I am moving to LA...what is some good areas to look for apts.??

Question

I ofcourse will have roomates, we want a nice place, but not too pricey. We want to live by or near the main attractions (shopping, beaches, entertainment, night life, ect.)???

Answer 1

Don't expect to live in the middle of the hippest part of town and not have pricey rents! The best you should expect is to live in a part of the city that gives you access to fun parts of the city, but without the cost. So, you aren't going to be able to live in Beverly Hills necessarily, but you may be able to live within 10-15 minutes of Rodeo Drive. Same goes for the beach.

I suggest you look at West LA (Palms, Mar Vista, Rancho Park, etc.) and Culver City. There are also parts of Santa Monica and Venice that are relatively affordable.

I live in the West LA/Culver City area. It is by no means a ghetto (ignore the uninformed people who think that the only affordable part of LA is south central or the barrio), but the rent is not bad. I pay $600 a month and live in a nice two bedroom with one roommate. It takes me less than ten minutes to get to Venice beach and about ten minutes to get to Beverly Hills or UCLA. Hollywood is farther out, about 15-30 minutes if traffic allows.

Personally, I don't like the valley and wouldn't want to live there, but you can check that out too. But, don't think that the only way to avoid $2500/mo in rent is to move to Studio City or Burbank.

Check Craigslist for apartment listings; they will give you a rough sense for rents in different parts of town. The best way to actually find a place, though, is to use one of the rental agencies. I used westsiderentals.com to find a place in the city. You can browse for free, but must pay for a subscription in order to contact the landlord or apply for a place.

Good luck and don't be discouraged! There is probably a great place for you and your friends and I wish you the best in finding it!

Answer 2

Be prepared to spend $800 - $1200 each, yes each, to share an apartment. That will not include utilities, parking or even a stove and fridge in many cases.

Apartments in LA are typically 4 walls and a ceiling.

Cheaper rent can be found in the SF Valley and Burbank, but you don't want to live there. Yuck. West LA, Culver City, Venice, Santa Monica are the best areas.

Answer 3

The San Fernando Valley is cheaper than the City. There are "attractions" and pretty good night life in the Valley too and will only take you 20-30 minutes to get "over the hill" to more nightlife in the city.

Studio City (in the San Fernando Valley) would be the best place. Lot's of nightlife and shopping and rents are about $1200 for a 1 bedroom. More $$ for more rooms and more $$ the closer you live to Ventura Blvd. Movie and T.V. studio's are out here so lot's of actors live out this way also.

If you want to live by Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, you are going to look at ALOT more in rents... $2500-$3500 for a one bedroom.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Apartments aren't four walls and a ceiling unless you're in the ghetto. You definitely wont find a place that's "not too pricey" especially compared to where you're from wherever you're from (unless you're it's New York). A "decent' apt is going to run you at LEAST $1500/month and that's in the suburbs. In LA, prepare to spend about $2500+ They can go up to about $7000/month+

Answer 5

Valencia! There is almost no crime and it is a gorgeous place to live! A really, really nice apt is about 1200 and up. You guys could pay 600 each and you will be 30min from LA if not closer, not far at all! Check out "THE HILLS" in Valencia, CA.

Answer 6

There are no cheap places in LA or the LA county. And if it is cheap its gonna be GHETTO!! Your best bet is to move somewhere else where you would have to commute to the attractions. Plus Traffic in LA SUCKS!!!!!!!

Answer 7

this is unrealistic. They are all pricey close to the action.