Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with housing and california

I'm moving moving, out out, to Cali Cali

Never Better — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:01:51 -0800

Moving from Milwaukee, WI to take a job in Carlsbad, CA - what should I know, and where should I live? I just found out I will be changing positions at my job, which entails a move across the country to work in Carlsbad, California. I need to start planning, but I do not have a ton of time to research everything I normally would in making such a move.

As far as I know the city of Carlsbad is expensive to live in- are there cheaper areas close by where I could get by making about $2,000 a month on average? I realize this is not much, but I am intentionally keeping it a conservative estimate. I will likely bring in more than that, but I want to plan economically.

I am looking to live in a younger neighborhood (I'm 24) - I like art and music, lots of good cheap food (I can taste the burritos already) and just a fun scene to be around. I do not mind commuting, though I would rather keep it at a minimum. I have a car, but would love to use public transportation as well.

Crime is a rather important aspect as well. Though I've grown up in bad neighborhoods by Midwest standards, I would rather not live anywhere where I need to have barred windows or constantly have to watch out at night. I certainly don't need an idyllic situation, but something reasonable.

I would like to keep rent, including utilities capped at about $1,000 / month. I really have no idea if that number is fantasy land by that area's standards, so if it is, let me know. I am not 100% opposed to moving in with others really, though as an introvert I would prefer my own space.

If anyone has experience with a similar move, please fill in your experiences. I've been all over California before doing road trips and what not, but is there anything special I should know/expect going into a full move out west?

Where to live in Santa Barbara?

wsquared — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:36:10 -0800

Where are the best neighborhoods in the Santa Barbara area for two 20-something professionals? My boyfriend will be working in Goleta starting in June and we're looking for a 1BR apartment preferably near stuff like grocery shopping, cafes/restaurants, a public library, and running/walking paths. We're hoping to not spend more than $1300 on a 1BR. We live in LA and San Diego now, so will make a trip or two to the area before we move to scope things out.

I know we don't want Isla Vista. Downtown near State St. sounds like it would be nice, but we don't really know what specific areas are good.

Goleta also would be good in terms of a short commute, but are there any good sort of mixed-use areas or is it all suburban?

Any other neighborhoods (preferably with specific boundaries) to look at or avoid?

Do all apartments look like 50s-era motels?

Any other apartment hunting advice for Santa Barbara? This previous question is really helpful, but a couple years old now.

Kicking out a roommate not a lease in San Francisco.

hobbes — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:02:28 -0800

Giving ye olde boot to a roommate not a lease in San Francisco.. One lease holder, and three people not on the lease. The lease holder wants a bad roommate to leave, but doesn't want to tell him herself, so I volunteered.

Besides verbally notifying him that he's got 30-days to get out, should I have a letter written and notarized? And do I need to have that letter written/signed by the lease holder? Anything else I prepare/ be prepared for?

Thanks MeFi.

Should I buy now?

matthelm — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:08:37 -0800

In the market of Buying a Condo in the Los Angeles areas and want to know how to research best. Need to find out sites that keep me up to date with the housing market, when its good to buy etc...for with the economy right now I don't really know what to do.....please help I held off from buying a condo cause I was having a wedding and now that that's over I wanted to start looking for a condo. But now the economy just sucks and now when I have the time to devout to finding a place I feel it might be wise to hold off. I need to find sites that can get me in touch with whats going on with the housing market out here in the LA areas. My plan was to get a condo by end of year or beginning of next...i manage a apt complex so rent is free and I have saved a lot, but we are soooo tired of the small one bedroom that to keep our sanity I was maybe even thinking that getting a 2 bedroom apt for a year might be more wise and when the lease is up maybe the economy will be too and we can buy a condo then....any help would be greatly appreciated

Why do property taxes vary so much on this street?

mhh5 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:35:11 -0800

How Does The California Property Tax System Work? I was looking through Zillow a bit.. and I was curious about a neighborhood where there are a line of houses, all built in 2006. However, if you look at the property tax information that Zillow provides, some houses seem to have tax assessments that are *significantly* less than their neighbors. This can't be a result of Prop13, can it? The houses are similarly priced and bought within a year or two of each other (2006 or 2007...). So am I missing something? How are property tax assessments actually done? Did someone pay-off an assessor to undervalue certain houses? Is Zillow posting bad data? Is it because some of the houses may be "bank owned" now -- and the bank has worked out some deal with the state to lower the property taxes on the distressed houses? Any other guesses?

Illegal Eviction Notice in Los Angeles

chez shoes — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:11:48 -0800

Have you dealt with an illegal eviction notice in Los Angeles? Got home from work today to find a typed letter from my landlady asking me to move by 4/15. Long story short - she's facing foreclosure; I live in a tiny single in a 3-unit triplex; she wants to move into my single and rent out the 2+2 unit that she currently lives in for more $$$.

I'm aware of the laws governing this under the RSO, and I'm aware she did not approach this legally and have already filed a complaint with the agency.

As far as I know, she has no legal right to take any action against me until she actually files the Declaration of Intent to Evict - can anybody confirm this? Additionally, I'd like to hear from anybody else who has gone through this - any tips, support, etc. you have to offer.

