Laguna Beach/Newport Beach advice for late 20's couple (Los Angeles: low income, apartments)

[liz451]

Hello all! Looking at an upcoming move for the +1's job to Irvine (where the 405 and 5 meet). I am very familiar with the OC but haven't lived there since I was a small child. A few questions and any tips would be great!

We're a late 20's couple who still enjoys going out to eat and having a few drinks on weekends but are old enough where we want to leave the party at the bars and live somewhere walking distance, but quiet. Our budget is $2,000/month for a 1 bedroom and would like to live within walking distance or easy bike ride of beach. We won't be picky but would like room for a king sized bed and a little corner desk somewhere in apt (I work from home)

- How long will the commute be from Newport Beach to the 405/5 area with typical 8am-5pm hours?
- How bad is commuting off the peninsula/balboa island/etc. if we choose to live in those areas? - He'd like to stay under 30 minutes (I know traffic is very unpredictable but as a general rule)
- Since I work from home are there any areas we could live in where I could get rid of my car and walk to grocery store and other amenities?
- How far in advance do we need to look for an apartment? He doesn't have a set start date yet and I want to make sure we have enough time to find a place we like and aren't scrambling.
- What is the best way to find apartments in LB/NB? I've been looking over craigslist but there aren't a ton of options. Is our budget unrealistic or is this just a hard time to rent with summer rentals?
- Specific tips on where to live in these areas would be great too! For instance - don't live on Peninsula since it's hard to commute off of in morning, live east of xyz street in Laguna, etc.

Thanks for any help!

[DinsdalePirahna]

You will hit quite a bit of traffic with any option. 30-45 min commutes.

I would start looking now to get an idea of what you are looking for. Many apartments will open up after labor day.

Laguna Beach may be a pretty good option in your case. Just a straight shot up the 133. Stay close to PCH. getting down the hills each morning will wear you down quickly. Make sure parking is included

I would also recommend Balboa Island (Newport Beach), and do a straight shot up jamboree to the 405 (or Barranca) Getting off the island my be a challenge (but it a lot smaller than the Peninsula). Again, make sure parking is included.

try this: California Apartments & Home Rentals. Los Angeles, San Diego & San Francisco / Apartment Hunters, California

[liz451]

Thanks for the advice! It sounds like from other threads the peninsula is a little too much of a party for us anyways, and from what you say, too long of a commute for us.

Would Balboa Island fit within our budget? I've only seen a couple options so don't know if we can get somewhere decent but the ferry to the peninsula seems like a great option. I'm also thinking the area around fashion island might be an easy bike ride to beach.

Does Laguna have much going on? I've read it's not great for singles (which we're not of course) but still like activities and aren't very artsy people.

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[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by liz451

Would Balboa Island fit within our budget? I've only seen a couple options so don't know if we can get somewhere decent but the ferry to the peninsula seems like a great option. I'm also thinking the area around fashion island might be an easy bike ride to beach

Not sure what your time line is, but I will be pretty hard to find a rental during the summer on Balboa Island. Biut I've seen plenty of places within your budget.

Park Newport Apartments is within you price range. Bikeable to the harbor, Fashion Island and a lot of other Newport Amenities. Its a large almost self contained community - and the last time I visited there, it had an onsite convenience store)

I have a friend that lives in Newport North Apartments. Also near Fashion Island, within your budget and bikeable to the harbor/beach (via ferry).

There is a bike trail that loops around the back bay and connects with trails to Huntington Beach, Irvine, Anaheim (and beyond).

[matzoman]

I would suggest Newport for you. It is more quiet and conservative than Laguna. Laguna has too much drugs and street people. It will probably scare you.

[liz451]

Originally Posted by matzoman

I would suggest Newport for you. It is more quiet and conservative than Laguna. Laguna has too much drugs and street people. It will probably scare you.

Wait, is this serious? I've been to Laguna a few times before and don't recall anything at all scary about the place. Is there some bad area I should know about?

[matzoman]

Originally Posted by liz451

Wait, is this serious? I've been to Laguna a few times before and don't recall anything at all scary about the place. Is there some bad area I should know about?

Yes, Serious. Laguna has a lot of homeless and drunks for south county. Just something to be aware of.

[bounty80]

I love Laguna Beach and visit there regularly. That said I don't think I'd live there - I think the options for restaurants, drinks, and shopping would become a little limited after a while, but this is obviously just my opinion based on a couple of visits there.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by matzoman

Yes, Serious. Laguna has a lot of homeless and drunks for south county. Just something to be aware of.

The drunks are called "Tourists", and yes there are a lot of Tourists in Laguna (especially during the summer).

I do not see a lot of Homeless People in Laguna (there are some, but it never appeared to be a problem)

[matzoman]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

The drunks are called "Tourists", and yes there are a lot of Tourists in Laguna (especially during the summer).

I do not see a lot of Homeless People in Laguna (there are some, but it never appeared to be a problem)

It depends where you look. There are two homeless shelters in Laguna now, one on Laguna canyon road and the other at the south end of PCH away from the eyes of the tourists. They are filled to capacity every night and turn away many who then go to the bus station to raise hell every night. The intention was to build very low income housing on the current site of the canyon road shelter but the city is trying to bury the idea and push it under the rug.