18yr old moving back to SoCal...ideas? (San Diego, Santa Barbara: rent, unemployed)

[lexy009]

So I've lived in Santa Barbara/Carpinteria and up the coast in San Luis Obispo. I currently live in Texas and have a Dental Assisting certificate. I want to move to either LA, San Diego, or Santa Barb. County.
SO my questions are...

What is a safe-ish area within an hour from the beach, a dental assistant could live for under $800 a month?

and...How should I go about finding an apt. in that city since I won't have a job until I get there (and most places want proof of sufficient income)?

Any Ideas/help would be appreciated..

[disgruntled la native]

Can you be more specific about what kind of community youre looking for. in those 3 counties there are areas you can live within an hour from the beach for 800 a month (and are you looking for a studio/1br or a roommate, or a room in a house). in LA county, safe, maybe not so much. unless you're willing to get a roommate.

[Cream1]

Look on craigslist for a roommate. You'll be able to find something for $800. There's a lot of good neighborhoods within an hour of the beach, but in general i would stick to west of the 405 FWY for beach access

Also, in before 5 different grumpy old men tell you that you shouldn't move here.

[ferretkona]

I will chime in, almost a grumpy old man.
It is good to move back to CA. This just may not be a good time to move here. Many businesses are cutting back and there is a lot of people applying for the same jobs. I would bet many dentists are doing teeth cleaning themselves to keep cost down.

[disgruntled la native]

Grumpy young man here. and yes, ferretkona I have seen many dentists cutting back and doing their own cleaning in LA.

[nighthouse66]

yes, as an unemployed angeleno it is NOT A GOOD TIME TO MOVE HERE. no matter how special of a snowflake you might be.

on the bright side, being that i haunt craigslist on the daily, i can tell you alot of dentists' offices are hiring admin people who must know medical terminology, so you might be able to find something here better than some others.

you really, really should get a roommate for the first few months, and make sure you talk to them on the phone or via facebook or something. you can rent a room for 600-700 a month. you are never far from the beach if you are in LA, but if you want to live in venice, santa monica or west LA in general you are gonna have to make more money.