Best place to raise a family near Santa Monica? (Glendale: real estate, condo)

[sherbiehancock]

Apologies if this is a duplicate - I searched the forum but couldn't find another question terribly similar. My husband is working at a job that seems to have a lot of potential and staying power. He is currently commuting from Glendale to Santa Monica and it's not ideal (leaves at 6:30AM and come homes at around 5:30PM). We own a house here, but are quickly outgrowing it and are not in love with Glendale, anyhow. If we are going to buy another home, it would be really nice to find somewhere to live closer to Santa Monica that we can raise our expanding family (we have a toddler and another on the way).

We are hoping to find something that meets most of the following criteria:
30 minutes or less usual traffic to SM (will expand that for the right area)
small neighborhood feel preferable
tree lined streets
homes with character, fixer OK
great public school district (not LAUSD)
safe neighborhood
ethnically diverse
near mountains if at all possible
we do like a more suburban feel, away from the hustle and bustle/fwys
down to earth people (this one makes me laugh, but I thought I'd throw it in)

We would probably be looking to spend about 800k-1mil on a 3bd2ba ~1800-2200 sq ft, or that would perhaps be able out upper limit. I am a SAHM currently, but have PT work in Glendale, so would be commuting during off-hours several days a month (no big deal).

Does a place like this exist? Thanks in advance!

[BRinSM]

the only place i can think of that may work for you would be culver city. other areas are either going to be outside the 30 minute drive requirement, in excess of $1M, or have crummy public schools.

[yby1]

Culver City is the closest within 30 minutes of Santa Monica. Finding a condo in Santa Monica is also an option.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by sherbiehancock

Apologies if this is a duplicate - I searched the forum but couldn't find another question terribly similar. My husband is working at a job that seems to have a lot of potential and staying power. He is currently commuting from Glendale to Santa Monica and it's not ideal (leaves at 6:30AM and come homes at around 5:30PM). We own a house here, but are quickly outgrowing it and are not in love with Glendale, anyhow. If we are going to buy another home, it would be really nice to find somewhere to live closer to Santa Monica that we can raise our expanding family (we have a toddler and another on the way).

We are hoping to find something that meets most of the following criteria:
30 minutes or less usual traffic to SM (will expand that for the right area)
small neighborhood feel preferable
tree lined streets
homes with character, fixer OK
great public school district (not LAUSD)
safe neighborhood
ethnically diverse
near mountains if at all possible
we do like a more suburban feel, away from the hustle and bustle/fwys
down to earth people (this one makes me laugh, but I thought I'd throw it in)

We would probably be looking to spend about 800k-1mil on a 3bd2ba ~1800-2200 sq ft, or that would perhaps be able out upper limit. I am a SAHM currently, but have PT work in Glendale, so would be commuting during off-hours several days a month (no big deal).

Does a place like this exist? Thanks in advance!

Santa Monica's Sunset Park neighborhood? Not that ethnically diverse but more than most of Santa Monica. The Pico neighborhood next door is the only Santa Monica neighborhood that's ethnically diverse. Certain parts of it might be to your liking. However, there are some issues with safety around Virginia Avenue Park. Sunset Park, OTOH, is uniformly safe. The north side of Santa Monica has some suburban like areas around Montana Avenue, but keep in mind that is the most expensive real estate in the Western USA.

Large parts of Culver City also qualify. (I'd consider the CCUSD to be decent, not great, but it's much better than LAUSD.) El Segundo would be right up your alley except for not being ethnically diverse and farther away from Santa Monica. It's also cheaper than the westside, although still expensive.

[thelopez2]

Add 10 more minutes and you can get to Woodland Hills

[majoun]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

Add 10 more minutes and you can get to Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills is a lot more than 40 minutes commute to Santa Monica. Maybe an hour and forty minutes.

[thelopez2]

Originally Posted by majoun

Woodland Hills is a lot more than 40 minutes commute to Santa Monica. Maybe an hour and forty minutes.

1:40 on a bicycle
by at Garmin Connect - Player

[majoun]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

1:40 on a bicycle
by at Garmin Connect - Player

Not familiar with the 405 or with Topanga Canyon Boulevard? The 405 is a parking lot, and it's not getting better.

40 minutes from Santa Monica would be Culver City or Beverly Hills. Not the Valley. Besides, they wanted a non-LAUSD area.

[blu4u]

You described Topanga! Check it out 90290.

[bpeeps]

Originally Posted by thelopez2

Add 10 more minutes and you can get to Woodland Hills

40 minutes is what Google quotes you when there is no traffic. I would add another 15 to that considering you'd have to take the 405 or a one-lane canyon road.