Any Tips on moving to Los Angeles?

Nicholas J

I am 20 years old and live in Sandusky (from movie Tommy Boy) Ohio. I went to the University of Toledo last year, but moved home this year to save money to move to LA. I, don't however, live with my parents. I live in a house in Sandusky with 4 room mates. To save time, I already know how expensive it is there. Through online calculations, I need to make $36,000 a year to live my current $20,000 lifestyle. I am looking for 1 bedroom apartment for about 1250 a month in a good neighborhood. I have a decent, small car that should be able to get me around for a few years. I know about traffic, the fake people, the scams and the crime rates. I have a small understanding of the different neighborhoods. I have already researched apartments and I am going to take a short-term lease at first to get an idea on more of my budget. I have no problem putting in 60 hours a week to afford to live. Please, don't answer with "don't go to LA". It is already set in stone. I am a guy. Thanks.

Answer
Do it dude. Come on down. Rent is expensive here, but if you plan on working a couple of jobs, you should be okay. You can find a pretty decent 1br apt. for 1250/month. I recommend you look into Los Feliz Village, Eagle Rock, Glendale, and Atwater Village. Those places are all pretty decent and located about 20 minutes from just about everything in L.A. Sandusky, awesome dude. I loved Tommy Boy. hehe. L.A. is not as bad as people make it seem. I've lived here my whole life and I've never been robbed, shot at, beaten or antything. I don't even live in the best neighborhoods. Good luck!

I'm moving to Los Angeles in 2 weeks for a new job. I'm going to rent. Which neighbourhood is good?

Allan

I'm going to work in Westwood area near UCLA. I prefer to live in a safe neighbourhood. Hopefully the rent is not too $$$. I don't mind driving to work or taking public transportation.

Answer
Hi Allan - I work at UCLA so I know the area quite well. Westwood itself is a nice area to live in but it's very busy and very expensive. The neighborhoods to the north are Beverly Glen, Brentwood, Bel Air etc and you would have to be a multi-millionaire to live there. More affordable would be West Hollywood (lots of gay guys so that would have to not bother you), Mid-Wilshire area (but not Korea Town), the west side is an okay place to live as well like Santa Monica, the Palisades, Venice all very expensive. It's hard to help you out when I don't know your budget constraints but I believe as long as you have about $2,000 a month for rent (one bedroom) you will be fine.

Please keep in mind that LA does not have much in terms of public transportation so you'd likely be driving. Even a few miles will take a long time in a car. If you are really set on public transportation then the transportation system in Westwood is probably the best since it has a lot of UCLA college students rather than the usual transients and crazy people. Street driving in LA is awful regardless of what time of day you are doing it.

No areas of the inner city are really "safe" unless you want to pay big bucks to live in Bel Air or some patrolled area like that. If you want more of a commute there ARE safe areas outside of LA but you'd be looking at about an hour commute.

If you want more information from LA locals on a relocation message board check out www.city-data.com and their forums:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-angeles/
On the website (it's free by the way) you can get all the local info and basics like weather, population demographics and then on the forum you can ask the locals about commuting time, neighborhoods, safety, schools, jobs etc. "Fastfilm" on the Los Angeles forum is the resident expert.

Please make sure that before coming to Los Angeles that your job will be paying enough for you to live a comfortable life in LA otherwise you will likely be miserable with the overpopulation, traffic and polluted air. By comfortably, I mean you would need a yearly income of about $110,000 preferably more than that especially if you want to live in a safe area. Good luck!

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What's it like to live in Los Angeles?

Me and one of my two best friends plan on moving there when we graduate in two years. I've been saving since I was a freshman. He, luckily, comes from money. We have money too, I just hate asking for any.
What's a good place to stay at where you're very much near or in the city? Perferrably with 3 bedrooms, we want another roomate when we go and our other friend might come live with us.
Well it's a good thing I'm not you.
Can I get some real answers that relate to my overall point to gain some knowledge?

We're moving there no matter how much it may "suck" to some people. I've heard of people going there and loving it. The only reason people don't like it, is because they can't meet people. That's a personal problem that shouldn't affect the city.
That's exactly what we want, the city life.
Yeah, but that's true with any city you go to. It's always going to be dangerous at night. We really like nightlife though and we wouldn't go out everynight, and NEVER alone. We live near Atlanta and it's a DEFINITE mistake to go out by yourself.
Hm actually I've lived there for a year.
Arrogant much?
I'm not 5 years old.
I REALIZE it's expensive. To act like I've done zero research, is completely insulting.
The single thing I'm asking is what it's LIKE. Don't bash on me about obvious information I already know.


Btw- I you're getting a 3 bedroom it's not like you're the single person paying the $3000 or so, you're obviously making it sound like it's really that expensive when in reality you split it three or maybe even four ways. Depending on if you live with two people who share a bedroom or not.

Answer
Good afternoon Meggan,

You know, Meggan, things that are important to me may not be important to you.
http://www.minkler-photo-gallery.com/los-angeles-skyline.html

There is no place like Los Angeles in the world. There is something here for everyone. Whatever you wish to do with your life you can do in Los Angeles. I have tried it all. And the city is continually changing. Most people spend hours each day stuck in heavy freeway traffic while trying to pay high mortgages or high rents. Personally I would go crazy, but most of them fall right in line. They accept this as living.

