It's official, moving to LA. Advice on where to live needed...

[Boomer28]

So it's on. Moving out at end of the month, starting work the 1st week in April.

I know LA proper and southern LA/orange county/irvine somewhat but my office will be up in the Moorpark/Simi Valley area northwest of the city.

Big issue is going to be finding something that isn't too far northwest as the wife will most likely find a job that is closer to to LA, maybe in the Burbank area.

I know that the shark-infested nightmare that you people call the commute is a huge issue so where the fuck do I live that would keep my commute under an hour and her's around the same?

We're heading out next weekend to look at places and explore a bit, hopefully we can figure it out during the trip.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[flatlander#2]

Well you'll want to join a gang first. I hear everybody does that.

[Boomer28]

Well you'll want to join a gang first. I hear everybody does that.

But there are so many options! I mean I look great in red, but blue sets my eyes off!!!

[cranked]

Compton, Watts, or a city they call Long Beach.

EDIT: In all seriousness, I hate LA...that said, if you can live in and work in close proximity to the beaches (manhattan, hermosa, redondo, etc), you can have one hell of a life. I would move there, if I could figure out how to stay in the beach area...my buddy is a lawyer and has managed it (his wife is a teacher, teaches in Torrence)...they have it figured out and it is an amazing life.

[Missing Sock]

Congrats on the move.

Moved out here from NYC last August and its really starting to grow on me. Pretty difficult picking the perfect location given how spread out LA is. The difference between her working in Santa Monica, Century City or Downtown could add significant driving time from wherever you are. That said Burbank, Studio city etc is probably not a bad compromise.

I'm just below Griffith park off of Sunset and have found it to be pretty convenient. Easy access to the 101 and the 5. It takes me about 10 minutes to get downtown and I can get out to Thousand Oaks in a half hour or so pending traffic. What are you looking for? House vs. apartment etc?

[yogachik]

Your best option would be the valley. It's not the most lovely place in LA, but it's in the middle of Simi and Burbank. What's your budget for rent? Consider the hills above the valley if you have the money. Also consider the area near the Hollywood sign or Beachwood Canyon for easy drive to the valley going over Cahuenga.

[Boomer28]

Cranked: I have a friend who lives in Manhattan Beach, half a block from the beach and he has it figured out. I LOVE that area of LA, problem is it is just not an option for us.

Sock: I'm coming from NYC area also, glad to hear you are enjoying it

Chick: Have started looking at the Calabasas area as an kind of in-between location. It looks nice and is right off the 101. Problem is that there is not a lot of supply of rentals right now. Everything is either a cheap, tiny place or a $5k+ 5 bedroom McMansion. There are some more reasonably priced options that look good but not many.

Also considering Malibu, most supply of rentals ironically, though less for your money.

If I can't live near the ocean I would like to rent a house, would be nice to have some space for a change.

One other thing, doesn't the valley get crazy hot with terrible air quality in the summer? Want to avoid that if possible...

[Sirshredalot]

If I can't live near the ocean I would like to rent a house, would be nice to have some space for a change.

One other thing, doesn't the valley get crazy hot with terrible air quality in the summer? Want to avoid that if possible...

Yes. Coming from the east coast, you will be stunned what a difference just a few miles makes in terms of the temperature. It can be really nice at the ocean and broiling in the valley during the summers.

[Steven S. Dallas]

I always thought Thousand Oaks seemed pretty nice- some really good biking up there, road and MTB. And you can get a horsie, too.

[Ernest Hemingway]

Los Angeles always gives me a feeling of lightness and pleasure, a sort of warmth I want to hang on to for awhile. At the same time, it reminds me of Salzburg in 1937. Just overrun with Jews. The snotty Berliner kind. They acted like victims of some cruel persecution even though most of them drove Mercedes sedans laden with fine suitcases.

I also like the area around Westlake Village, since you can get up Mulholland or down to the ocean fairly quickly and the women don't look as dreary. But you strike me as a path of least resistance sort of person, so enjoy the valley!

[Hugh Conway]

I always thought Thousand Oaks seemed pretty nice- some really good biking up there, road and MTB. And you can get a horsie, too.

Definitely biking and hiking out TO/NewburyPark/Simi and it was empty most of the time ime. not much for people w/o kids to do for eat/drink/merry making in that area and it's pretty much all houses, not apts.

If wife can find a job in Ventura Co, live in Ventura/SilverStrand/Oxnard near the beach. Commute wouldn't be hideous, near recreation, further from skiing.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Definitely biking and hiking out TO/NewburyPark/Simi and it was empty most of the time ime. not much for people w/o kids to do for eat/drink/merry making in that area and it's pretty much all houses, not apts.

There are a lot of condo developments out that way, so I bet op could find something. Agreed it's likely super dead though.

[OldLarry]

Los Angeles always gives me a feeling of lightness and pleasure, a sort of warmth I want to hang on to for awhile. At the same time, it reminds me of Salzburg in 1937. Just overrun with Jews. The snotty Berliner kind. They acted like victims of some cruel persecution even though most of them drove Mercedes sedans laden with fine suitcases.

