Hi there
My husband has looked at getting a job in Santa Monica - we are from the UK & dont know USA, so he is literally talking to an agency that specializes in Jobs abroad & being a family with 4 children we are limited with who will offer him a family package with a job.
He had already been offered one in Miami, which is due to start Feb/Mar should we choose to take it, but he also has been asked to go for an interview regarding one in Santa Monica.
My husband hates to commute & i dont drive so i guess what i am wondering is if Santa Monica is the place for us? Is there any area nearby that i will feel at home in & will my husband find it relatively easy to get to work?
Where i am we have a house with private garden & schools & shops within walking distance. My neighbours say 'hi' in the mornings.
Is there a place for us there, where i wont feel too isolated when my husband is at work & if so, at what cost? Is there a min amount you recomend he earn?
Tracy
2007-01-30 07:06:12 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
Santa Monica is a great place and has a real sense of community, unlike some other parts of LA. But it also is one of the priciest areas in LA b/c of the location. If you want a single family home with a yard you are looking to pay at least $1,000,000 and up. So I would suggest that he make at least $150,000 a year unless you can put a large down payment on the home. Santa Monica is pretty dense and is pretty walkable, especially near the downtown area and 3rd st promenande. Hopefully he will work will close by b/c the commute can be a pain in that area. A lot of buses will take you around SM and to the Westide too. if you can afford Santa Monica then move there.
2007-01-30 07:23:44 · answer #1 · answered by Sav 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have lived both places, and Miami is much more affordable in terms of housing. It gets a bit hot and humid in the summertime, and there are hurricanes, but you have plenty of time to prepare for them. You may want to look into Coral Gables or Cocoanut Grove.
Santa Monica is a great city and has a large expatriate Brit community. If you want to live there, he'll need to make at least 250,000 USD per year if you will ever have a hope of buying a house. The schools are really good by American standards, but leave a bit to be desired coming from the British system. Your best bet may be what is called a "magnet" school. Enquire through the Santa Monica School District.
2007-02-02 07:53:51 · answer #2 · answered by holey moley 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa Monica is a nice community, except for the substantial homeless population.
But anywhere you live in LA is going to be EXPENSIVE. So make sure your husband is paid well and you have a good idea of the cost of living here.
Commuting is a way of life here, unfortunately. Try to live as close to work as is feasible. If not, try to live and work near a MTA rail line. Bus travel isn't as nice as it is in the UK.
You will find a significant ex-pat community here. And locals can be aloof, but a British accents tends to warm us up. You even have your own paper, Union Jack News. We have British food shops, pub (of a sort) if you get peckish. And David and Posh, to boot.
Your not driving may be a stumbling block. Not many communities have a "walking distance" logisitic. But it can be done, you just may have to go a little farther, in some cases.
2007-01-30 12:49:37 · answer #3 · answered by chieromancer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa Monica/Los Angeles is great city in a lot of ways. However you mentioned you don't drive/like to drive and you hate commutes. Everybody drives a car in LA. Our public transportation sucks. If you can get used to driving and commuting you'll make it. Good Luck!
2007-01-31 08:41:11 · answer #4 · answered by codenamex_47 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