Relocating to Los Angeles
The key to relocating smoothly is in planning a wise move. Many people don't prepare enough for choosing a place to live, and then have to move all over again within their first year. But it doesn't have to be that way! Moving to Los Angeles is a great idea. Many major corporations hold their headquarters in the L.A. area; multiple industries are centered in the city; and best of all, day to day living can be filled with almost any of your favorite recreational activities, wonderful cuisine, and an action-packed nightlife.
Los Angeles is huge - a sprawling web of "mini" villages attached by major roads and freeways. Unlike most metropolitan areas, Los Angeles is not simply a downtown area with surrounding residential neighborhoods. Therefore, the crucial goal is to find the L.A. community that fits your style, sensibilities, and is relatively close to where you're hoping to work. This is no small feat to accomplish, but it can be done.
Finding the "Los Angeles" that fits you.
If you have the funds to accommodate a pre-move trip to Los Angeles, it is strongly recommended for a few reasons. First of all, even with as many freeways as we have, the traffic can be abominable, and therefore, cutting down your driving time does require knowing what sort of commute you'll have. For example, a person living on the west side of town could conceivably have an hour long commute to get to the downtown area, which is less than a 20 mile trip.
Secondly, a pre-move trip is crucial for finding the area that provides the lifestyle needs you have. The affordable community of Silverlake, just east of Hollywood, is packed full with coffee shops, hip boutiques, great music venues, and some of the best bar stops in the county. However, it's going to be the wrong place to live if you're hoping to frequent the beach. It's nowhere near any of the freeways that take you to the beach quickly, and you're far better off looking for an apartment in Culver City on the borders of Venice or Santa Monica, in order to live economically while still being near the beach and some fun hangout spots.
A pre-move trip is also important in regard to learning about where your employment opportunities are located. If you are in the world of finance, far more companies are located in the downtown area than if you were to work in film production, which is heavily centered in the valley or North Hollywood. Getting to experience the drive and the areas firsthand will help you make wiser moving choices.
And lastly, a pre-move trip will help you better understand the economics of Los Angeles living. Take moving to Hollywood, for instance. Hollywood ends up being a common place for one's initial relocation to the city. Landlords know this, and much of this area is overpriced because of it. If you were to go only a couple miles in any direction adjacent to the main Hollywood vicinity, then you can trim your rent $200 to $400 dollars a month.
So, how do you put together a pre-move trip?
1) Give yourself a ten-day trip, and take a couple days each in the northern, southern, eastern, and western areas of the county. Do as much of your sightseeing on foot as you can. You'll find some interesting surprises that really need to be experienced on foot. Like'the fact that downtown is relatively sleepy in the evening and is by no means an ideal place if you hope to step outside your new home and walk to a place for grabbing a drink or a relaxing cup of coffee.
2) Look at Craigslist.com, the LA Weekly website, and other websites that advertise apartments for rent, nightlife and a calendar of events. Note where things are that interest you, and check the prices of rent in those areas. Then on your visit, do some of these things, and take a look at the surrounding neighborhoods. You'll find that as mentioned above, price does not always equate quality. You can find a really attractive new building (with amenities) in the valley for the same price as you would find an old apartment building that smells like even older food in Hollywood.
3) Find out where your prospective companies are located and then drive to them. You need to rent a car on your pre-move trip. It's absolutely necessary! Actually taking the drive will show you how long a commute will really be. Just learning the actual distance of one's commute can be deceiving. A five-mile drive can take quite a while, so it's best to test out those waters.
4) If you are an active member of any social clubs, sororities, fraternities, churches, or charity organizations, then contact the office for the Los Angeles chapter of your club or organization. Not only will they be happy to tell you about their own location in reference to the rest of the city (and county), but it is likely that they will have some helpful guidance about moving to Los Angeles.
5) Finally, if you are already interviewing for jobs and have visited Los Angeles in order to come to your interview, then do not think you will gain a good understanding of your living options simply on your two-day trip to an interview. Do your best to spend more time traveling around the city and greater Los Angeles County.
Planning makes everything a little more manageable.
