Q: My wife and I are interested in moving to Los Angeles. We’re looking for a neighborhood with young families. Preferably a neighborhood with families moving in? We were looking around Redondo, Culver, Burbank, Glendale, Venice, downtown, maybe even Long Beach? As you can see, we’re pretty open to where, looking for the right neighborhood. Thanks for your help.
–Brandon, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
A: I dont know anything about LA itself, but being an agent, I do know one thing: get a good buyers agent! They are free to you, and this way you have someone to walk you through the buying process, at no cost to you. Go out and interview two or three agents, and go with the one you mesh best with. Then express to them what your lifestyle and interests are. They will take you to different neighborhoods, and from there, you and your family can see whats your best fit. Best of luck!
Matt Laricy is a Realtor® with Americorp Real Estate in Chicago, IL.
A: I am familiar with all the areas you mentioned. In fact, I have lived in the area for over 40 years and have lived in Redondo, near Burbank, and near Glendale.
To be better able to help you find exactly what you are looking for, we would need to speak. I would be glad to offer you my insight to all the areas you mentioned. Fell free to contact so that I may help you. I believe there is a link below this entry to contact me.
Adam Aguilar is a Realtor® with Reliantra in West Toluca Lake, CA.
A: Los Angeles is pretty much like other urban sprawls, just bigger. It’s interlaced with good and bad areas so the trick is to know which is which since looks can sometimes be deceiving.
As a rule of thumb, the closer to the ocean the better (and more expensive) the area will be. If you start in Santa Monica and follow the 405 (San Diego) Freeway south all the way through Los Angeles and into Orange County, you will find that everything west of the freeway (the ocean side) will be the most desirable. The further inland you go (as always with some exceptions) property values will decline. It’s all about what you can afford.
You sound interested in my back yard which is known as the South Bay. The beach cities of Playa Del Rey, El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, the Palos Verdes peninsula, San Pedro and Long Beach are all great places to live. Just bring money and lots of it. I’ve lived in San Pedro for the last 33 years. San Pedro is probably the last bargain beach front community in Southern California.
Burbank and Glendale are located in the San Fernando Valley and will be much more affordable than the beach cities. Again, the ocean makes the difference. The San Fernando Valley, where I was born and raised, is another climate all together. It’s hot in the summer (over 100F) and chilly in the winter.
You really need to first determine what you can afford. Once you’ve come up with a home price you can afford and pre-approval from a lender, your search will become a lot easier. Get a referral for a local Realtor and put him or her to work on your search.
Good luck.
Lee Dworshak is a Realtor® with Keller Williams LA Harbor Realty in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
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