). I notice a lot of you complain about "non-English speakers," I've never had a problem with immigrants from any place, so I don't really care about that, either.

I've also considered living in a place like Oxnard or in the Valley, but it seems that commuting, considering the high gas prices and the time it takes to commute, isn't worth it. Still, I'd like to get your input on that, too.

Incidentally, my income will be roughly $75K. I'm wondering how far that'll get me in terms of saving money for the future...?

[fastfilm]

I think you'll do fine on that salary. You might want to live in Venice, 1/2 way betwixt the Marina and S.M., slightly less expensive. As long as you avoid Oakwood, there's no bad renting in Venice. (I lived there for 10 years.) And you'll still be next to the beach. Don't consider a long commute if you can afford living near your work in a nice place. The aggravation of commuting here could shorten your life!

[bigdaddy5]

Playa Vista (part of Marina Del Rey), Venice, Manhattan Beach, parts of Culver City and Westchester if you don't want to drive too far.

[ShadowHills]

Ditto that! Keep the commute as short as possible! The west side is mostly a nice area but just too much traffic. I would pic Marina Del Rey, or Santa Monica.

[Starwind0079]

Thanks for the replies, this helps a lot; I am wondering about Culver City, which seems near Santa Monica and still has pretty affordable rent. Which part is the "good part" and which the "bad?" And what's bad about the bad part?

EDIT: I thought I'd share some thoughts after living in Marina Del Rey for a while...

Everyone in LA seems to be very rude and in a hurry to get everywhere. I should have expected as much, but it's one thing to hear about it and another to actually experience it. The number of tweaked guys in Porsches/Ferraris, the black guys in CLKs and the rail-thin tiny white girls in H2s is beyond anything I'd imagined. Driving a tiny 13-year-old Honda, I feel very out of place. And in fear of being crushed by SUVs.

Yeah, driving in LA sucks. I have friends in Winnetka and family in Baldwin Park and traffic is completely unpredictable. On a good day, I can go see my family in Baldwin Park in 30 minutes; on a bad day, it's more like 90. Too bad, because Baldwin Park is peaceful and very inexpensive and if I could guarantee myself a 45-minute commute from there to Santa Monica every day (and gas prices didn't offset the savings in rent), I'd live there in a second.

There is a ton to do out here, which is great. Everything is close by (beaches, mountains, shopping/movies, etc.), and there's lots of everything; by contrast, Santa Barbara has only State St. to offer, and all that is is bars and over-rated restaurants.

While LA has its positives, I am now realizing why everyone who visits Santa Barbara calls it paradise...

[UB50]

I used to know a lot of people who lived in Palms which used to be a pretty nice area. I don't know how it is now, but these people were like "youngish professionals" and they liked living there.

[bigdaddy5]

Mar Vista and Palms are nice. The homes there are older but well kept. Yeah, Centinela and Bundy are usually congested but you get used to it. Freeway access (10 or the 405) is nearby.

I've seen some new lofts being built in the Culver City, Marina Del Rey and Venice areas. From what I've seen they sound affordable.

Here's a couple links with contact info:

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