Livivn in LA

[701EV]

Where do us poor pilots live in the LA area? I know it cost more to live in California. I was wondering what suburb is somewhat affordable. My wife has a good job doing consulting work so we can live anywhere. I was waiting for the FLA base but it looks like that is not going to happen. So California here I come.

Thanks,

701EV

 

[Ponchus pilot]

Well maybe go down to OC. Much nicer areas for about the same money. Certain areas of the valley are a little cheaper or you can go more inland. Most decent 2 bedrooms are around $1500 to $2000 a month in so cal. I suggest down in the Southern OC. If you must stay in LA its hit and miss,try Santa monica, West LA, Westwood and certain areas of Hollywood. You really have to drive there and see before you make a decision. You will love it down in OC though.

 

[indianboy7]

The suburbs in L.A., especially most of Orange County, are very expensive (especially if you're looking to buy a house). Pretty much anywhere in the L.A. basin, you'll be able to get a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood for about 1500 a month...sometimes a little more. Living more inland is also quite a bit cheaper than anywhere within about 5 miles of the coast. Southern O.C. is very nice, but cheaper apartments are harder to come by. Another thing you might consider is the drive time to the airport (especially if you're on reserve). From southern O.C., it can take anywhere from an hour to 3 hours to get to LAX depending on traffic. Places like Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, etc. etc. are much closer to the airport for a little over 2 grand a month for a decent apartment. I live 30 miles directly east of LAX and on a good day, it takes me about 45 minutes to get to the airport. Any traffic, and the drive goes up to 1:15. Another 30 to get to the terminal and 10 to get through security and your 1:30 show is gone.

I would say try the areas near the airport, close to the beach (better neighborhoods). The neighborhoods aren't that bad, and you're close to the airport for a little more than 2000 a month.

If you can't afford that, then there's always inglewood, compton and watts...great neighborhoods for 500 a month... imp:

 

[jobear]

Why would you wanna live in that overpriced crapwhole?

 

[Icelandair]

Try to find an english speaking neighbourhood to begin with. Lots of illegals by LA

 

[On Your Six]

Don't expect to ever buy anything in LA - ridiculously too expensive. You should expect to be life-long renters unless you win the lotto. That's the truth - no BS. I would try renting in Redondo Beach (easy to get to LAX up the PCH) or in El Segundo. You might find some ok places in Long Beach too. I wouldn't live inland. Good luck!

 

[WestSide]

Why would you wanna live in that overpriced crapwhole?

Ever been to Atlanta?

 

[ballsdeep123]

El Segundo.....very nice and affordable, right next to LAX and about a 5-10 minute drive to Manhattan beach....reserve spent on the beach all summer wasn't too bad!

 

[On Your Six]

El Segundo.....very nice and affordable, right next to LAX and about a 5-10 minute drive to Manhattan beach....reserve spent on the beach all summer wasn't too bad!

I second that suggestion! Not too expensive, close to/on the beach and close to LAX.

 

[Ponchus pilot]

Why would you wanna live in that overpriced crapwhole?

And exactly where is it that you live?

 

[jobear]

In a van down by the river!!

I used to live in San Mo cashed out and moved. Its the fact the the housing prices in no way reflect the actual value of the home or the property.

I now live in the Lone Star Republic, God bless no state income tax!

Jobear

 

[plucky]

There is a reason land is cheap in the lone star state. All those wonderfull brown man made lakes to put that boat in.

 

[SilverandSore]

Ever been to Atlanta?

Not to brag about Atlanta, that's something I could never do. As for cost of living, however, Atlanta ranks right at the national average. In fact, check this out...

Salary in Atlanta GA: $40,000
Comparable salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach CA: $62,948.86

If you move from Atlanta GA to Los Angeles-Long Beach CA...
Groceries will cost:25.533%moreHousing will cost:158.039%moreUtilities will cost:36.995%moreTransportation will cost:13.344%moreHealthcare will cost:9.691%more

or..

Salary in Atlanta GA: $40,000
Comparable salary in Omaha NE: $37,691.12

If you move from Atlanta GA to Omaha NE...
Groceries will cost:6.375%lessHousing will cost:10.806%lessUtilities will cost:14.379%moreTransportation will cost:3.012%lessHealthcare will cost:8.642%less

 

[Grassstrippilot]

How about crash pads for those of us that will commute? Anyone suggest an area and have any "going rate" info?

