Los Angeles, California

[rellireloaded]

DONT LISTEN TO THIS GUY EITHER.
He wants you to pay $100-$200 a month EXTRA and he recommends you buy a HONDA (Easy to steal) or an Escalade (Great idea, especially during high gas prices)
I dont know what your status is OP, but if you want to live in DTLA, you can. You're just gonna have to pay. 1200 can get you a decent place, even 1000 can.

Man your reading comprehension is terrible.  How did you miss DON'T twice in one sentence?

All the porn stars are in the valley. I used to work at a community college and met a porn star (didnt know she was one) who was open about where they work. She said they in van nuys, encino, sherman oaks and all these other places. Last I heard she ended up getting killed by her bf. 

 Crazy.

Anyways, sherman oaks will be expensive compared to north hollywood. Keep in mind other expenses. I think close to work is your best bet, but some people dont like the city so they move out of it. Like someone else said dtla can get crazy with traffic (usc, dodgers, la live, staples) so that 110 can get bad at times.

You talking about the black girl with the big gums and tiny teeth?  Can't remember her name

The traffic is bad, but it moves pretty well in LA.  NY traffic just stands still in some areas, but it's really equally bad

 

[wj4]

Well, this turned out to be a bickering contest now.

OP: Enjoy the change, man. You're coming into a new city so enjoy the new culture and such.

The traffic is bad, but you can manage. I used to commute to work from the valley to LAX for nearly a year and a half with a stick shift and I was OK.

Hope you enjoy the city and make great money in the process, man.

 

[ooiron manoo]

Commuting from the valley to downtown LA?

I wouldn't want to commute from the Westside to Downtown either bro,

That's 45 minutes to an hour on a good day, no thanks.

Try to find a loft/apt downtown or stay in Pasadena. It's 15-20 minutes from DTLA. 30 minutes with traffic once you get your routes down. Weather is nice, you don't really need to worry about debauchery since it's a nice city with shopping, entertainment, etc. Has one of the major freeway arteries nearby 110 and another artery going East in the 210.

You can get a nice 1 bedroom apartment from $900-$1300 depending on square footage.

Prepare to drive and explore what this great city has to offer... so many places to eat, drink, chill, etc. Good luck and Welcome. You'll figure out where NOT to go pretty quick,

Also, if you decide to live in DTLA, try to find a spot that offers a parking spot. Some places don't and that adds an extra $100-125 to your "rent".

 

[cj863]

Plan on moving to LA when I graduate next year

 

[sunnyd]

Sorry about not giving you guys a spending range (That would probably help). I don't want to spend anymore than $1200 a month.

You can easily find something downtown in that price range... BUT PARKING SUCKS HORRIBLY DOWNTOWN BTW.... also most people i know from out of town move to west hollywood ..

 

[budgetballer]

cheapest rent is gonna be on the south side like gardena/lawndale but thats a drive but a straight shot.

KTown isn't expensive but then again you're gonna be living with the likes of 40 people to one studio.

DTLA is expensive now a days with the refurbishing going on.

 

[akajae]

cheapest rent is gonna be on the south side like gardena/lawndale but thats a drive but a straight shot.

KTown isn't expensive but then again you're gonna be living with the likes of 40 people to one studio.

DTLA is expensive now a days with the refurbishing going on.

strong username to post ratio.

 

[nightruans]

Los Feliz bro trust me! Awesome hipster area with tons of shops to walk around, your commute to downtown will be 30 min riding the train.

When you get a car your commute will still be 30 min but its a dope safe area to live in... same goes for Silverlake

 

[gatorbeltsnpattiemelts]

Sorry about not giving you guys a spending range (That would probably help). I don't want to spend anymore than $1200 a month.

it's some great affordable apts in the Crenshaw district.... look up 'The Jungles'. That'll probably fit your price range

 

[gatorbeltsnpattiemelts]

Living in LA is so a** backwards to me , AND I GREW UP THERE.


Man I own a home and my mortgage is 850... A HOME. I'll be damn'd if I'm paying that in rent, which let's be honest that's money that you are throwing away every month. You stand no chance to earn any portion of it back in taxes or otherwise.

