Slums of Beverly Hills (Torrance, Inglewood: apartment, lease, homes)

[Onething6]

South of the main shopping district are many 3 bedroom homes that still cost a fortune. My wife wants to take a look at those neighborhoods to rent for a year because of the wow factor of the BH name. On the plus side, it is the BH shool district. On the negative side, the homes look like a lower middle class neighborhood in suburban Cleveland. Has anyone lived there or knew someone that lived there and can comment on safety and neighbor friendliness of that area?

[Tlaneloli]

Lower middle class looking 3 bedroom homes are a slum?

[Spikett]

I'm guessing that you are talking about the areas around Olympic Blvd. That area is very safe. As for prices, BH is expensive. I've never lived there so can't comment on the people. I will say that if your reason for wanting to live there is for the "wow" factor of a BH address - and you find yourself with a lot of snobby, shallow neighbors - you should fit right it.

[1200RT]

There aren't really any bad (dangerous) areas of BH. The areas that you're likely looking at are "bad" because they are on busy streets, congested, parking issues, may or may not have a parking spot along with your apartment, etc.

As far as neighbor friendliness, these neighborhoods often host recent (legal) immigrants from Iran, the middle east, and have many Jewish families as well. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they tend to stick to themselves, and may not be overtly welcoming to newcomers of other backgrounds.

I would challenge your desire to live in BH - renting anywhere for the "wow" factor is simply silly.

[jm1982]

I lived in Beverly Hills growing up. I went to the public school till 5th grade...didn't have the best experience really but might of been worse in a different area.

I agree that paying more for the "wow factor" is pretty dumb...

The schools do appear to be rated pretty highly , so maybe that makes more sense.

Most kids I went to school with with were Persian or Jewish , almost all the persians were Jewish.

You do get much better services, Police, etc versus city of L.A and probably anywhere else in L.A county...

If you have the money for it I guess I'd say go for it ...but I wouldn't do it for the "wow factor"

I'd do it to live in a safe area with better than average public schools...

Personally I think I'd rather live in Burbank than Beverly Hills...it doesn't have that wow factor...but it's a nice safe area and the schools are good. I think it's much more family oriented than Beverly Hills too..
Also going to be a lot less expensive...but even if I had them money I'm not sure I'd want to live in Beverly Hills if I had kids. The whole culture is pretty weird...

One of my friend's mom once stated that

"Beverly Hills is the center of the Universe"... That seems to be the attitude of many residents..

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by jm1982

You do get much better services, Police, etc versus city of L.A and probably anywhere else in L.A county...

Thats partially true - BH PD/Fire are better than LA City offerings, but on par (no better/worse than) with independent cities in the area. Santa Monica, Culver City, El Segundo, Torrance, even Inglewood - all have great city services.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by Tlaneloli

Lower middle class looking 3 bedroom homes are a slum?

The OP might be Persian.

[Onething6]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

The OP might be Persian.

We are not Persian, but ethnic diversity doesn't scare me. As for my comment on the "wow" factor, please consider that my wife, kids and I would be moving from suburban Cleveland to California with the nearest family two hours away in China Lake. It is likely that almost any city we choose in socal would have WOW because it's missing 70 inches of snow. What we do not want is a city loaded with unfriendly people. Ultimately, through our young kids, we would likely build a network of friends.

[ocngypz]

That area of BH is called the "Flats". I lived there, though some time ago. It is very safe. Always has been.

Now, if you rent in the area - would you also buy there? I can't see renting in an area where I wouldn't be buying.

[Onething6]

Originally Posted by ocngypz

That area of BH is called the "Flats". I lived there, though some time ago. It is very safe. Always has been.

Now, if you rent in the area - would you also buy there? I can't see renting in an area where I wouldn't be buying.

The Flats is north of the main shopping area, and the minimum monthly lease is $11,000. That is a lot out of our price range. South of the the shopping district can go for $5,000. However, we are looking to buy after one year, but we want to lease first because we might really not like where we just moved to. My wife's cousins lived in BH, and they recommend Santa Monica. The public high school there though is very very big.