I know you're not my lawyer. I'll get one if I have to, but right now I'm trying to rely on Nolo Press and my library science degree to get me through this.

How should a renter deal with foreclosure?

rezaman — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:46:54 -0800

What do renters do when their landlord's property goes through a foreclosure? I saw this post on the Consumerist and want to see what the hive has to say. How is someone renting a place affected by their landlord's lender foreclosing on the property?

Do they stop paying rent to the landlord?

Do they have any chance at getting their deposit back?

Will they get evicted when the foreclosure finalizes?

Will they be notified of the foreclosure ahead of time?

Should they get an attorney?

FYI, I live in California, but I'm just speculating so feel free to respond with info about your state as well.

Relocating To Pomona, CA : rental housing and general advice?

lalochezia — Thu, 03 May 2007 07:54:54 -0800

Pomona/Claremont/Inland Empire Filter. I have just landed an academic job at Cal Poly Pomona. Does anyone have advice about where to live, in rental housing, NEAR as possible to campus. Advice on apt/househunting in the inland empire in general also requested. General advice about Cal Poly and the Pomona/Claremont area sought too. So, I've gone and got me a tenure-track job at Cal Poly Pomona. I'm going back there next week to negotiate and to meet with real estate realtors/agents. I'm trying to avoid the classic inland-empire commute, and rent a place for a couple of years before I (probably) buy. When I was there for interview, downtown Pomona appears diverse and a little sketchy, and nearby claremont seems a little sterile & white, but safe.

Is there any way I can live a biking distance to work (<5 mi) in a safe but relatively interesting area?i know i'll probably drive, but the option of walking/biking is something i think is hard to let go of. failing that, is there anywhere nearby with a b>minimal commute that has a town-ish culture (i.e. as unlike suburbia as possible)? Any suggestions on particular neighborhoods to avoid?

Any suggestions in general about real estate and agents - things to look for in apartments/houses, prices etc. Suggestions on things to avoid? Furthermore, any suggestions about Cal Poly Pomona and the area in general gratefully received: especially aimed at an 8-yr New Yorker.

For those of you who want to see where Cal Poly Pomona is, here's a link.

Help for a rental refugee?

zarq — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:46:00 -0800

Can anyone provide advice, suggest tenant rights resources, courses of action or even refer a good pro-bono lawyer for a friend of mine who's getting screwed by her landlord during the conversion of her apartment complex from rentals to condos in Studio City, CA? Everything's being documented on Flickr.

At Christmas, all tenants were given notice that they had 180 days to vacate. CA state law requires (among other things) that the landlord help current tenants find new housing, pay for up to $500 in moving costs and compensate them with $1000 cash. Hers has refused to do any of that.

In February, construction began months early and created many ongoing hazardous living conditions, such as a six-foot deep moat around the building and exposed nests of metal and electrical wires. But even though the management company is blatantly violating their end of the agreement (and breaking the law) and the tenants are dealing with unsafe living conditions, not one of the numerous lawyers they've called will take the case on -- either individually or as a class action suit. They all say that the case would be winnable, but there's no money in it because no one has been seriously injured or killed yet.

Anything y’all can suggest would be greatly appreciated.

California Housing Market

matthelm — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:46:17 -0800

How does one monitor the Housing Market of Southern California? I would like to purchase a condo in the next couple of years and would like to know when the "best" time to buy is. I am a first time buyer and slowly picking up the knowledge to what it takes to buying a place.

Where can I look to find a rental in Santa Barbara?

k8t — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:01:26 -0800

[SantaBarbaraFilter]I can't find rental housing in Santa Barbara. What's the trick? Here's what we're looking for (in order of importance): accepts pets (cat and large dog, with references), easy to walk to a bus line, broadband available, cell phones get reception, ample closet space, 1 or 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom is fine, would like a fenced-in yard if possible (for pets), laundry would be nice, parking would be nice, pretty views would be a plus, walkable to groceries would be a plus.

And we're willing to pay up to $2.5k for this, but it'd be nice if it was cheaper, of course.

My boyfriend is a professional, I'm a PhD student. We're in our late 20s/late 30s. He owns a house already (trying to sell). I have good credit, he has great credit.

I obsessively look at the SB Craig's List, we look at the 2 SB newspapers, UCSB's rental listings, rent.com, and Yahoo! housing... and nothing comes up.

Is there a trick? Should we be working through an agent? Any advice from former or current Santa Barbabarians? Any recommendations for neighborhoods to check out?

Also, are the housing prices totally insane or is this just California and I'd better get used to it?

Should I move to Santa Barbara?

TorontoSandy — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 19:36:36 -0800

Husband and I considering a move to Santa Barbara where he has a job offer in a high-tech company. Is this feasible from an economic standpoint? Our initial thought is that housing prices are too outrageous and long commutes are not conducive to quality of life issues. We'd be moving from Tucson, AZ (where houses are cheap in comparison) - so besides the great weather - is there something Santa Barbara offers that would make this move worthwhile?

Seeking recommendations for gay-friendly community with affordable homes & good schools in CA

nakedcodemonkey — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 13:32:45 -0800

RealEstateFilter Any recommendations for a gay-friendly community in California where three bedroom single-family houses with reliable broadband access can still be found for <$125k in a safe, good school district?