 

[tonelow]

Sorry about not giving you guys a spending range (That would probably help). I don't want to spend anymore than $1200 a month.

it's some great affordable apts in the Crenshaw district.... look up 'The Jungles'. That'll probably fit your price range

Not sure if serious.

 

[sunnyd]

it's some great affordable apts in the Crenshaw district.... look up 'The Jungles'. That'll probably fit your price range

lmao you aint right

but really though 

 

[sundoobie]

Living in LA is so a** backwards to me , AND I GREW UP THERE.
Man I own a home and my mortgage is 850... A HOME. I'll be damn'd if I'm paying that in rent, which let's be honest that's money that you are throwing away every month. You stand no chance to earn any portion of it back in taxes or otherwise.

And what city/state do you live in with that $850 mortgage?

 

[mojodmonky1]

Sorry about not giving you guys a spending range (That would probably help). I don't want to spend anymore than $1200 a month.

You can easily find something downtown in that price range... BUT PARKING SUCKS HORRIBLY DOWNTOWN BTW.... also most people i know from out of town move to west hollywood ..

most people you know bat for the other team? not that theres anything wrong with that. just sayin. i dont know anyone who consciously makes the move to WeHo if not for the large gay community there.

Living in LA is so a** backwards to me , AND I GREW UP THERE.


Man I own a home and my mortgage is 850... A HOME. I'll be damn'd if I'm paying that in rent, which let's be honest that's money that you are throwing away every month. You stand no chance to earn any portion of it back in taxes or otherwise.

not everyone wants to live in TX though. Its a matter of supply and demand.

As far as rent money being thrown away, thats just an opinion, which I personally disagree with. If you just bought your home within the last couple of years and you took out a 30 year fixed, go look at your amortization schedule. Look at what portion of your mortgage payment is going to principal reduction. Talk about "throwing away" money each month. I refi'd a few months ago (which resets the dreaded amortization) and got my mortgage payment down to around $2,000 on a 30 yr fixed. Its sickening to see how much of that is going to interest even at 3.75% fixed. Oh yea, when my washer/dryer/dishwasher/etc... etc... breaks, thats on me. I cant call the landlord and have it fixed within 24 hrs. I'm assuming your mortgage company requires you to carry specific limits of coverage with your homeowners insurance? That aint free neither.

Grass is always greener fren. Some days I yearn for the simple times when I was just renting an apartment and the only thing I had to worry about was being on time with my payment. As a renter, everything else is someone elses problem and cost. As a homeowner, its all on you.

 

[sunnyd]

Sorry about not giving you guys a spending range (That would probably help). I don't want to spend anymore than $1200 a month.

You can easily find something downtown in that price range... BUT PARKING SUCKS HORRIBLY DOWNTOWN BTW.... also most people i know from out of town move to west hollywood ..

most people you know bat for the other team? not that theres anything wrong with that. just sayin. i dont know anyone who consciously makes the move to WeHo if not for the large gay community there.

There are people that are not gay who live there.. lol the people who I know that stays there are not gay btw most of the people are just actors and artists who move there .... But weho is the big gay community... nothing wrong with that he was only worried about his car stolen and nice affordable living... PLUS its not like it matters gay people are everywhere I mean we do live in LA

 

[sundoobie]

If it's cheaper to rent then purchase, then why not? Buying real estate is no slam dunk. You need a significant down, then there could be maintenance problems, and monthly costs like insurance, taxes, assoc fees, etc. Bottom line, do what's best for your situation but definitely run the numbers.

 

[k town trash]

korea town

 

[letsgetit22]

it's some great affordable apts in the Crenshaw district.... look up 'The Jungles'. That'll probably fit your price range

That caught me off guard.

You wrong though

 

[gatorbeltsnpattiemelts]

And what city/state do you live in with that $850 mortgage?

Dallas, TX

 

[jrdnsrnss]

Look into Atwater Village, Silver Lake, or Burbank. Close enough to downtown but also very close to LA if you wanna be near the city. Hell of a lot closer than Woodland Hills etc. Train stations near and in Burbank as well if you want to take that instead of driving.

