I need a place to live in Los Angeles

[u_r_my_serenity]

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I matched to USC in Los Angeles. Can anyone recommend a good place to live that is not too far but one in which I have a better chance of not being shot? Thanks for any help.

 

[NoSz]

I matched to USC in Los Angeles. Can anyone recommend a good place to live that is not too far but one in which I have a better chance of not being shot? Thanks for any help.

Pasadena- 1 BR for about 1200 and up. 20-30 minutes to USC via highway OR surface street. Nice area, good shopping, great restaurants, theatres, all in walking distance. Many people from USC live here. Unfortunately pretty hot in summer, bad air quality.

Monterey Hills (off 110 Via Marisol)- a bit cheaper and closer, but quite isolated.

The closer to the beach the more expensive the apartments.

Use westsiderentals.com (~$60 for 3 months, but really useful) and craigslist LA. Forget about newspaper ads.

Don't live around USC health campus. Don't park outside USC to save some money.

Enjoy LA, I am very happy to leave...
NoSz

 

[stephend7799]

check out the apartments in korea town, hancock park area

 

[foil]

Most areas downtown are congested in every way possible.
A typical big city with big city problems, traffic, noise, crime, hookers, and so on.

Plan on traveling about 20 miles South,

Areas like North Torrance, Gardena (south) have low crime and a nice Asian population rent is not too bad. Weather is nice, air conditioning in the summer means opening up the back door. You are freeway close, could even take a freeway bus to USC. Which might not be a bad idea since the freeway
clogs up after 6:15 am. You are about 10 minutes from the coast, don't forget to explore Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes.

The further west you go from that area the closer to the beach, thus more expensive.

Any areas adjacent to the Harbor Freeway is owned by the City of LA,
including the Torrance strip. Not a good place to drive at night, crime is higher in these areas.

Get the Daily Breeze newspaper (online) or the Recycler
http://www.recycler.com/asp/AdResul...&curXP=&bIP=0&iC=170&cmdBtn=Find+It!&iSC=4770
and see if you can rent a room for awhile. Then once you are here, you can relocate to an area that suits Your needs.


Foil

 

[foil]

See attached map for area south of USC


foil

 

[lilycat]

What about areas close to UCLA? The rents in Brentwood are getting me depressed. Is West LA too far with traffic? 🙁

 

[foil]

My Grandmother lived in West LA,
The area is nice, however it too is abit congested.

Travel along the 405 is a parking lot most hours.

From west la you'll have to get on to the 10 fwy and head east.
That freeway can become a parking lot also.

However, If taken early enough,(6:00am) any of these freeways are ok

The going home traffic will killl you , especially on a Rainy Friday night with accidents.
A 30 mile commute can take nearly 2.5 hours. 😱


Check out this web site at various our to see what the traffic does.
http://traffic.tann.net/lartraffic/

foil

 

[u_r_my_serenity]

Thanks for the great adivce people. Now I have at least a place to start. One of my best friends matched to USC also, and we're thinking of being roommates for the first year.

Foil, why did you draw the square with a question mark on the map?

 

[krust3]

may be more pricey than other areas mentioned, but Palms, and even some areas of santa monica and venice are actually pretty affordable. i've lived on the west side and valley, work in santa monica and hawthorne. i'd definitely stay on the west side, it's the only area where you'll feel like you live in southern california... and the traffic blows everywhere.

i live in venice in nice sized studio for less than 1k/month with parking.

search craigslist for sure. i think westside rentals is a total rip.

 

[Plastikos]

You should check out Alhambra, its in between Pasadena and county. Its a nice, quiet, low crime, and fun little place. 15 minute tops surface streets to the hospital, but at the time you will be going, 6 mins.

 

[foil]

(Foil, why did you draw the square with a question mark on the map?)

Ahem........, well it's right near Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Not bad for student living, just not elevated enough for physician living. Rent should be quite reasonable, and weather is terrific. At 4:00pm a very cool ocean breeze sweeps the area. There are two golf courses nearby, lot of room....no congestion............then comes the gang neighborhood.
If on a budget , it's not bad at all.
If weather and smog is an issue: the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys are about 25 degrees hotter in the summer till 10:00 pm Air conditioning is required for survival.

* I forgot something My nephew found a terrific deal renting an apt in Palos Verdes.........The rents are bit bit harder to fill in that area*

If picking out areas to live as a physician: Given Brentwood, beverly hills, Palos Verdes, or the coast, my #1 choice would clearly be Manhattan Beach. Even the East side of Manhattan Beach is upscale. Some would say Why not Brentwood......or PV?
My answer is congestion..........it could take 30-45 minutes to reach home from the nearest freeway.


foil

 

[lovemydrhubby]

For USC- Many residents live in Alhambra, Montery Hills, and Pasedena areas-- they are pretty easy to get around and close to the medical center...you won't have too many traffic problems if you go at off-peak hrs.
Arcadia, El Monte, and West Covina are a little further, but have alot of housing options.

For UCLA- check out Santa Monica first- one of my favorite places. Marina del Rey and Mar Vista are also good options.

 

[lilycat]

For UCLA- check out Santa Monica first- one of my favorite places. Marina del Rey and Mar Vista are also good options.

How long would it take to drive from Marina del Rey or Mar Vista to UCLA? Can you take surface streets or do you have to get on the freeway?

 

[miko2005]

How long would it take to drive from Marina del Rey or Mar Vista to UCLA? Can you take surface streets or do you have to get on the freeway?

Sherman Oaks is a really nice area about 12 miles from UCLA. You can do surface streets (there are actually a few ways, be sure to look at the map) or of course the dreaded 405 is always an option (and its not always that bad). Some parts of Sherman Oaks maybe pricey, but worth it!!! 🙂

 

[tiger4evr]

I was thinking of moving near some friends in Los Feliz. is this convenient for usc med center??
thanks

 

[foil]

(I was thinking of moving near some friends in Los Feliz. is this convenient for usc med center?)

About a 15 min drive


*** just looked at the drive north bound into Los Feliz today, going through Downtown is a crawl, then you have to negotiate the 4 tunnels where 4 lanes merge into one lane to get onto the 5 north. This typically jams up
and gives you a bad day. So , perhaps you should take the surface streets home....try Western to Los Feliz. *******


Foil 😳

 

[foil]

(How long would it take to drive from Marina del Rey or Mar Vista to UCLA? Can you take surface streets or do you have to get on the freeway? )


Mapquest says about 8 miles

That would all depend on the time of day.
About 30 min drive I guess .
Yes , the surface streets will offer you a slight escape route.

UCLA area during peak traffic time is a slow crawl on both freeway and streets.


foil

 

[spyderdoc]

How long would it take to drive from Marina del Rey or Mar Vista to UCLA? Can you take surface streets or do you have to get on the freeway?

Not too bad. You can take Jefferson out to Sawtelle or Sepulveda, and get there fairly quickly, esp early in the AM. Say 20 min or so....