 

[Russ]

"Don't expect to ever buy anything in LA - ridiculously too expensive. You should expect to be life-long renters unless you win the lotto. That's the truth - no BS"

Really? The house I live in along with plenty of other regional Captains I know in the SOCAL area that own homes are not renters.

 

[On Your Six]

"Don't expect to ever buy anything in LA - ridiculously too expensive. You should expect to be life-long renters unless you win the lotto. That's the truth - no BS"

Really? The house I live in along with plenty of other regional Captains I know in the SOCAL area that own homes are not renters.

Sure, you can buy a home in Compton or Watts if you want to. Perhaps you have lived in your home for years and years - before the inflation boom. I have lived in LA myself and I am well familiar with the real estate market there. You don't get value for your money - period. Sure, you can buy a home but most likely it will either be a crappy dump (if you pay less than $400K for a single family home) or you will live so far outside LA that the commute will kill you.

LA is not real estate friendly. You can always find homes for sale - just don't expect value for your money. If you buy a condo, it will be expensive and small - that's the truth and I know from personal experience.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Try Palmdale....lots of new homes.

 

[Russ]

OY6
You're going to believe what you want to believe, so I won't waste much effort. I live neither in watts or compton. I don't live in a mansion, nor is it a shack. I recognize money goes farther elsewhere but it doesn't mean a decent house isn't out of reach for a regional Captain in a decent neighborhood in Southern California. I have been in my current house for about 18 months.Money is tight, but all the bills are paid and money put away for college funds and 401K. As I said, you seem pre-disposed to your conclusion so I doubt this will change your mind.

 

[dingo222]

If you are looking to rent, look at torrance, or up in the valley like Van nuys, sherman oaks, or SGV like glendale or pasadena. I had a nice 2 bd room apartment for 1350 in glendale, up in the foothills. It was a super clean neighborhood, the kind where my wife and I could walk at night and not get mugged. Another plus is that most ppl in GLendale speak english! It's about 18 miles from LAX, and if you left in the am, could get to LAX in about half an hour. West side is expensive. OC is nice but really expensive, and plan to spend HOURS trying to get to LAX on the 405 anytime of the day. Commuting out of the OC is a bitch. Good luck trying to buy. Even if you had the money, the real estate market is still so inflated in LA that you'd be paying twice as much as the property is really worth. IF you have any questions about a particular neighborhodd, drop me a pm. I lived in the area most of my life.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Where do us poor pilots live in the LA area? I know it cost more to live in California. I was wondering what suburb is somewhat affordable. My wife has a good job doing consulting work so we can live anywhere. I was waiting for the FLA base but it looks like that is not going to happen. So California here I come.

If I were you, I'd seriously consider an area close to the airport. The 405 can be an absolute nightmare to commute on. Yes they got like six lanes in each direction but you'd be surprised and confused as to why it suddenly turns into a parking lot. You may want to look into Marina del Rey up through Santa Monica. I don't think I have to tell you to stay the hell away from Compton and Inglewood. They'll tear your pretty uniform in half and make you walk home in your boxers if you're lucky.

If you want subburbia, you might want to look around the Pasedena area. It's a longer commute so it may not be conducive to being on reserve. However, if you're a line holder, it should work out. Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Glendale, San Gabriel, are all nice areas.

Best of luck to you. You're going to need a little more money than you're used to living in the LAX region. But you're going to love it if you can survive it.

 

[johnsonrod]

Someone once told me that rents are so high in California because people need to pay a "sunshine" tax. Certainly would beat many parts of the Midwest if you can afford it.

 

[indianboy7]

Someone once told me that rents are so high in California because people need to pay a "sunshine" tax. Certainly would beat many parts of the Midwest if you can afford it.

The weather and the culture around the places we're talking about is much better than anywhere you can find in the Midwest...so I would say most of the rent is a sunshine tax..........

Just took a drive yesterday around the santa monica/marina del rey area, and there are a LOT of places for rent....I didn't get prices, but rent.com is showing 1 bedroom places starting at 1500 in santa monica with ocean views.........I'd pay extra for that imp:

 

[rightseatjocky]

Compton Oh Ya Baby

 

[skyslug]

If you want subburbia, you might want to look around the Pasedena area. It's a longer commute so it may not be conducive to being on reserve. However, if you're a line holder, it should work out. Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Glendale, San Gabriel, are all nice areas.

