Middle-class family relocating to L.A. area?... (Los Angeles, Anaheim: real estate, how much)

[Moon Waffle]

My scenario: I have lived in the Northwest almost my entire life. Currently in a mid-sized community. Got the "American dream": 4 bedroom house, safe & quiet neighborhood, 2 kids, nice sized yard, so on, and so forth.

So I am considering a job with Disney. I am a corporate finance guy, and this has always been a company I really wanted to work for. The job would be in Burbank, I believe.

I am wondering if there is anywhere within a reasonable distance that I could afford to put my family in a nice, safe, middle-class community. You know, the type with rows of new homes, kids playing in the streets, and lots of SUV's/minivans. Please, I am NOT looking for anything high-end, rather, the "typical" middle class suburban neighborhood where people are going to be friendly to their neighbors.

So tell me, does this exist and where would one look in the area? Please be brutally honest with me. Obviously I know that L.A. will be a world away from the Northwest community I live in now, but I've got to believe that I can find what I'm looking for - that it exists in Souther California somewhere within a reasonable distance from Burbank.

Thanks ahead of time for your help...

[dereistic01]

burbank would be perfect, right by disney, a lot of stuff for familes, very safe.

[KnoxTown]

How much can you spend?

[timelesschild]

If you are wanting the new houses with 4 bedrooms, you might look out around Santa Clarita. It all depends on your budget.

[Soundman123]

I'm from Seattle myself. Moved out here in '99.

As a general rule, the LA area is roughly twice as expensive. You will get far less sq. footage and you will be living in a much older house. The so-called middle class neighborhoods in Burbank are going for over $400,000. This is for a 4-bedroom 2-bath home.

L.A. for the most part is a giant **** hole. Unless you are earning $200,000/yr and you can afford to live in the hills or in the beach communities, your life will be a struggle. Don't move here unless you are willing to sacrifice quality of life for your career advancement.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Disney isn't known for paying very well either. My mom works for Disney in Anaheim and everyone she's worked with that's left has done much better after Disney. People are lined up around the block to work at the "The Happiest Place on Earth" and Disney knows it so they don't have to pay much.

[Soundman123]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Disney isn't known for paying very well either. My mom works for Disney in Anaheim and everyone she's worked with that's left has done much better after Disney. People are lined up around the block to work at the "The Happiest Place on Earth" and Disney knows it so they don't have to pay much.

I was thinking of saying something similar but I didn't want to sound too negative!

I like Los Angeles for what it is. I've always been able to pay the bills but my quality of life isn't so great. I'm moving to Las Vegas next month because I can live better for less money.

L.A. is great if you are in your 20's, and you are hungry and ambitious.
If you are settled down with a family and big bills, I wouldn't recommend coming out here unless you can make at least 100K/yr minimum.

[missionhome]

Check out Santa Clarita. It is a nice and safe area with lots of families and is typical suburbia. Lots of minivan driving moms taking their kids to the park and stuff. The schools are pretty good there also.

A perfect commute would be to ride the Metrolink train from Santa Clarita to the downtown Burbank station. For example one leaves SC at 7:21AM and arrives at Burbank station at 7:54AM. You would then transfer to the pink route of the Burbank Bus which is coordinated with this train arrival and ride it to Disney headquarters arrivng at 8:04AM (assuming you are at the main studios). This same coordination works for your commute home to Santa Clarita.
Metrolink :: Antelope Valley Line
:: Burbank Bus :: (http://www.burbankca.org/burbankbus/media_district_metrolink.htm - broken link)

Santa Clarita also has some of the more affordable real estate in the area so I think you won't find it too horrible. Its a nice place and you will find lots of families. Its also very clean too.

[E_Superhero]

The media district in Burbank (the area around WB, NBC, and Disney) is pretty nice. But it's "LA nice." Which means, homes built in the 30s and 40s that are 1200 sq ft and selling for 500-600k.

I've experienced Disney's relatively low pay first hand, but it sounds like you'll have a nice office executive-type job. If you're pulling in over six figures, I'd look in NW Glendale (above Glenoaks, in the hills -- it's about 650k and up, but excellent, excellent quality of life) and maybe La Canada/Flintridge.

It also would be worthwhile to look in Encino and Sherman Oaks, south of Ventura blvd..

[CESpeed]

If you are going to work in Burbank, I would recommend living in Burbank. I agree that it should suit your needs.