I'm graduating law school in may and will be moving to SoCal to start my career. I will be practicing environmental law and so will not be one of those wealthy lawyers who can afford a 6 bedroom in Malibu, so I need a little help in finding a place to live. I'm a surfer, so living near the beach is a must. I could settle for a smaller place as long as it is very nice and in a safe/nice neighborhood. I am well aware that SoCal is very expensive and am not expecting a great crib for pocket change. However, I would like to find something in a reasonable price range. So, my desires are (1) close to the beach, (2) west or south of L.A., (3) nice well-built home, (4) nice area, (5) and most importantly good surf. Any suggestions.
2007-01-12 06:53:08 · 21 answers · asked by btmead21 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
Long Beach, California. It's metropolitan enough to have activity and close enough to Los Angeles and Orange County for communiting. Plus all of the features you mentioned.
They now have the Metro, so you can take public transportation without having to deal with traffic.
Happy surfing and may your career be a fun one.
I know many environmentalists and attorneys in the New Port Beach area, but it's expensive over there... so, you will be close enough to commute there as well.
2007-01-12 06:56:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
West of LA is very expensive. You could try Redondo Beach,Manhattan Beach, Playa Del Rey, or Hermosa all are more money but close to LA and less then Malibu. Venice is also close to there. If you want nicer digs try Marina Del Rey or Palos Verdes. Both are very expensive but classy places can be rented there.
Now farther south is Orange County. Hunting ton Beach has great surf and the prices are good. The area is very nice and there are condos available from the high 350,000 dollars on up. The houses are more usually 600K to 1 .5 million average. I sell real estate so I know the areas. Laguna beach is really nice and Newport and Corona Del Mar are wonderful and expensive. There are nice rentals in Corona Del Mar, but you can get a postage stamp size lot for 2 million. My sister lived there and rented for a while. It is just off PCH. Pacific coast highway. Sunset and Seal Beach are further north and Long Beach is north of that. The problem with Long Beach is that a lot of it is high crime and dirty but the area around the Marina, Pine st. has been fixed up. That is where the Long Beach Grand Prix is held.
The surf is best in Huntington,Sunset Beach and Seal Beach. Newport has the wedge but you can get killed there it is dangerous. If you want to know more contact me.
By the way Costa Mesa is close to the Beach. Yorba Linda is not. I live next to Yorba linda and the drive is 35 minutes on the toll roads. I live in Corona. Irvine is closer but it is a bedroom community. Anotherwards it goes to sleep at 9:00PM. San Diego area is nice but not near LA. It is good if you work in San Diego. There is Carlsbad,Oceanside ( lots of Marines there) Lucadia,Cardiff by the sea ( sounds expensive and it is) Del Mar(better be rich) La Jolla (Ouch!) all are lovely except Oceanside and all expensive. San Juan Capistrano,Dana Point, and Monarch bay are still in OC. so is San Clemente and San Onofre where the Nuclear power plant is. Those are nice and expensive. It depends wether your job is in LA or Irvine or SanDiego those are the areas where the work you do will be.
2007-01-12 07:17:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was born in Santa Monica. Do you really want to practice in the LA area? You can't swing a cat without hitting a lawyer anywhere south of Ventura. However, I do agree with some of the previous postings re: Santa Monica, Redondo and west Long Beach (2nd Street thru Shoreline area). You couldn't pay me to live in Orange County. Yes, the surf can be good (Cliffs at Huntington and either side of the Pier depending on swell), but the nightlife is pretty ghosty. If you're accustomed to an urbane environment, forget OC. Not sure what's meant by a "nice area"...different def. for everyone. The person who mentioned Pacific Beach (San Diego area) is on it. It's very cool there-old school San Diego. Home is what you make it dude. Good luck.
2007-01-13 11:45:27 · answer #3 · answered by Steve 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am not a surfer although i would love to learn, but scared of sea life.I spen a few weeks in Oceanside for my R&R break. I love the scene there. It was just my crowd. People doing exercises on the beach, runners out with their dogs, surfers. It was great. I loved the climate as well. It was pricey. I planned to rent a SUV and my uncle had 4. He suggested I just drive one of his. I was thankful for that after I noticed the gas prices there. It is expensive their. I saw some beach studios that rented for 1800 and up a month. My uncle said many of those kids are just attending school and their parents pay for their places. Oceanside was very quiet. I liked the people there.
2007-01-12 07:02:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question made me laugh. You want to be an environmental lawyer, yet you want to swim in some of the filthiest water in the world. Wait until you see the beach littered with garbage and hypodermic needles after a big rain. Oh, well. To each his own.
I have heard Huntington Beach in Orange County has the best surf in the area. Of course, Malibu/Zuma are legendary.
Surfing is not allowed at all beaches. At least not in the summer. Better look it up.
Santa Monica may be your best bet. Because it is SM and they have rent control, it's hard to find a place. But if you can, you're golden.
Happy hanging ten. Cowabunga, dude.
2007-01-12 09:49:33 · answer #5 · answered by chieromancer 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Orange County, Huntington Beach specifically.... you can get a reasonable place just blocks from the beach and you have downtown main street which is filled with great places to eat, drink, dance and shop. fantastic place... i miss it. Good Luck in CA... I also hear that San Diego is a great place to be as well.
2007-01-13 01:56:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mystery 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh man, you should move to Pacific Beach. It's near San Diego. Great area, especially if you are young, like to surf, and enjoy the nightlife. It's not exactly cheap, but there are affordable apartments.
2007-01-12 07:13:06 · answer #7 · answered by mu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have plenty of work in SoCal as an environmental lawyer!!!
All that clean air (hack hack), pristine water (I really have seen both needles and condoms at the beaches), and undeveloped land (because of landfills) should keep you very busy!!!!
That said, I agree with what folks are saying above- head south of L.A., because L.A. is Gross!
Good Luck!
2007-01-14 06:14:17 · answer #8 · answered by Not so looney afterall 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing is better than HB! Check out the homes near Huntington Beach. Surf's up...!
2007-01-12 07:22:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Irvine, Newport Beach, Yorba Linda
2007-01-12 06:56:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