Should I move from Long Beach to the Westside or South Bay? Or not at all? (Glendale: sales, buy)

[seanc34]

Hi All!

Recently have been contemplating a move to LA proper to try out life out there- Wanted to get some input from you all.

Age: 28
Income: 145K
Status: single
Budget: $2200/mo ideally

I currently live in Belmont Shores and really love the area, however have been contemplating a move to experience "LA" while still in my twenties. I have a great landlord situation and a nice small yard right now so I want to make sure I make the right move. Areas I have been looking at are Hermosa Beach, Venice, MDR, Playa del rey and even brentwood.

I enjoy being social however do have a large breed dog so it is important that the city I choose be dog friendly (LB has been very much so). Free time i like hiking, cycling by the beach, bars with friends etc. Have not really explored much of what LA had to offer in terms of culture yet.

For work I do sales and most of my clients are in south gate, compton, downey, HP, etc. Currently it takes me an average of 45 min to get to my area for the day. Would commuting from any of these areas be better or worse than the others? I generally like to arrive at my destination around 9:30-9:45 to avoid a little traffic.

Thanks in advance!

[varun2123]

Damn how do you make 145k a year ? What kind of sales? Help me out! Lol

[timtemtym]

I did exactly that and I've been trying to get back down to Long Beach for the last four years.

Long Beach is where I landed when I came to LA. I loved it and made friends but then opportunities came up on the westside and I thought "Sure! LA is cool!" Nope!

It is very different from Long Beach, especially north of the ten. Once June gets here I am either going to switch for a position closer down there or just quit and find a new employer. I work in a high demand field so I'm not worried too much about changing employers.

For me it is just a lot harder to find community and a simpler life up here. Everything that was more accessible on a smaller scale down there is a lot more spread out, overcrowded, and overpriced up here.

[Vic Romano]

Ikea

Originally Posted by varun2123

Damn how do you make 145k a year ? What kind of sales? Help me out! Lol

Weren't you making 75k with your engineering degree and going to double your income soon?

Originally Posted by varun2123

If I knew I'd be making the same salary forever then yes I wouldn't not buy anything . But i don't have that defeatist mindset. I know I'll double my salary soon.

[seanc34]

Can you clarify where in LA you moved to? I really appreciate the insight- This is exactly what I am trying to avoid.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by varun2123

Damn how do you make 145k a year ? What kind of sales? Help me out! Lol

Always.

Be.

Closing.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrhSLf0I-HM

[scubashawn68]

I would stay in Long Beach. Belmont Shores is pretty nice. Some places in the South Bay are cool, like Rancho Palos Verdes, Torrance and Redondo. But I wouldn't live in LA. Unless you want to deal with even more traffic.

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by Vic Romano

Ikea

Weren't you making 75k with your engineering degree and going to double your income soon?

$75k x 2 = $150k so not sure what he's complaining about. He'll be making more then OP once he decides to exercise that option to double his salary

[stephei2000]

Originally Posted by scubashawn68

I would stay in Long Beach. Belmont Shores is pretty nice. Some places in the South Bay are cool, like Rancho Palos Verdes, Torrance, and Redondo. But I wouldn't live in LA. Unless you want to deal with even more traffic.

I actually agree with this. I would only attempt to move to one of these nice places in the South Bay or Hermosa Beach like in your original post if you want some of the LA experience with less of a headache. The westside is a quick drive if you want to try it.

But I understand when I was in my late 20s I wanted to move to trendy. But most trendy places equals lack of community, but I understand that you want to get it out of your system. However, ask yourself what does the LA experience mean to you and does it match what you are looking for.

From the amenities you listed, I am not sure you would enjoy living in the Westside after the novelty wears off.

Trust me you are not missing anything living in LA or Westside of LA. I am trying to make an opposite move between to Hermosa, Redondo, Torrance or East Long Beach.

[timtemtym]

Originally Posted by stephei2000

I actually agree with this. I would only attempt to move to one of these nice places in the South Bay or Hermosa Beach like in your original post if you want some of the LA experience with less of a headache. The westside is a quick drive if you want to try it.

But I understand when I was in my late 20s I wanted to move to trendy. But most trendy places equals lack of community, but I understand that you want to get it out of your system. However, ask yourself what does the LA experience mean to you and does it match what you are looking for.

From the amenities you listed, I am not sure you would enjoy living in the Westside after the novelty wears off

^^ This is very true. It's a lot harder to make friends, even with coworkers. If you don't already have a network in LA it is hard to break in. Plus there is always the crush of traffic that keeps people in their bubbles.

In Long Beach I instantly and easily found groups to hang out with. I had a group that was into cycling, a church group, friends community. People were just a lot more open. Torrance can be similar. Once you get north of the beach cities you have to work a lot harder to break in. Even after four years of living in LA most of the people I hang out with for social events are down in LB or north Orange County.

I have lived in Marina Del Rey, Woodland Hills, now Glendale.

I used to visit LA and think it was super cool! It's a lot of fun for day trips and weekend events, but the daily life is a different side once the novelty fades.

If I'd grown up here it would be different. I'd have childhood friends and family and be used to it all.