Need Help Getting Apt. in L.A.

May 17, 2006 4:31 PM

I need to find an apartment in LA, where I am moving for a new job in Burbank. I know nothing about LA. Do you have any advice on neighborhoods? Buildings? Rental companies? Apartment brokers or services?

I am moving to LA in the next few days for a new job located in Burbank. I know nothing of LA. I have a few friends/contacts, but I will essentially be trying to start a new life in a new city. Where should I live? I am 27, single, and will be working at a professional sort of job. I will want to try to meet new people. I will have a decent budget for rent, but not super insane luxury. I will have a car but would not like a giant commute in traffic, so proximinity to work is a plus. Thanks very much for any pointers.

[Posted for my brother.]

posted by Mid to home & garden (15 comments total)

Check out craigslist.org for roommate listings. You can meet people and find a place to live, all at once. As far as what neighborhoods, live as close to the new job as possible. Gas+traffic=hellish commute if you're far from work.
posted by booknerd at 4:36 PM on May 17, 2006

living in the Valley (where Burbank is) is cheaper, but hotter in the summer and not quite the same culturally.

If you dont mind a slight scuzz factor, "over the hill" in Hollywood is very cool for nightlife and etc. Dont believe the hype about traffic, I live all the way on the westside and commute to North Hollywood (near Burbank) and my commute is only about 30-40 minutes each way- traffic generally goes the other way, so going into Burbank in the morning and out in the evening wont be too bad.
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:43 PM on May 17, 2006

I recently moved to Orange Country from Northern Virginia where my father would take the train into DC for work every day. From what I've seen of the train system in Orange County that heads into LA loaded with commuters, it seems to be professional and clean.

You could probably have a relaxing commute via the train every day and, should you need to meet at an off-time in LA, you could always take your car. You'd be saving money on gas and helping cut down on emissions. However, I don't know whether you'd be saving money living in OC or not.
Also, I'm a big fan of trains, so I'm slightly biased.
posted by myodometer at 4:56 PM on May 17, 2006

Here's the thing:

1) The Valley is safe but the Valley is death. Only the Dead know Burbank
2) The Westside is expenside
3) In Hollywood your car will get keyed by the mentally unstable homeless population. Several times.

That said there are some compromises you can make. Studio city is close to burbank but almost halfway to hollywood. And it's reasonably priced.

Culver City on the Westside is still pricey but it's prolly the cheapest you're gonna get on the Westside AND it's really diverse culturally.

Koreatown is a straight shot up the 101 and it's CHEAP. It's not as trendy as living in Hollywood but it's actually safe AND it's got great nightlife.

LOS Feliz is close to Hollywood and pretty close to the 5 (which will get you into Burbank like a shot) but make sure you don't end up in any of the scientologist areas. Those blue shirts won't stop till they get you to a meeting.

That's my LA advice

RR-
posted by rileyray3000 at 5:07 PM on May 17, 2006

Where does your brother live now? What kind of stuff is he into? Does he like music, movies, sports, eating out, etc? I ask, because a lot of the neighborhoods that are convenient to Burbank have very different vibes. I would recommend staying out of the valley to newcomers, mostly because it's vast and overwhelming, and could feel really far from everything. I say this as, like, a totally born valley girl. Traffic in and out of the valley is murderous, but that's pretty much standard for the whole city. The 405 is particularly brutal, so hanging out on the westside is a downer if you live in the valley.

At first blush I would recommend:

- Atwater - It's on the border of Los Feliz and Silverlake. It's old Los Angeles. It was getting gentrified very quickly when I moved to Boston early last year, so it might be nuts now.
- Hollywood - it has a high scuz factor, so there will be LOTS of dissapointments when apartment hunting, but lots of cool things to do, convenient to Burbank, Silverlake, West Hollywood and other fun hot spots
- Glendale - Close to Burbank, traffic will be better. It's a little suburban but there's lots to do. The playboy mansion is there!
- Los Feliz - Super swanky and expensive. Essentially between Hollywood & Silverlake. Very pretty and hip.
- Silverlake - it's pretty, it's hip, it's got all the good restaurants.

