Trying to find a place to live in LA (Santa Monica: apartments, rent)

[Phrequency]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I are wanting to move from Miami to LA. We currently pay $900/month for a 850sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. We are starting a clothing business and we want a 2 bedroom (or a spacious 1 bedroom). The most we can afford is about $1200/month.

We want to live in a relatively safe neighborhood, doesn't have to be in downtown LA or the fashion district. I was looking at an apartment in Central LA(St Germaine Apartments) but I'm not sure how much they are. Does anyone live here or know anyone who does?

Any apartment/neighborhood suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[wushuliu]

Avoid Central as a newcomer. I lived right by St Germaine a few years ago and had the pleasure of seeing a guy shot dead in the street. Those old art deco buildings look nice but hellooo roaches. Sure the koreans give the area some respectability, but their residences are carefully segregated. I mean it's not the worse area in the world, but no way I'd recommend for someone new to LA.

I recommend Culver City, Echo Park/Silverlake, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Studio City as better places to start. Culver I think is one of the best areas for a newcomer because it's so close to a lot of different areas but still safe and 'neutral'. Also pretty affordable last I knew. Echo Park should also be affordable but would be a step down overall.

[jacktravern]

You should avoid anything with CENTRAL in the title. Most of the other list isn't bad although personally I wouldn't recommend Echo Park or Silverlake

[JohnG72]

No.

[yby1]

Check into the Palms area near Culver City, though rent for a 1 bedroom will run about 1200 a month.

[hjt123]

Originally Posted by Phrequency

Hello,

My girlfriend and I are wanting to move from Miami to LA. We currently pay $900/month for a 850sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. We are starting a clothing business and we want a 2 bedroom (or a spacious 1 bedroom). The most we can afford is about $1200/month.

We want to live in a relatively safe neighborhood, doesn't have to be in downtown LA or the fashion district. I was looking at an apartment in Central LA(St Germaine Apartments) but I'm not sure how much they are. Does anyone live here or know anyone who does?

Any apartment/neighborhood suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

St Germaine Apts are in Koreatown, which is a pretty cool area, but the apartments are pretty iffy. They can have beautiful palatial exteriors but be leaky roach dens inside.

[NyWriterdude]

Where are you going to be working?

I think people on this forum would better be able to advise you on neighborhoods if you had an idea where you'll work. The westside is mostly nice, but if would suck if your job was in the Valley.

[Spikett]

Will you have a car? If so, find a place with dedicated, off-street parking or your life will revolve around finding a place to park. Most of those old buildings do not have parking. Echo Park is dicey but gentrifying. Silver Lake is hipster and expensive. $1,200 will get you a one bedroom at most anywhere you'd actually want to live.