I need to move out west-need a cheaper but close place near Santa Monica. City close enough with a reasonanable drive to work in Santa Monica. If you know any good apartments that great too.
2006-11-06 02:23:09 · 6 answers · asked by Jennifer B 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
North of Santa Monica is even more expensive - Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Bev Hills, etc. Everywhere in the Santa Monica area is hellaciously expensive. However, there are areas that are somewhat less. Parts of Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista, West LA, and Venice, as well as out in the San Fernando Valley. Of course along with relatively cheaper housing comes more crime. Or you could make a long commute to the north if you go as far as Oxnard.
2006-11-06 02:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by Snance 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree about Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista, West LA, and Venice. Check losangeles.craigslist.org for apartments, or there's a ton of listings on westsiderentals.com (although it's a paid service).
Just to give you an idea, commuting from any of those places to Santa Monica might take you 10-20 minutes by streets. If you're coming from the San Fernando Valley, it could take you anywhere from 30-60 minutes to get there. I'm actually paying the same in Van Nuys as I did in Mar Vista, so it may not save you a lot.
There's pockets of nice areas and some that are a little sketchy - you really won't know til you see the place. When I first moved out I found a temporary place for a month on Craigslist until I scoped out there area and found somewhere I liked and felt safe.
Another thing I can recommend is buying a Thomas Guide, which is the best map of LA you can get (it's a book).
2006-11-06 18:45:15 · answer #2 · answered by Pook 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Venice Beach is just a five minute walk down the baordwalk. But have you considered hostels to get you started?
The Hostelling Internation hostel in Santa Monica is the nicest hostel (more like a hotel) very safe and well located on 2nd street right in heart of Santa Monica.
Hostels are how i moved to Honolulu (I stayed in one for a couple weeks while "scouting out" where i was going to live.)
try twizi.com on hostel in Los Angeles area
2006-11-06 16:38:41 · answer #3 · answered by Yum! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest going in farther - the rent will get a little cheaper. If you go north it will just get more expensive. There are sections of Culver City & West LA that are somewhat affordable. I would not suggest moving into the Valley because the commute will be horrific...unless you tried to live in Encino or Sherman Oaks right next to the Sepulveda pass...but you're still looking at 45 minutes to an hour one way.
2006-11-11 16:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by rrmorris45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not cheap to rent anywhere near Santa Monica, you would have to go inland a bit. Rent is high all over Southern California. I would suggest you look for a roomate, especially if you want to live in or near Santa Monica. This link is a good source for rentals. I recommend you use it once you get here. Good luck.
http://www.westsiderentals.com/
2006-11-06 03:24:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
HA! You are headed in the wrong direction for cheap rent. You need to go South into Venice, El Segundo, etc. Then again if you are coming from New York City, then anything out west is cheaper.
2006-11-06 05:43:37 · answer #6 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