I also like the area around Westlake Village, since you can get up Mulholland or down to the ocean fairly quickly and the women don't look as dreary. But you strike me as a path of least resistance sort of person, so enjoy the valley!

UM, wow.

[hutash]

It depends on how far she has to go for her job. Ventura is a great place to live (I have been here 26 years). Good beach, night life has improved, great schools, fantastic climate. Simi/Moorpark is nice, but has grown too much. Much hotter and has some smog issue (almost unheard of in Ventura except when we get some wind shifts from LA.)

Simi/Moorpark/TO gives good freeway access to the San Fernando Valley and Burbank, Universal City area is not too bad of a commute. Living in the SF valley is doable, and there are some nice area, but I personally would not. It could be closer to your wife's work, and the commute for you would be opposite of the main flow.

One minor point is how much are you willing to spend. Rel estate and rent is not cheap, though prices have dropped drastically. Sticker shock can be terminal depending on where you are coming from.

Shoot me a PM with digits if you want specifics about the Ventura area.

[GiBo]

Congrats on the move.

Moved out here from NYC last August and its really starting to grow on me. Pretty difficult picking the perfect location given how spread out LA is. The difference between her working in Santa Monica, Century City or Downtown could add significant driving time from wherever you are. That said Burbank, Studio city etc is probably not a bad compromise.

I'm just below Griffith park off of Sunset and have found it to be pretty convenient. Easy access to the 101 and the 5. It takes me about 10 minutes to get downtown and I can get out to Thousand Oaks in a half hour or so pending traffic. What are you looking for? House vs. apartment etc?

Ah the LA 'the' thing! Why do LA people always say "the 5" or "the 10"? I had a friend move down there and within 2 months she was doing that. What gives?

[rideit]

Ojai, perhaps?
Or Montecito?

[Tippster]

The Hemingway alias is fast becoming a favorite.

How about something in West Malibu? You can take Decker Canyon to 1000 Oaks/Simi ans still have beach views.

Seriously tho I'd find something in 1000 Oaks - close enough to the beach and I bet cheaper/more options. I just drove PCH/101 twice in 3 days and the stretch from the Malibu Pier to Santa Monica is a shitshow.

Isn't the 405 supposed to be under construction South of Sherman Oaks for the foreseeable future?

[DJSapp]

Isn't the 405 supposed to be under construction South of Sherman Oaks for the foreseeable future?

Yes. Commuting over the Sepulveda pass = t3h suck, especially right now. I spent a lot of Fridays drinking Guinness and driving 3 mph on the 405 to go from Van Nuys to Manhattan Beach. 3 hours for 22 miles was AWESOME.

[Missing Sock]

I noticed that while I was typing it out. Still thought it was better than saying Interstate 5 and U.S. Route 101.

[DJSapp]

Ah the LA 'the' thing! Why do LA people always say "the 5" or "the 10"? I had a friend move down there and within 2 months she was doing that. What gives?

Well, if you were to give directions to anybody there, they'll most likely need to take at least 3 different freeways to get there. If you listen to a traffic report, they have 30 seconds to tell you about all the major issues on 37 freeways. It's more or less an abbreviation that states you're talking about a freeway and not a surface street. Almost all of the numbers are different, so what the hell does it matter if it's United States Route 101, State Route 22, or Interstate 5 that you're talking about.

Or if you insist, at least try to keep all of this straight

State Route 1
State Route 2
Interstate 5
Interstate 10
State Route 14
Interstate 15
State Route 22
State Route 23
State Route 33
Interstate 40
State Route 47
State Route 55
State Route 57
State Route 58
State Route 60
State Route 71
State Route 73
State Route 90
State Route 91
U.S. Route 101
State Route 103
Interstate 105
Interstate 110
State Route 110
State Route 118
State Route 133
State Route 134
State Route 138
State Route 170
Interstate 210
State Route 210
Interstate 215
State Route 241
State Route 261
Interstate 405
Interstate 605
Interstate 710

[GiBo]

No really, it's an LA thing. Living in N. Cal my whole life, you could always tell a SoCal transplant when they'd say, "Do I take the 580 to get to SF?"

[DJSapp]

And living in Norcal, nobody says anything in front of a freeway name. You just take 580 to 238 to 880 to 80 across the bay bridge to 101 to get to the golden gate bridge you stupid touron.

[Boomer28]

Yes. Commuting over the Sepulveda pass = t3h suck, especially right now. I spent a lot of Fridays drinking Guinness and driving 3 mph on the 405 to go from Van Nuys to Manhattan Beach. 3 hours for 22 miles was AWESOME.

Awesome imagery. I don't think that counts as drinking AND driving if you are going 3mph.

Good stuff so far guys, starting get a handle on things.

[DJSapp]

Awesome imagery. I don't think that counts as drinking AND driving if you are going 3mph..

That was my justification. That and there was no way a cop could sneak up on you when everything is gridlocked.

[Viva]

Ah the LA 'the' thing! Why do LA people always say "the 5" or "the 10"? I had a friend move down there and within 2 months she was doing that. What gives?

Actually, our freeways all have names, but no body uses them anymore. Probably because it was too complicated for all the douchebags moving here.