I slept in my car my first two (2) months in Los Angeles. After paying the high rents for a year, it did not take me long to figure out a lot of people were collecting those rents and living the good life.

So what is the truth/secret about living the good life in Los Angeles? MONEY talks. It is like that all over the world. What is my answer to those who complain about Los Angeles: Donât blame Los Angeles. Politicians control the tax system. The federal and state tax systems are set up for the rich, corporations, and business owners. The average working person cannot live and enjoy the benefits of Los Angeles because of high taxes. Therefore Meggan, educate yourself on the tax systems. You have got to learn to play the game. You have got to have a "hustle" along with your job. By hustle I mean, another job, shooting pool, playing cards, investments in stocks/futures market, real estate, or any type of small business.

A young person can achieve anything he/she wants in Los Angeles. For those who do not wish to learn the gameâ¦.leave.

Meggan, sharing a place is the best way to go for three (3) young people trying to start off in Los Angeles. Try to rent a three (3) bedroom duplex. Check out the (Wilshire West area) area between Wilshire (north) Rampart (East), La Cienega (west), and Pico (south). This area will put you almost in the center of Los Angeles. Fifteen (15) minutes from Hollywood, downtown, two (2) television/movie studios, the Grove, or the beaches. The rents run $2500 to $2700. This is a great/safe area for a big city Atlanta person (smile).
http://www.thegrovela.com/

At 3 am, after partying or listening to jazz a person can drive for a great hot dog, taco, hamburger, or just plain fast food joint. People here are about the same as in Atlanta except they can play the game like a Hollywood script. You will see they drive expensive cars. Many are keeping up with the Jones and many have the coins. You will see more Bentleys, Jaguars, Lamborghini, BMW, Lotus, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Roll Royce riding down Hollywood Blvd in one day than you would see in one year in Atlanta. Also, know who you are dealing with. Do not befriend anybody. That goes double for Hollywood. Some of these free loaders can smile, befriend, and play you like a cello. Sometimes it can take five years before you see the smoke.

Culture: Gustaro Dudamel is the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was a kid from Venezuela. The tickets are almost impossible to get. Every city in the world wanted him. He came to Los Angeles because we have the Walt Disney Concert building. Our concert building is the BEST in the world.
http://laphil.com

Los Angeles residents can spend a day driving up the coast. Drive up U.S. Hwy 1 thru Malibu into and thru Oxnard to Santa Barbara. It is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. You will see seals, hundreds of varieties of wildlife and maybe, if the season is right, migrating whales. You can drive all the way to Big Sur to Monterey. This is John Steinbeck's country. He is my favorite author. Fishermenâs Wharf in Monterey has some of the best smoked salmon.

I have walked and camped along the John Muir Trail in the Mighty High Sierra Mountains many times. When Ray Charles sings the song, "America the Beautiful", he sings about purple mountains. There is no doubt in my mind he is singing about California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)

I sometimes visit with a long time buddy high in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Los Angeles. Between the two of us, we have seen almost every city in the world. We sit there with a glass of gold rum/coke with a slice of lemon. We watch the lights below. His words, âLos Angeles, what a city.â I always agree by shaking my head up and down.

I would be happy if I played some small part in you and your friends coming here someday and enjoying my city/home. It is time for me to take my walk at Venice Beach. This is what living in Los Angeles is like for me.
http://www.venicebeach.com/

Meggan, I thank you very much for your question. You and your family have a beautiful week. Peace, from Los Angeles.

How expensive is Los Angeles ?

cabal

I plan on moving to L.A. after i finish the college , but i know that the cost of living there is a bit higher. So you guys who live there can you tell me what would be the lowest rent price (studio , 1 bedroom). Also , some general food prices (like fast-food , vegetables, fruits etc). That would be very helpful.

Answer
Most people who ask this question are unprepared, unrealistic, with no money, no experience, no skills, and no plan.

If you are outside the United States, you will need a visa. The nice folks in the immigration forum can help you with that , but it's virtually impossible unless you have a needed skill (doctor, scientist, A-list entertainter, etc).

You need a plan: First item on the agenda is rent. A decent 1BR apartment in LA currently goes for $1200, give or take. Nicer areas and areas closer to the beach are much higher. Don't expect to move to Santa Monica and get an apartment on the beach for that much. Or Toluca Lake, or Beverly Hills. Unlike many metro areas, LA is unique in that it extends for nearly 100 miles in every direction. There are no open spaces between towns. So the price tends to stay high until you are 70-100 miles from Los Angeles.

Next, you will need a car. Los Angeles is VERY spread out, and train service is extremely limited. If you don't have a car, you will have to take a bus, which takes 3 times longer to get anywhere than a car.

All told, it generally takes about $3,000 per month to live here. If you don't have a job that pays that much or skills that can get you that kind of job, stay where you are. If you are unskilled and work for minimum wage (or for tips like bartending or waiting tables), you'll only make about $1200 per month.

