Moving from east coast, safe areas to live and park? (Torrance: apartment, for rent)

[Sy_Mercade]

Hello, I'm 30 m and I've lived in LA before for a few years, but ran low on money and ran home to save up to do it again as I loved my time there. So, here we go again.

I'm planning to drive across country with my car (didn't have a car last time) and I'm looking to spend max 1200 for rent (that high hopefully includes utilities and will almost definitely be shared) but much prefer my own room and bathroom. If I can be picky I also want an apartment in a gated building with gym and hottub, without roaches. I also don't have a job lined up and I'm planning to make 15k of savings last along with doordash and uber and any odd jobs I can pick up to slow the fall while I look for something real.

But honestly I'm probably going to end up in a shared room with bunk beds. Hopefully with a good roommate though. I've been seeing these shared with lots of people dorm-style condos for artists on craigslist, might look into that more.

I figure I'm gonna have to start in the valley somewhere, but I'm not too familiar with it and don't have street smarts, so don't wanna end up somewhere not safe. How is NoHo, WeHo, Tarzana, Torrance, Koreatown, Gardena, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Van Nuys for starters?

When I lived out there before it was about 5 years ago, in Westwood (fav) Beverly Hills, Burbank areas. Max for rent of my own room and bathroom was 800. Things have changed but I wonder how much.

Thanks

[Chaminade]

Originally Posted by Sy_Mercade

How is NoHo, WeHo, Tarzana, Torrance, Koreatown, Gardena, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Van Nuys for starters?

These places aren't that bad (maybe boring) but I'm not sure about the rest: NoHo, (west) Torrance, Tarzana, Van Nuys.
I wouldn't feel uncomfortable in any of the places but some may be way too expensive but some might be better for door dash type jobs due to their densities.

[MrIndependent]

Originally Posted by Sy_Mercade

Hello, I'm 30 m and I've lived in LA before for a few years, but ran low on money and ran home to save up to do it again as I loved my time there. So, here we go again.

I'm planning to drive across country with my car (didn't have a car last time) and I'm looking to spend max 1200 for rent (that high hopefully includes utilities and will almost definitely be shared) but much prefer my own room and bathroom. If I can be picky I also want an apartment in a gated building with gym and hottub, without roaches. I also don't have a job lined up and I'm planning to make 15k of savings last along with doordash and uber and any odd jobs I can pick up to slow the fall while I look for something real.

But honestly I'm probably going to end up in a shared room with bunk beds. Hopefully with a good roommate though. I've been seeing these shared with lots of people dorm-style condos for artists on craigslist, might look into that more.

I figure I'm gonna have to start in the valley somewhere, but I'm not too familiar with it and don't have street smarts, so don't wanna end up somewhere not safe. How is NoHo, WeHo, Tarzana, Torrance, Koreatown, Gardena, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Van Nuys for starters?

When I lived out there before it was about 5 years ago, in Westwood (fav) Beverly Hills, Burbank areas. Max for rent of my own room and bathroom was 800. Things have changed but I wonder how much.

Thanks

• • WeHo, Silver Lake, and Echo Park are likely too pricey for your budget.
  • I would skip on Torrance and Gardena.
  • Inglewood is starting to become more of a "good deal" with people who want to be close enough but don't want to pay premium prices for urban living. It's not the most exciting area, but it's good enough.
  • KTown is very central and has a lot of apartment buildings. It's not as high priced as the above-mentioned areas. Though some areas of Ktown are sketchy. Just make sure the apartment actually is inside Ktown and not an adjacent rougher neighborhood.
  • NoHo and Tarzana are less expensive than the central LA spots. NoHo probably has more going on for younger people.

[markthegnome]

If you want safety, stay north of the 10 for the most part.
I'd suggest, adding Los Feliz, Burbank and and Atwater village to your list

[anikom15]

Since you don’t have a job yet, what brings you to LA? What are you looking for?

[LilLisa83]

$1200 on rent max?!? That's awfully low. You'll end up spending MINIMUM of $1500. If you want gated, no roaches, etc., you're looking at around $1500+ in maybe Norwalk/ Downey....
Please be realistic.

[LilLisa83]

Originally Posted by markthegnome

If you want safety, stay north of the 10 for the most part.
I'd suggest, adding Los Feliz, Burbank and and Atwater village to your list

Ha not in the OPs unrealistic price range.

[2Easy]

Originally Posted by LilLisa83

Ha not in the OPs unrealistic price range.

What's so unrealistic about $1,200 in rent with roommates?

[Sy_Mercade]

Originally Posted by anikom15

Since you don’t have a job yet, what brings you to LA? What are you looking for?

Ah you know, joining the crowd of foolishly chasing dreams in hopes of fulfilling creativity and midlife crisis.

...Plus I was there for 5 years already and loved it. People are nicer even if it might've been fake, more jobs for film/video/music, the lack of weather, one place I lived in had a hot tub on the roof and a gym in a gated building for $700 rent where I could leave at any time because month to month, I could bike places and always stay active, there's always something to do, stores are open 24/7, meetups.

Let me tell you it is nothing like that in NH.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by Sy_Mercade

Ah you know, joining the crowd of foolishly chasing dreams in hopes of fulfilling creativity and midlife crisis.

...Plus I was there for 5 years already and loved it. People are nicer even if it might've been fake, more jobs for film/video/music, the lack of weather, one place I lived in had a hot tub on the roof and a gym in a gated building for $700 rent where I could leave at any time because month to month, I could bike places and always stay active, there's always something to do, stores are open 24/7, meetups.

Let me tell you it is nothing like that in NH.

You can't do that here now rent wise. We have a housing shortage and rent is very high. Traffic is a lot worse too. Just in the past 5 years I've noticed a real difference.