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Where should you live in L.A.?
Each neighborhood has a completely different feel and vibe.
How do you know which area is right for the fabulous YOU?
We’re here to help!
In this video, you’ll discover:
- The areas of L.A. that we think best serve YOU, the actor.
- How expensive each neighborhood is (because they vary a lot)!
- How far each neighborhood is from the action (film and TV production).
- Some resources/sites that help you find that killer apartment made for you.
- Questions you might want to ask the landlord before signing that year-long lease.
And way more goodies.
Welcome to L.A.! You can do this!
The post Where Should I Live in L.A.? appeared first on Speak L.A..
What should I know about the city of L.A.?
- L.A. is a gigantic city; a sprawling metropolis.
- The different neighborhoods can be a significant distance from one another.
- Each area has its own vibe and charm.
- L.A. is broken up into four major sections:
- 1. The West Side
- 2. The East Side
- 3. Downtown
- 4. The Valley
How did we differentiate the unique areas in our Video Course?
- 1. By what’s closest to the “Hub.” (The “Hub” refers to where most of the studios/film and television activity is located.)
- 2. By price.
Can you tell me about Santa Monica?
- Located on the West Side.
- Located on the ocean.
- Beautiful, pristine, wealthy with a relaxed vacation vibe.
- Home of the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade.
- Home to surfers, lovely parks, and hidden staircases.
- Climate often more pleasant than other areas.
- Very walkable.
- About 25-30 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Expensive.
What’s Venice like?
- Located on the West Side - next to Santa Monica.
- Located on the ocean.
- Funky, gritty, eclectic, with a hippy vibe.
- Home of the Venice Beach Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, the Canals.
- Very walkable.
- About 25-30 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Moderate to expensive.
What about Culver City?
- Located on the West Side.
- Comfortable vibe, close to the ocean but not on the ocean.
- Abundant with art, good food, culture.
- Home of Sony Pictures, the Culver City Hotel, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
- Very walkable.
- About 15 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Cheaper to moderate.
Tell me about West Hollywood?
- Located on the West Side.
- Home of The Abbey, gay bars, great nightlife.
- Relatively safe, super-liberal, fun fancy restaurants.
- Very walkable.
- About 5-10 minutes from the “Hub” .
- Moderate to expensive.
Can you tell me about Hollywood?
- Located in Central L.A.
- Home of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Wax Museum, and the Chinese Theatre.
- Exciting, gritty, touristy, lots of nightclubs, nocturnal, urban.
- Very walkable.
- In the “Hub”.
- Cheap to expensive.
What about Los Feliz/ Silverlake?
- Located on the East Side.
- Hipster/ European vibe.
- Home of Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory, the Dresden (featured in Swingers), the Greek Theatre, Intelligentsia Coffee.
- Very walkable.
- About 5-15 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Moderate to expensive.
Let’s hear about Korea Town?
- Located on the East Side.
- Diverse - Latino and Korean populations.
- Home of Korean BBQ and Karaoke bars.
- Busy, bustling and urban.
- About 5-15 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Cheap to moderate.
Can you tell me about Downtown?
- Located on the East Side.
- Very up-and-coming, urban/city feel, vibrant, artists, many lofts.
- Home of the Grand Central Market, The Last Book Store, China Town, Little Tokyo, Union Station, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Centre Theatre Group.
- About 10-25 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Cheap to expensive.
What about The Valley?
- Made up of Sherman Oaks, Encino, Valley Village, Studio City, and Burbank.
- Family friendly, easy parking, unpretentious, safe.
- Home to The Burbank Studios, Warner Brother’s Studio, Walt Disney Studio.
- In the “Hub”.
- Cheaper to moderate.
Can you tell me about Thousand Oaks and Valencia?
- North of L.A.
- Family friendly, lots of nature, hikes, suburban, more space.
- About 30-60 minutes from the “Hub”.
- Cheap to moderate - rents can be almost half of what you will find in L.A.
*Note: Even if you have never lived in L.A., you have likely heard about our traffic issues. With all of the distances we cite - you need to take into account that they are often longer with traffic.
*Note: The areas listed above as “walkable” means you can walk within that area. Unfortunately, it is impossible to walk from one area to another area since all of the above are a significant distance from one another.
What are some good L.A. Apartment Rental Sites?
- Trulia http://www.trulia.com (Apartment Rentals)
- Zillow http://www.zillow.com (Apartment Rentals)
- Westside Rentals http://www.westsiderentals.com (Apartment Rentals)
- Padmapper https://www.padmapper.com (Apartment and Sublet)
- Craigslist http://losangeles.craigslist.o... (Apartment, Sublet and Housesitting)
Where should I stay if I want to visit L.A. before moving there?
- Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com
- Oakwood Apartments http://www.oakwood.com
*Note: If you decide to visit L.A. first, we suggest that you walk around in the different neighborhoods, go to coffee shops, boutiques, etc. in order to get a feel for which area is best for you.
Is there a way I can research a specific Apartment Building for Quality?
- Yes, many apartment buildings are listed on Yelp. If the one you’re looking at is not on Yelp, go to the neighborhood police located in that area and ask for feedback.
What are questions I should ask myself/the Landlord before signing a lease?
- Is it walkable to things I care about?
- Is it close to freeways?
- Does it have a fridge?
- Does it have a washer/dryer?
- Does it have parking? If not, what is street parking like?
- Will I feel safe?
What should I have prepared for my Apartment/Home Rental?
- Money for first and last month’s rent.
- Know your credit score and if it’s not great - have someone who can co-sign for you.
*Note: Apartments move fast here. If you find one you like, try to be prepared with all of the above so you don’t miss out on it!
Welcome to L.A.!
