Wife wants to move to L.A. I have some concerns (Burbank: real estate, apartments)

[iggy097]

We are currently living in Charleston, SC and my wife really wants to move to California to persue her acting/modeling dream.

We own our own video business and work from home, so the income will be the same if not greater when and if we move to California.

We made about 60-70k last year. Currently our rent is 1400 a month here in SC, and I'm really worried about rent in LA area. She seems to insist that we can find a decent 2br for 1200-1400 in a decent area. She stayed in Westwood Villiage for a month and said she found a few places.

Is it possible to find a decent place in a safe area for 1400-1600 a month? 2BR, need at least 1200sqft and somewhat close to LA, hour or so drive would probably be the farthest she'd want to be, but ideally she'd like West Hollywood.

We are coming on a 7-9 day vacation this summer so I can check it out, but I'm in panic mode right now, thinking about moving , again, ( origianlly from Rochester NY ) and having to spend all the money to move west with a full house, 2 cars, cat and 2 3lb dogs.

Can any real estate people or anyone really point me in some directions so I can look at housing, and give me some honest feedback, good or bad, so we can look it over?

Thanks

[altoidboy]

Yes, you can make it work. L.A. is going to be more expensive, but it can be done. I think you can find options in your price range. I've rented a couple different 2br's in that range.

You might like to check out Valley Village, which is in the San Fernando Valley (i.e. adjacent to Hollywood/WeHo) but separated by one mountain range. Very easy access into Hollywood (10 minutes down the 170), and it'll be cheaper and nicer than Hollywood or WeHo. Also Burbank. (I would mention Toluca Lake, Studio City, and Sherman Oaks, but the first two will probably be more expensive, and Sherman Oaks can be very nice or kinda shady depending on where you are, so it's harder to suss out from a distance.)

The two leading places to find rentals are Craigslist and WestSideRentals.com so start there.

Good that you're coming for a vacation. Make a point to make as many appointments as you can to see places. Go see five apartments and you'll begin to get a vibe for what it's like living here. L.A. is so hit-and-miss - you'll find beautiful buildings with crappy interiors, vice versa, you'll find one block beautiful while the adjacent block is ghetto...use Google Maps street view to start to get a feel for a neighborhood.

[prevenleui]

If her heart's set on the westside, you're going to have to downsize a little and maybe get a smaller place. Westwood/Brentwood/SM-Montana/SM is all very pricey..
You can MAYBE find a decent 1br or studio for upper 1.6-1.8k in the fancy westside. But sounds like you will have close quarters with all the animals!

[yamota]

so when you say you own your own video business, could you maybe expound on that? Do you make videos? Like home made videos? Of what exactly?

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by iggy097

and 2 3lb dogs.

That's one of my dog's ears. What breeds weigh 3 pounds?

[homenj]

I think it's really sweet of the OP to consider to move to LA because his wife wants to. I wish there were more marriages like that.

I know it sounds sarcastic but I really do give a thumbs up to him.

[yamota]

yeah, there's a word for guys like that "whipped" :lol:

[mercikaleb]

lol

[glenn_85]

Originally Posted by yamota

so when you say you own your own video business, could you maybe expound on that? Do you make videos? Like home made videos? Of what exactly?

hahahaha

[TheCalifornianWriter]

Oh, God...he...he makes..AHHHHHHH!!!!