Relocating to a major city will always include some turbulence, and circumstances beyond your control always seem to strike at unfavorable moments. Nonetheless, the key is to still have plans on how to make your relocation work. The more knowledge you have about the city and community to which you're moving, the better off you'll be at adjusting to any bump in the road along the way.
Los Angeles is beautiful -- a colorful bouquet of people, personalities, speeds, and styles. With a little footwork, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to find a place to live where you'll feel right at home.
Good luck in relocating to the City of Angels. For most people, it's a move they'll never regret!
Los Angeles County Communities At-A-Glance
Here is a quick breakdown of some of the major Los Angeles communities and surrounding county areas in order to give you a beginning sense of what to expect.
Los Angeles Proper
Downtown: High rent living. Currently undergoing city beautification and restoration. Multiple museums, arts and culture venues. Heavy traffic. Near the 110, 101, 10, and 5 freeways.
Koreatown: Mid-range rent prices. Centered just west of Downtown along Wilshire Blvd. Mainly commercial or residential. Not a major nightlife area but well-located for downtown employment.
Echo Park: Affordable living. This is an up and coming area just northwest of Downtown. It is still not the safest area, but it borders on the hip area of Silverlake. Conveniently located to freeways and the business districts.
Hollywood and Surrounding Communities
Hollywood: High rent living. Heavy tourist traffic. The heart of tinsel town is filled with history and old movie charm. Many great restaurants and night clubs.
West Hollywood: High rent living. West Hollywood is a cleaner, calmer and wealthier part of the Hollywood area. It is the location of some of the finest restaurants in the state, and it has streets of designer shops, art galleries, and quaint bars.
Silverlake: Moderate rent living. Just east of the main Hollywood area, Silverlake is the artsy neighborhood for 20-30 somethings. This area offers a lot of night life and beautiful views of the city. Close to the 2, 5, 134, and 101 freeways.
West Los Angeles
Beverly Hills: High rent living. Beautifully maintained and replete with the finest shops and restaurants found anywhere in the world. Beverly Hills proper is a relatively small section in the Los Angeles area. But what it lacks in space, it makes up for in class and distinction.
Beverly Hills Adjacent: Moderate rent living. One of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles is how affordable the rent is in the areas just east or south of Beverly Hills. Nearby the 10 freeway, the Beverly Hills adjacent communities are a great option.
Westwood: High rent living. Westwood is home to UCLA and some of the most beautiful, single family homes in the city. However, it is unmistakably expensive. Westwood village has many restaurants and bars with a college-town feel. Nearby the 10 and 405 freeways.
Coastal Communities
Santa Monica: Moderate to High rent living. Santa Monica is near the ocean, the Santa Monica mountains, and a lot of great restaurants, tourist spots, museums, and shops. It's a wonderful place to live. Nearby the 10, 405, and 1 freeways.
Culver City: Moderate rent living. Just inland of Santa Monica and Venice, Culver City is a great option for affordable living. However, it is not a destination spot. It is a great choice if you wish to live affordably and still be close to the coast.
Venice: High rent living. Venice is prime real estate with many wonderful nightlife spots. It is funky, charming, situated right next to the beach, and offers any resident a plethora of recreation.
Malibu: High rent living. Similar to Beverly Hills, Malibu is an exceptionally wealthy area of highest distinction -- with the added benefit of ocean views. Most of the real estate is for single-family homes.
The Valley Communities North Hollywood: Moderate rent living. The backside of the Hollywood Hills is quite a theater mecca. Clean, well-maintained, and charming, this is a great choice for newcomers who are looking to work in film production.
Studio City: Moderate rent living. Studio City is adjacent to North Hollywood and offers the great charm of the famous Ventura Blvd., which is filled with great restaurants, shops, and bars. Nearby the 134 and 101 freeways.
Burbank: Moderate to High rent living. Most of Burbank is industrial or commercial. A major drawback to Burbank is that charm and fun is not part of its constitution. Most residents go elsewhere when looking for a night on the town.
Still have questions?
Josie Tong specializes in helping her clients relocate to the Los Angeles area.