Any tips on moving to LA and/or the West Hollywood area?

Question

I am thinking of going to grad school in Cali and selling realestate to support myself. I have some money saved and I know it's expensive, but I just love it there!

Answer 1

Well, i've been living here my whole life and I love it! maybe because i'm still in college and i'm having tons of fun. However, it is very expensive to live here, and you will need a real estate license in this state in order to sell real estate. LA is not the best place to live. It is kind of ulgy and houses are old, but i would recommend orange county or even some places in san bernardino county, like rancho cucamonga, upland. You can also try chino hills, pasadena, etc. All of those places are expensive too but are very nice places to live if you have the money.
There are a lot of jobs here depending on what you do. Pay is good too, so you should be fine.
Good Luck!!

Answer 2

There's also the mudslides, wildfire, tremors, dirty public beaches, the infernal smell, the haze of coal burning power generators, over population, and the expense. It just can't be stressed enough. Don't plan on all that money you think you have saved won't end up leading to a dinner or two consisting of bologna on hand.

The car issue raised above, just leads to the highways, or roads. Plan on complete standstills... a motorcycle is strongly recommended. As the fuel prices are absurd, it's just cheaper and more efficient. If you're brave, California also supports lane-splitting. Being a non-cager, I wouldn't recommend this at all... but does beat burning tires and couting leaves on weeds growing in pavement cracks while you bake in the sun.

On a whole, I've nothing good to say about the state... I'm with the others... those who want in, just don't realize what a freaking hole California really is. It sucks there... It's one thing to love visiting once in a while... but living is completely another beast. Weather really is the only thing going for it.

Not sure what your major is, but you're going to need realestate permits/licenses to sell. And plan on healthy competition from the big guys already doing what you're planning on doing. If you want to get into redevelopment, renovations, etc, there's money to be made. Permits, and building code is a nightmare... and resale values to time spent might just eat up all that time you need for grad school. It's an interesting venture, but personally, I don't think you have any idea what you're getting into. ;)

Answer 3

Just don't catch "Bitter Ex-Non-Californian Syndrome":

People with the initial stages of this disease tend to base their decision to move to California on television shows. They become convinced that it must be some sort of utopian paradise compared to their own state: eternally sunny beaches with gorgeous dudes/babes, laborers toiling in the fields while they sip cocktails by the poolside, and the like. They might also suffer from delusions of grandeur, believing they will roll into L.A. and become a movie star (or the Northern California version, roll into San Fran and become a CEO).

Upon their arrival, they proceed to the next stage of the illness...denial. They find out that they aren't the cat's meow after all in a place with 40 million people (each doing their own thing).They have no game plan for work, didn't do any research on the place they're staying, and find themselves holding onto the slim hope that everything will just fall into place magically. They might start drifting around at this point, flaking from job-to-job, apartment-to-apartment. Deliverance doesn't come (duh).

Then comes...anger. Suddenly, everything they once loved about California becomes annoying. The cars (too much traffic!), the sun (too hot and dusty!), the hotties (too pretentious and plastic!), the exciting cities (too much crime!), the tolerance (goddamn liberals!), the diversity (ick, those people!). They become irrational and pissed off at everyone and everything.

Finally, they say they'll move. But they don't. In fact, they continue "in the process of moving" for years and years and years...spreading their gloomy misery around wherever they go. When they finally do move to Arizona or Oregon, they swear never to return. Then next year they come back (as tourists), only to start the complaining all over again.

Answer 4

PROS: The weather is better, salon services and produce are cheap, every culture in the world is here, you are close to the mountains for when you need your snow fix and there are a LOT of things to do.

CONS: It's expensive, no seasons, it's expensive, you MUST have a car, it's expensive, good paying jobs are hard to find, it's expensive, people are fake and it's expensive.

Did I mention, it's expensive to live here? A small condo in a bad neighborhood is over $300,000 and rent is equivalent. Gas at Arco just hit under $3 a gallon and people are lining up for that, whether they need a fill or not.

Answer 5

Haha! Be prepared to pay outta the a$$ for rent and living expenses - it's ridiculously expensive here and the the traffic is horrendous. I moved here many years ago and I'd love to get out of this state.