And speaking of jobs, they are rather hard to come by now. College grads seeking employment are having a very tough time of it right now, since the job market is flooded with experienced people who were laid off. Unemployment is over 12% right now. Not exactly the kind of job market you want to move into.

Finally, you will need money. Landlords want first month's rent and a security deposit up front. You'll need money for food, transportation, utilities, etc. The consensus in this forum is that you need about $7500 to start out.

Fast food varies a bit by location. The Big Mac combo costs about $6.50 when you add tax (about 9% or so). The price of produce also varies by location. I an buy a whole pinapple at Costco for $3, or spend $3 per pound at Vons. Same with mik and eggs. Two gallons of nonfat at Costco is about $3.99, or $5 at Ralphs.

So there's your plan. And please don't tell us that you have dreams of being an actor or singer. That sets off another alarm. We already have a million (literally) wannabe actors in this town. Donât even get me started.

If you are looking for safer areas, go look at www.lalife.com and read the maps.

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Where do people buy "real" furniture in Southern California?

bedroom set los angeles image

sarcastro1

I want to buy a bedroom set that will last, preferably for at least a couple generations, in solid wood. I don't want Ikea or anything like that. Where do you buy your furniture? Any tips on good, discount furniture?

Answer
Ethan Allan has really good stuff, but its really expensive. Stuff made out of real wood (not pine or particle board) is fairly pricey. Wicks has some decent stuff. We priced out a nice mahogany bedroom set there with a queen sleigh bed, highboy dresser, and a pair of nightstands which came out to about $3500. I'd say stay away from Levitz. I bought a recliner from them that fell apart within 2 years. My wife fell in love with a sleigh bed from Thomasville. without the matress it was $2500. I found a guy on ebay selling the exact same bed that was 6 months old for 1500 with a nice beauty rest matress. I went for it, but had to pay a few hundred to have it shipped from NYC to Los Angeles. You might try that though, look around in the high-dollar stores, note the maker and model number then look to see who might have it on ebay or maybe an internet retailer.

What is a good furnature store in Southern California?

asg2d

I just moved to Los Angeles and rented an apartment. I do not own any furnature and would like to get some for the one bedroom apartment that I rented. What are some good somewhat affordable furnature stores in LA, BESIDES IKEA? I am well aware of Ikea, and enjoy that style a lot but am just looking for something else in addition to Ikea.

What are some places in LA that would be to furnature an apartment in LA?

Answer
well I went to one in city of whittier, it is called

The Home Store
14362 E Whittier Blvd
Whittier CA 90605
562-320-3288

I bought a whole set (sofa, love seat, a single, and ottoman for your feet) less than $900, it is so good and they give you credit and no payments for 12 months w/out interest. You should go and check it out.

Im happy w/ my new furniture.

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I am looking for a matress Outlet store in Aurora, Colorado?

bedroom set los angeles image

aliceamezc

I just moved from Los Angeles, CA to Aurora, Colorado. So I am looking for a bedroom set that fits my budget right now.

Answer
there arent really any good ones in aurora, there's a really good one in thornton here by denver though.. its where i got mine.. mattress king

What is the cheapest, getting movers to move my stuff, or uhaul?

KiD SiStEr

I am just a roomate, so all i have is 1 bedroom set, and a couple of boxes. I also own a volkswagen jetta. I am moving from Orlando, FL to Los Angeles, CA. will it be better for me to ship my stuff and then drive my car to LA. or is it cheaper to get a uhaul truck and hitch my car to the back?

Answer
For my date I used 4-12-11.
All rates exclude taxes, fees, insurance, optional equipment, or fuel.
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Fuel Mileage- The small trucks towing your car with your belongings in them should get between 8-10 miles per gallon. For figuring out your cost I would go with the 8 MPG. Using mapquest its roughly 2500 miles from Orlando to LA. So 2500 divided by 8 = 312 gallons. So at 4.00 per gallon you would be looking at 1250 in fuel.
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For this long of a trip, I would only use the auto transport [car carrier] - My reason being that with all 4 tires off the ground it is much better on your Jetta, the tow dolly would only raise up the front 2 tires and the rear tires would just roll which would seriously wear your rear tires up.
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Budget Truck
Smallest truck that can tow is the 16'
16' - 1136.70 - Car Carrier 364.00
Rates include up to 9 days of use and unlimited miles.
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Penske Truck
Smallest Truck that can two is the 16'
16' - 1235.70 - Car Carrier - 389.00
Rates include up to 10 days of use and unlimited miles.
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U-Haul
All their trucks can tow, however I wouldn't recommend towing with the 10'. The 10 trucks only four tires. Where the larger ones have 6 tires. [ 4 rear tires] which means it can haul more weight and also has larger brakes.
Rates include up to 9 days of use and 3027 miles.
10' - 1362 - 14' - 1423 - 17' - 1544 - Car Carrier 360
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So I would contact a few moving compaines to see what they charge you with everything. Make sure you check the BBB first and also just check them out online for any kind of problems in the past. If you use a mover you could have them transport your car to LA and you could fly if you wanted to but also figure in that cost.

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