Areas that folks will likely say are really cool, but are probably a commute nightmare to Burbank:

- Highland Park/Mt. Washington/Eaglerock: This is my favorite part of the city. It's where I lived before I moved to Boston, and I miss it a lot, just for it's beauty and uniqueness. Commuting to Burbank might not be so bad, but it's not really going to be a hop, skip and jump. It also might be serious culture shock depending on where you're coming from.
- Santa Monica or Venice: Commuting will make you want to die. But if you love the beach, and if you're trendy, you might not care.
- West Hollywood: Commuter nightmare also. But quintessential LA.

A westside rentals membership is essential. Don't let the name fool you, they're all over the city. But the best way to score a sweet place in LA is to drive around areas you're interested in living with a cell phone, and look for for rent signs. It's the most tried and true method.
posted by pazazygeek at 5:09 PM on May 17, 2006

South Pasadena, Eagle Rock, or Glendale.
posted by invisible ink at 5:25 PM on May 17, 2006

The Valley is safe but the Valley is death.

Eh. Studio City/North Hollywood (NoHo) are on the upswing -- some good new bars, good restaurants (though not as many as L.A. proper), theater, etc., plus the rents are still a bit cheaper and it's an easy commute to Burbank and an easy drive into Hollywood/Los Feliz/Silver Lake.
posted by scody at 6:46 PM on May 17, 2006

pazazygeek is right: Westside Rentals is your friend.

As far as living in Hollywood is concerned... it really depends on where you live. There are parts of Hollywood that are shitholes, but I live in a great (and not-pricy) neighborhood... it's seriously the raddest place I've ever lived. If you find the right apartment/neighborhood, you might love it (but be prepared to look at quite a few places).

Studio City would also work well for your purposes.
posted by the_bone at 8:53 PM on May 17, 2006

Craiglist and Westside Rentals are the usual ways to find stuff, although you have to pay a fee to access Westside Rentals listings.

In escalating length of commute, look into Studio City (tons of restaurants!), Silverlake and Los Feliz (trendy, hip), Hollywood (requires some careful searching to find the gems), Larchmont Village (awesome, but probably insanely expensive these days), Park La Brea (giant apartment complex near to museums, shopping etc).

Where do your friends/contacts live? Are you staying with them for the first few weeks? Finding an area of LA that suits you can take a bit of time, so don't rush into anything if you don't need to. Look around, try and get a flavour for the areas nearby.

If you are interested in something quiet and pleasant rather than hip, then you can probably find something nice in the hills in Burbank or Glendale, it would probably have to be a house-share, but its lovely to live away from the bustle of the city. its hard to knwo what to recommend without knowing how you like to live.
posted by Joh at 10:32 PM on May 17, 2006

You might find this helpful for choosing a neighborhood: LAPD crime maps.
posted by equalpants at 10:53 PM on May 17, 2006

- Glendale - Close to Burbank, traffic will be better. It's a little suburban but there's lots to do. The playboy mansion is there!

It's not. It's in Beverly Hills.

Also, I'm going to second all the Studio City recommendations. Great place.
posted by wackybrit at 3:20 AM on May 18, 2006

Thanks, great advice all.

If anyone is still reading, I forgot to stress that he needs an apartment fast. He has no place to live and will paying for a hotel room until he gets into some place. Besides westside rentals and craigslist, are there any other brokers/clearinghouses for landlords that will get him into a place quickly?

Thanks again.
posted by Mid at 9:12 AM on May 18, 2006

I lived in Burbank for 8 years at the same apartment on Kling St near Pass. Had to leave because new owners jacked the price up to an unreasonable level. I loved that area as I could walk to the Warner Brothers Lot, Toluca Lake (a nice little stretch of stores and coffee shops), and even Universal Studios (I bought an annual pass). There were a couple great record/book/antique stores in walking distance on Magnolia as well. That location was also freeway close to the 5, 134, and 101 for easy access to just about anywhere.

Don't listen to the folks that say Burbank is dead. Encino is dead. Sherman Oaks is dead. But Burbank thrives in its own way.
posted by IndigoSkye at 1:05 PM on May 19, 2006

Update: my brother is now happily ensconced in an apartment in Los Feliz. Thanks.
posted by Mid at 11:17 AM on May 24, 2006

Los Feliz is an excellent choice! Thanks for the update.
posted by pazazygeek at 4:03 PM on May 24, 2006