Is relocating to West LA even possible anymore? (to rent, mortgage)

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by saybanana

There are 100+ different areas you can live that are cheaper than West LA.
West LA is one of the more expensive areas and people who are poor and work retail dont go living in West LA unless they had a rent controlled apartment 10+ years ago and never left.
If you want something cheaper, try the entirety of South LA and the all the cities there from Carson to Compton. Try the gateway cities. Try the southern San Gabriel Valley. Try the central and eastern San Fernando Valley. Try all the communities around Downtown LA except Echo Park/Silver Lake/Mt Washington/ Highland Park. as rents are high up.
Try Koreatown and East Hollywood. for now.

IF you want to establish yourself and save money until a more steady flow or more income comes in the near future, do that. Then after move to West LA.

This is so true! There are a ton of cheaper places in the valley or elsewhere you could go. It is like saying that you want to move to Chicago and have to live in Lincoln Park or River North and are floored by the rents, which are similar to what you would pay in West LA. If you want to live near a career chance, you have to lower your expectations of living in an A plus area and rough it a bit.

[Jer3784]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

This is so true! There are a ton of cheaper places in the valley or elsewhere you could go. It is like saying that you want to move to Chicago and have to live in Lincoln Park or River North and are floored by the rents, which are similar to what you would pay in West LA. If you want to live near a career chance, you have to lower your expectations of living in an A plus area and rough it a bit.

I lived in LA and had no problem getting around without a car. The bus system seemed just as solid as Chicago. These days you even have a better rail system than over 10 years ago. But... the lay of the land is different. I've lived where I live now and traveled to River North daily for 6 years. We are talking about a 45 minute commute. The commute from say West Hollywood to Burbank isn't much of a longer distance. From what I remember, that commute was more of a pain in the ass than the River North one.

So... the real objective is to live closer to work. Most jobs I would be interviewing for will be on the westside. With that work being freelance, it will always be unknown where exactly I will be working each month. I'd rather be safer than sorry. When it comes to having to pick up odd jobs, I would assume the pay on the westside is just as equal as in the valley.

The point I'm asking with this thread is.. even with a carer and odd jobs, it seems near impossible to pay the costs. Somehow people still find a way to manage. Should it than be assume that they have a secret family member, friend, or spouse funding their trip? Even if you move to the 818, there seems to be no way you could move closer to work unless you are 8 to 10 years into your gig, and have found a way to climb the ladder and become the boss.

[cutiger79]

Just because it seems impossible to doesn't mean it is. People have already explained how most are doing it and it's that they are forgoing somethings you may not be willing to. Having roommates and working multiple full-time jobs is how some are able to do it. I'm from the south where having roommates isn't really a thing and since I moved here almost 2 years ago I have seen how common having roommates and/or living at home at 30+ is. I have also known a few who have 2 and sometimes 3 jobs just to make ends meet and even then they still had roommates. Just because on the outside it's looking like people are doing things doesn't mean they really are because people are certainly struggling here hence why there is a big push for rent control.

[bad debt]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

I lived in LA and had no problem getting around without a car. The bus system seemed just as solid as Chicago. These days you even have a better rail system than over 10 years ago. But... the lay of the land is different. I've lived where I live now and traveled to River North daily for 6 years. We are talking about a 45 minute commute. The commute from say West Hollywood to Burbank isn't much of a longer distance. From what I remember, that commute was more of a pain in the ass than the River North one.

So... the real objective is to live closer to work. Most jobs I would be interviewing for will be on the westside. With that work being freelance, it will always be unknown where exactly I will be working each month. I'd rather be safer than sorry. When it comes to having to pick up odd jobs, I would assume the pay on the westside is just as equal as in the valley.

The point I'm asking with this thread is.. even with a carer and odd jobs, it seems near impossible to pay the costs. Somehow people still find a way to manage. Should it than be assume that they have a secret family member, friend, or spouse funding their trip? Even if you move to the 818, there seems to be no way you could move closer to work unless you are 8 to 10 years into your gig, and have found a way to climb the ladder and become the boss.

You're right, people manage. They live in Compton, Watts, Pacoima, or San Bernardino. Or they bought decades ago at a different price point.

If you are trying to buy a home in the Westside on a conventional mortgage at the absolute minimum that means 200K down and an 800K loan. So that would mean earning about 80K a year.

[TexasBound19]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

A bit of an exaggeration, no?

I find it hard to believe that the majority of the city population is that rich.

Say people who work basic retail jobs. I'm sure they work 2 jobs, but still do not make over 100k a year. They somehow survive,

If you want to live in a normal 1 bedroom apartment, expect to pay 2,800+ for the low-end ones.

