Where to live in LA?

maymind_trax · 2023-07-21T21:41:44.627Z

Have lived in LA for about seven years now, all in the Northeast quadrant.

I would say that if your job is in Playa Vista and you’ll be going in to the office and not working remotely, you should try to find a place that’s as close to your work as possible.

Lot of discussion about different neighborhoods on here which is all good and dandy but if your commute is going to be an hour each way, it’s not going to matter if you live on the nicest street in echo park / silverlake / wherever.

I would also worry less about neighborhoods and focus more on specific blocks. Things change here drastically block by block.

Feel free to PM me if you’d like more info / like to chat, OP.

chrisroland · 2023-07-21T22:05:42.145Z

but anything west of the 405 (incl Playa Vista) you’re gonna pay through the nose to rent given proximity to the beach, if you can find something at all. living on the eastside to commute that far is probably not ideal (putting it mildly). Culver City/Palms/Mar Vista might be a good place to start that also not likely to break the bank

neet · 2023-07-21T23:02:01.040Z

The Valley

hausland · 2023-07-22T00:53:24.526Z

Personally I really like the Echo Park area, but I’m not local to LA at all, so take that with a grain of salt.

captain8 · 2023-07-22T01:01:24.310Z

best home studios in echo park, silver lake, los Feliz

JPM · 2023-07-22T03:01:06.771Z

Thanks for all the answers!
Really helpful!

Angstwulf · 2023-07-22T12:59:33.251Z

Malibu.

Otherwise, yeah, The OC, Pismo, Ventura or San Diego for longboarding.

Angstwulf · 2023-07-22T13:05:53.263Z

No storefront. Just a sign out if a 2nd floor office space or waiting for Ricky Tinez to grab lunch at King Taco or sumptin’.

Now, you could find a place near Perfect Circuit, a better theme park than Disneyland.

Of course, that means living in Burbank. &%# that!

I joke.

Sorta…

abluesky · 2023-07-22T15:58:38.219Z

I lived for 12 years in Santa Monica near Venice and I loved it.

aMunchkinElfGraduate · 2023-07-22T16:03:19.853Z

I suggest you live close to your work. Save yourself from a soul-crushing commute, even if that means picking a more modest dwelling.

I live in South Orange County (between LA and SD). I’m lucky to work for my local school district, not too much driving. There are a ton of parks in my neighborhood.

Years ago, I commuted to and from San Diego for six years. So unpleasant…I get mild PTSD every time I have to drive down there.

I know plenty of people who’re ostensibly fine with long commutes. They listen to podcasts or whatever. I don’t believe them. Commuting is, I believe, killing them from the inside.

abluesky · 2023-07-22T16:57:43.037Z

I commuted to work on a bicycle. Was faster than traffic. If I had to drive, I would relax in a Korean spa during rush hour.

JPM · 2023-07-22T21:42:41.284Z

Commute is something I’d love to avoid.
I worked pretty much across the street (1block) from my last place but was laid off.
So I know this is probably not going to be found in LA, but the nice weather makes me think cycling could be a good option.
Also looking at Google maps it’s kinda shocking how many roads don’t seem to have a sidewalk in LA haha!

Angstwulf · 2023-07-23T01:40:40.922Z

Sidewalks??? In LA??? You kiddin’???

what we call roads, you noobs give quaint little nicknames. Like Autobahn.
Sidewalks? Aren’t those the things that the valet parker is standing on when you need to park your Escalade?

Ooohhh….what about

Sidewalks? We got rid of them so German tourists in Santa Monica would get hit by cars instead of mugged.*

In all seriousity, some of the neighborhoods near Playa, like Culver City and Santa Monica would be great bike commutes, depending on whether you are okay in heavy traffic.

Plus, believe it or not, there is public transportation here. It’s not fully featured but between the rapid commuter buses and light rail, it has become more viable.

I have friends who bike to the stop/station then jump on public transport until they get close enough then back on the bike.

*tasteless, I know. But if you lived here in the late 90’s you would get the reference.

JPM · 2023-07-23T03:11:25.749Z

Thanks!

captain8 · 2023-08-21T08:01:41.794Z

best part about LA is that if you live in a very bad part of town right next door to a real trap house, they don’t play trap music.

captain8 · 2023-08-22T01:03:26.920Z

gotta take the good with the bad, but I choose Marvin Gaye every time

maymind_trax · 2023-08-22T03:07:35.676Z

@JPM did you make it to LA yet? If you want any advice or have any questions, feel free to PM me.

JPM · 2023-08-23T00:36:46.027Z

not yet! I’m able to work remote for a while until I get my shit together
Thanks! I’ll for sure PM when it gets closer to move date

palm · 2023-08-23T01:42:10.208Z

Best thing to do is live as close to werk as possible. You don’t wanna do daily traffic.

Santa Monica is close-ish. You can take Lincoln to and from. You can avoid the 405.

I lived in Beverly Hills. I’d suggest that or Westwood. Good areas. But may be a bit of a hike. I lived in Bev Hills and werked in Westwood. It was only three miles. So I could walk/ride/drive depending.

Disregard negatives. LA is awesome in my opin. I see it like…LA is lame to visit cuz it’s hard to find stuff and get around. But living there is awesome. When you get your bearings…I think it’s the shit! OC to surf

[adding: jealous. I wanna go back SO bad! Have fun!]

captain8 · 2023-11-11T22:11:01.763Z