If you had to choose would you rather buy a townhouse in Sherman Oaks or a SFH in Monrovia? (Los Angeles: real estate, neighborhoods)

[AChillDude]

Let’s say you could work from home most of the time so commuting is not a major issue, which you you choose?

[oh come on!]

depends on your needs.

Are you going to want a backyard in the future?

sherman has easy access to the city and beach.
But monrovia has access to lots of cheap facilities/resources, plenty of eats around san gabriel valley, cost of living is probably a little lower. It's very convenient.

overall, monrovia seems to be managed pretty well.

since both cities have seen the same rate of appreciation in real estate values, I'd lean toward monrovia.

[ElDiabloJoe]

I'm not sure I would claim Sherman Oaks has "easy" access to the beach. It's at least a 45 minute drive, not to mention traffic and parking issues. But Sherman Oaks does have some pretty nice neighborhoods, for a SFV city.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

I'm not sure I would claim Sherman Oaks has "easy" access to the beach. It's at least a 45 minute drive, not to mention traffic and parking issues. But Sherman Oaks does have some pretty nice neighborhoods, for a SFV city.

Sherman Oaks is a hell of a lot closer to Santa Monica, Palisades and Malibu, though.

That being said, Sherman Oaks and the Ventura Blvd corridor in the south valley are a much more "urban" feeling environment, while Monrovia feels more like classic suburbia.

Sherman Oaks is actually a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, while Monrovia is its own municipal entity.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by AChillDude

Let’s say you could work from home most of the time so commuting is not a major issue, which you you choose?

Do I have kids? Am I 25 or 45? What do I like doing in my free time? What kind of restaurants do I like?

[socal88]

If you have kids and want a house with space and yard, then Monrovia may be the way to go.

If you're single or perhaps married with no kids, and would like to be closer to more amenities and areas such as the west side and downtown LA, then I'd go for Sherman Oaks.

[Kings Gambit]

Originally Posted by AChillDude

If you had to choose would you rather buy a townhouse in Sherman Oaks or a SFH in Monrovia?


Let’s say you could work from home most of the time so commuting is not a major issue, which you you choose?

There are many factors to consider. Is the Monrovia home nestled up near the mountains close to hiking trails?

Is the Sherman Oaks townhome close to Ventura Blvd or is it part of what used to be Van Nuys (north of Burbank blvd) up until a few years ago?

Are we talking same price or same square footage? Budget here is super important.


I'd probably go for the Sherman Oaks location. But, again, would need answers to many more questions to be 100% certain.

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by Kings Gambit

There are many factors to consider. Is the Monrovia home nestled up near the mountains close to hiking trails?

Is the Sherman Oaks townhome close to Ventura Blvd or is it part of what used to be Van Nuys (north of Burbank blvd) up until a few years ago?

Are we talking same price or same square footage? Budget here is super important.


I'd probably go for the Sherman Oaks location. But, again, would need answers to many more questions to be 100% certain.

When did the neighborhood boundaries of Van Nuys change on that side of the 405 in the last few years?

[eureka1]

I would NEVER buy a townhouse . To me that would be hell.

[JustMike77]

I think you need to decide first if you are a "house" person or a "townhouse" person. As you can see from Eureka's post above, some are very adamant on the issue. Personally, I've lived in a 2,000 sf townhouse for the past 30 years and absolutely love it. I'm not a "yard" person. I would hate gardening and have no children running around, so a yard would be a waste for me. I have beautiful greenery all around me, but I don't have to touch it. Also a pool, spa & tennis court that I can use, but don't have to manage. I like being able to lock the door and take off with no worries about maintenance. I think it's just a matter of what you prefer rather than location.