Moving to LA area from MS (Glendale, Santa Clarita: to rent, houses, schools)

[hilaree320]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this site. My husband recently received an offer from a job in Glendale. We live in MS right now and have always lived in the South so obviously LA is going to be a huge change for us. I have tried to research what the "good" areas of LA are and I am having trouble finding much. We have 3 small children so we are looking for a safe, family friendly area, close to Glendale. Hoping to rent a house around $2500/mo, and around 1600sf, 3br. We really like the look of Santa Clarita, but it would be a 45 min commute, not sure if we want that. We are homeschooling so schools arent super important, but we know the better the schools, the better the area (usually).

Can anyone tell me about Granada Hills? North Hollywood? Sylmar? Or anything around there? I like the look of Burbank but it seems it might be out of our price range. Maybe tell me what to stay away from?

Thanks so much!

[Spikett]

Glendale has some lovely areas. There are also some nice areas to the east in the San Gabriel Valley. Santa Clarita gets very hot in the summer - it's in the Antelope Valley and very near the Mojave Desert. Very dry heat - no humidity like in MS (I'm from TN so I know humidity). There has been wildfire activity in that area pretty regularly the past few years though the build up areas are generally safe (houses outside town are more vulnerable). I have a friend who grew up in Granada Hills and her parents still live out there - good area Are you going to be able to visit before you move? I'm sure you realize it is very different from what you're used to.

[nightlysparrow]

Burbank has a good school system. Keep looking there first.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by Spikett

Glendale has some lovely areas. There are also some nice areas to the east in the San Gabriel Valley. Santa Clarita gets very hot in the summer - it's in the Antelope Valley and very near the Mojave Desert. Very dry heat - no humidity like in MS (I'm from TN so I know humidity). There has been wildfire activity in that area pretty regularly the past few years though the build up areas are generally safe (houses outside town are more vulnerable). I have a friend who grew up in Granada Hills and her parents still live out there - good area Are you going to be able to visit before you move? I'm sure you realize it is very different from what you're used to.

Technically, Santa Clarita is its own valley, the Santa Clarita Valley and it is separated from the Antelope Valley by the Sierra Pelona mountains...but you are correct that it shares a similar climate to the Antelope Valley although Santa Clarita is more chaparral and gets more marine influence from Ventura and Fillmore. The Antelope Valley is, in fact, part of the Mojave Desert and has a similar climate to Las Vegas, NV. You can grow Birds of Paradise flowers in Santa Clarita but they will not grow outside in the Antelope Valley.

Granada Hills is OK, but honestly, you might as well drive north another 10 minutes on I-5 and be in Santa Clarita since that's where you're drawn to. I agree with you about Santa Clarita being a nice community. It is! It's very suburban, bucolic and lots of families, nice wide streets and well-planned communities such as Valencia and Stevenson Ranch.

[hilaree320]

Yes, we are hoping to visit the area within the next couple weeks, but it will only be a few days, not long enough Im sure.... My husband was there last week and really liked it but it is all so very overwhelming. We dont know anyone there so I have to rely on CL and google maps street view, haha. I guess Im drawn to SCV because that's what we're used to.... new, suburban communities here in the South. But it would be nice for hubby to close to work.

And yes the MS humidity. is. awful. Will be glad to get away from it.

What areas east of San Gabriel valley should I search for? Im mostly looking online at communities and houses. Ive heard if you go too far east, you get ghetto and crime.

[Fontucky]

I assume you won't miss clouds of mosquitoes in the Summer?

[hilaree320]

Lol, nope, wont miss them at all!

[HarryKerryJr]

It sounds to me that you really should consider Glendale itself to live, at least at first because the drive won't be an issue and you can get your bearings. There are some nice areas in Glendale. Burbank is adjacent to Glendale so the drive should be easy, even by streets avoiding the freeways. Since you are truly new to the area don't know anyone, make it easy on yourself and don't go beyond the Glendale/Burbank area. One needs to EASE into the work commute traffic around here. After living in Glendale/Burbank for a while, your husband will have a much better idea of what kind of drive he can endure if you all want to move, that is. Hey, at least Glendale has the Americana at Brand for killing boredom. Your hubby doesn't need to be a 45 minute drive from work at first getting here.

[Fontucky]

^^^ excellent advice.

[EclecticEars]

From one fellow Southerner (I'm from Kentucky) to another:

Granada Hills, I know little about.

North Hollywood, fine, but will be quite a commute to Glendale.

Sylmar? Nah, I'll pass, yo.

Have you considered Pasadena, South Pasadena and Burbank? Nice cities, easily commutable to Glendale. Were it me, I'd live in Pasadena over any of the communities listed. Old Town is awesome and accessible directly to Metro if you want to go to Downtown L.A. and I personally liked the "feel" of Pasadena the best. Definitely visit the area first, though.

I live in the SF Bay Area now and am satisfied enough with it, but looking to move to Southern California later this year. So, I've paid a couple of visits and done some research. I'm no expert, but I'm learning, too.