Best of luck to you. You're going to need a little more money than you're used to living in the LAX region. But you're going to love it if you can survive it.

Breat suggestions for the San Gabriel Valley!! The drive isn't too bad (know the alternate routes to LAX) and housing can be quite affordable. Try Altadena, South Pasadena/Pasadena, Monrovia is great as is San Gabriel, Arcadia and TEmple City. Avoid San Marino (no apartments that I'm aware of and it's a very wealthy city). Or you could get gutsy and do Palmdale/Lancaster. I know many who live in Bakersfield (and I ask them "why?") who easily commute to LAX.

Good luck. I miss LA (and am not sure why:smash: )

 

[greyhound]

Hawthorne or Lawndale ca.....
5-15 min from airport heading South east.
cheaper than any other place mentioned above.(except compton)

Apartments aren't too bad 800-1000 for one bedroom(2 bed 950-1200)
houses are expensive. 480-600K.....

Try the area west of Hawthorne Blvd. trust me.....
Don't go east of Prairie Ave.....

 

[Ultra Grump]

Another plus is that most ppl in GLendale speak english!

They do? All I ever hear there is Armenian. Though it is pretty nice there. Also look at Westchester and Playa del Rey. Both close to the airport, and PDR is right at the beach, not to mention rent-controlled.

 

[CFI2766]

Okay, 'spose I'm a first year FO, who has just been sentenced to a base in LAX. Where can I live? Anywhere I can find a crashpad?

 

[dingo222]

701EV, drop me a pm if you need some help. IF you wife has some job leads, where she may find a job will have a lot to do with where you need to live in LA. I commuted of of LAX, but my wife had to do the drive every morning and it made a hell of a difference in her attitude once we moved closer to her job!!!!! You know how that goes!

True, the unofficial language in Glendale is armenian, but english is a close second. I don't sepak armenian either, so i'm screwed any way I go! No habla needed in Glendale, which is good since i don't speak spanish. Anywhere in the SGV is prob the best bet. I've lived in OC, pomona, ontario, LB, south gate, glendale,camarillo and callabasas. THe SGV is your best bet for a nice place at a good price (LA speaking). Monrovia, GLendale, eagle rock, pasadena, altadena, sierra madre, or anywhere up there is nice. Tons of apartments and condo's, and it's a good working class neighborhood with plenty of different ways to get to lax. Up there you have the 210 to the 5, 101, 110, 405 as a worst case, or even down sepulveda.

ANother thing you will notice that someone already metioned is that a lot of the smaller apartment places don't advertise. Drive around santa monica, venice, redondo or anywhere on the west side and you will just see a small sign in front of the building for a vacancy. There is just too much demand for apartments in LA for them to need to advertise. Worst case, find somewhere that you can go month to month until you can find the place that you want. I had a friend that got a 1 bd rm place for one month in van nuys, and then found a killer apt in culver city overlooking SMO airport and the ocean. HE paid like 1600 for it and it was a 2 bd rm with a loft. Dude had more tail in that place because of the view, than you will see at any sunset club on a weekend!

ITs a big place, and there are a lot of deals out there, but you have to look. The apartment finder magazines only show the complexes with enough money to advertise in the LA basin. Try craigslist, or word of mouth. Good luck out there guys, you will like it once you get settled. I just moved from there to CHO after being there almost 30 yrs. It's an awesome place especially if you are single, and it's affordable once you get to know your way around.

 

[indianboy7]

and it's affordable once you get to know your way around.

this is a little known fact about L.A........


on another note...I called one of the apartment complexes I drove by the other day.....1400 for a 1 bedroom apartment about 2 blocks from the marina in the marina del rey area.....a very good deal if you ask me.....just like the last guy said, you have to look around.

If you're on first year pay, there are a LOT of people looking for roommates......there are also a lot of crashpads floating around...United, Delta, Alaska, Eagle, and Cathay have LAX as a base..so it's pretty easy to find someplace to stay if you're commuting.....

 

[Speedtape]

There's always room for one more RV in the airport RV lot. I hear the sunsets are beautiful from a lawnchair on top of the RV! The rent is only about $60 a month! Those California girls love an RV Man!