 

[rellireloaded]

most people you know bat for the other team? not that theres anything wrong with that. just sayin. i dont know anyone who consciously makes the move to WeHo if not for the large gay community there.
not everyone wants to live in TX though. Its a matter of supply and demand.
As far as rent money being thrown away, thats just an opinion, which I personally disagree with. If you just bought your home within the last couple of years and you took out a 30 year fixed, go look at your amortization schedule. Look at what portion of your mortgage payment is going to principal reduction. Talk about "throwing away" money each month. I refi'd a few months ago (which resets the dreaded amortization) and got my mortgage payment down to around $2,000 on a 30 yr fixed. Its sickening to see how much of that is going to interest even at 3.75% fixed. Oh yea, when my washer/dryer/dishwasher/etc... etc... breaks, thats on me. I cant call the landlord and have it fixed within 24 hrs. I'm assuming your mortgage company requires you to carry specific limits of coverage with your homeowners insurance? That aint free neither.
Grass is always greener fren. Some days I yearn for the simple times when I was just renting an apartment and the only thing I had to worry about was being on time with my payment. As a renter, everything else is someone elses problem and cost. As a homeowner, its all on you.

All this especially the enlarged part.  Worked in West Hollywood as a kid.  CRAZY.

But rent is a tax right off on top of all the other perks Mojo mentioned,  and when you relocate from another state for work you get a tax credit.  Renting and leasing saves, but owning is an investment.  You save a crazy amount of money renting a place and leasing a car if you do it right.

 

[airthompson]

There are plenty places outside Downtown affordable. For $1200 you can easily get a 1 bedroom/studio in downtown. I wouldn't suggest you move out here in the San Fermamdo Valley, because the commute is terrible, and you'd have to be on the freeway by 6am to beat DTLA congestion. Unless of course you take the Metro shuttle to the subway. Santa Monica is nice, but that 10 Fwy is terrible.

Personally I'd stay in Downtown.

 

[gatorbeltsnpattiemelts]

most people you know bat for the other team? not that theres anything wrong with that. just sayin. i dont know anyone who consciously makes the move to WeHo if not for the large gay community there.
not everyone wants to live in TX though. Its a matter of supply and demand.
As far as rent money being thrown away, thats just an opinion, which I personally disagree with. If you just bought your home within the last couple of years and you took out a 30 year fixed, go look at your amortization schedule. Look at what portion of your mortgage payment is going to principal reduction. Talk about "throwing away" money each month. I refi'd a few months ago (which resets the dreaded amortization) and got my mortgage payment down to around $2,000 on a 30 yr fixed. Its sickening to see how much of that is going to interest even at 3.75% fixed. Oh yea, when my washer/dryer/dishwasher/etc... etc... breaks, thats on me. I cant call the landlord and have it fixed within 24 hrs. I'm assuming your mortgage company requires you to carry specific limits of coverage with your homeowners insurance? That aint free neither.
Grass is always greener fren. Some days I yearn for the simple times when I was just renting an apartment and the only thing I had to worry about was being on time with my payment. As a renter, everything else is someone elses problem and cost. As a homeowner, its all on you.

Everything is someone else's problem ok but that's still 850-1000 that you are essentially throwing away that you can't get back and/or use. With a house you can refi and get money out after a couple of years (when there's a gap between your house's worth and what you owe) you can get tax break/credits, this past year I got a 3k check for a refund from my mortgage taxes...... you see where I'm going? Even if you live in a house that' s big enough you have the option to rent out a room and collect income on that.

Plus I bought a duplex, so my mortgage and the rent I collect essentially cancel each other out. However, I'm able to just bank the rent I collect. It's like having a part time job where I don't have to actually work at. I got an extra 850 coming in like clockwork. In a year I'mma be sitting on 10-12k. That's just one year.


I'm just saying when you own a home you have more opportunities to get money back. When you rent there is no chance. You can't do anything. I can see renting maybe a couple years , or if you are a person who likes to move around, but if you are set on living in a city and you have a pretty good idea that you aren't going anywhere then owning is the right move.


And yes I was joking about the Jungles

 

[rellireloaded]

Not sure if serious.

Gatorbelts is breaking down the stigma.  it's not that bad like people that never go over there think. 

 

[gatorbeltsnpattiemelts]

**edit

man I be forgetting I live in Texas... I swear it's a whole different ball game out here. Housing is so good, I know teachers who literally have been able to build a house from the ground up We eat good