"Normal" = not an old dump, washer and dryer inside, elevator and a window not facing a brick wall.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

I originally posted on this forum back in 2009. I was a (somewhat) naive 24 year old, looking to make the leap from Chicago to West LA. Being someone who was looking to get into the music industry, I networked a lot, and trusted my contacts would give me work. I moved. I stayed for a year. I had zero luck.

I always had the urge to move back. The problem always became -- lining up work before making the move is nearly impossible. I don't know how many interview requests I was given over the last 10 years, only to have them taken away once they found out I'm in Chicago looking to relocate. Literally.. no one will Skype.

In more recent years, my work has transitioned into something different. I'm still pushing for entertainment work, but in an aspect of the industry that is freelance based. I thought.. If my networking is good and I'm a bit more cautious this time, maybe I should make the move again. Trying to crunch the numbers in any situation seems almost impossible.

A studio apartment costs about $2,300, more than double the cost for my prime location studio in 2010. A shared apartment costs about $1,300, about $400 more than my shared unit when I moved in 2009. And rooms shared (yikes..) are at $900. It sounds completely insane! Even if I had a lot of full time jobs in the LA area, I'm not so sure I would be able to make those costs work. As for transferring within a company to a West LA location, I don't see how that is even possible unless they give you a major raise.

So.. How is / has everyone here done it who has relocated rather recently? Only way I see possible is if you are married and have both incomes coming in.

Is there something here I'm missing?

Don't know why you have to live in West LA. I wouldn't live there if you paid me, it's way too congested.

You were only out here a year and than gave up and went back to Chicago, I know people out here who tried to get into the entertainment industry, a couple of them made a dent. But they worked two jobs if needed and they gave it more than a year.

Why don't you try Nashville?

[DutchessCottonPuff]

My youngest lives in an artists hostel . She loves it . She is an actress but has recorded music there and there are everyone from Signed musicians to actors , screenwriters , photographers you name it . They are like one big family . She had to audition and show her work to be able to get in as well as her social media pages . She goes to an acting conservatory nearby also and works in that area also but they have extra classes/seminars in house as well in almost every form of the industry . It is in WeHo . We go see her , she loves it so much she never comes home , I cannot recall what the age limit is there though . $750 for her .

[Commonproject]

Originally Posted by Jer3784

A bit of an exaggeration, no?

I find it hard to believe that the majority of the city population is that rich.

Say people who work basic retail jobs. I'm sure they work 2 jobs, but still do not make over 100k a year. They somehow survive,

If you own real estate from when you or your fam bought a long time ago, then you can easily live in West LA. LA's expenses outside of real estate isn't that much more expensive compared to other cities.

However, if you are coming back to rent, then you really need to be at $100K+ if you want your own space and feel like you're saving a little bit of wealth. People who work basic retail jobs and renting are definitely not saving anything.

Just for reference, I make over $300K and about to settle down with a family, and I still struggle to find an affordable single family home in West LA suitable for that income. A 3 bedroom 2 bath 1500 sqr feet SFH will cost you $1.5 million. I have many friends in West LA making $150K+, and all of them are renting and paying $2K+ for a studio/1 bed.

[bad debt]

Originally Posted by Commonproject

If you own real estate from when you or your fam bought a long time ago, then you can easily live in West LA. LA's expenses outside of real estate isn't that much more expensive compared to other cities.

However, if you are coming back to rent, then you really need to be at $100K+ if you want your own space and feel like you're saving a little bit of wealth. People who work basic retail jobs and renting are definitely not saving anything.

Just for reference, I make over $300K and about to settle down with a family, and I still struggle to find an affordable single family home in West LA suitable for that income. A 3 bedroom 2 bath 1500 sqr feet SFH will cost you $1.5 million. I have many friends in West LA making $150K+, and all of them are renting and paying $2K+ for a studio/1 bed.

What are you defining as affordable on a $300K income? Do you have a down payment saved up or are you doing 5% down.

Seems to me you should be able to afford around a $2M home depending on how much you're putting down.

[Jer3784]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

Why don't you try Nashville?

Because the aspect of the industry I'm in is mostly in LA, New York, and a small bit in Atlanta. Not only do I prefer LA, but New York is even more expensive.

Originally Posted by Commonproject

Just for reference, I make over $300K and about to settle down with a family, and I still struggle to find an affordable single family home in West LA suitable for that income. A 3 bedroom 2 bath 1500 sqr feet SFH will cost you $1.5 million.

Do you hear what you are saying!? You cannot live on 300K a year. You are in the top 5% of the entire nation on income. It takes most people 20 years to pay off a house. You mean to tell me you can't pay 1.5 million in 10 years?

Guys.. I'm not talking about people moving to LA, wanting to be on the westside, but instead starting out in the valley with three roommates and three jobs. I'm talk about the people who relocate directly to the westside. I know it might be a much smaller percentage, but is it even doable anymore? If so.. who?