Really? I always thought that was not possible in LA. I like living without a car and having a semi-urban house with a backyard. Is that possible in LA? I seriously would love to live somewhere like that.
I do iOS dev work, so I considered SF, but maybe 20 years ago...
I've found that LA is surprisingly tough to get a handle on as a newcomer or outsider. It helps to think of it as a conglomeration of many small towns which have grown together over time, resulting in a situation where there is a "downtown" practically every few miles in most areas of the city. Of course, depending on what part of LA you're in, these former downtown areas may not be in the greatest shape, but they're there. Additionally, there are always the "name brand" areas where lots of people live, but one of the best things about living in LA is exploring everything else, because there is a really mind-boggling amount of everything else out there in LA.
...there is a really mind-boggling amount of everything else out there in LA...
So true. I live in a pretty ordinary SFR (that's what I wanted), but it's a trip to go to friends' houses and see what other people have been able to do.
Horse properties where you stable your horse in your back yard and go riding into the mountains that rim the city. Totally unique view houses clinging to hillsides in Hollywood. Converted warehouses with 10K SF in Frogtown by the LA River (perfect for a sculptor or a tinkerer). Properties on National Forest Service land in the forested valleys in the San Gabriels. Freaky old cabins built in the 1920s right on the edge of Elysian Park or the Arroyo Seco.
It's not the luxury or the money (I did not mention any beach houses). It's the uniqueness. If you have your nose to the ground and care about such things, you can still score one of these places on a middle-class income.
I live in LA county (Long Beach) and yes, there are a lot of great little historic tree lined neighborhoods spread all over LA... For example, I work downtown Long Beach, and live in beautiful Cal Heights, a short 3 mile bike ride, drive, or blue line subway ride to my office.
I came here to say the same - Los Angeles is a big region, and there are many lovely places to live within. Like New York, if you can find a way to live near where you work it can be fantastic, and Long Beach is a perfect example.
Long Beach is both a great city to live in and, increasingly, a great place to work - not only if you work remotely, but if you want to work local. We have a great and growing tech scene, increasingly awesome food and drink, and a long history of arts, music and community.
PS, hi Dan! Great to run into you again (and again).
Splice is in Santa Monica (West LA, by the ocean), most of the team walks or bikes... and we are looking for an iOS dev, feel free to drop me an email if interested (matt at splice.com)
> Really? I always thought that was not possible in LA. I like living without a car and having a semi-urban house with a backyard. Is that possible in LA?
It's a rumor we spread to keep people from moving here. :-)
In LA, if you're going to live on side of the city & work on the other, you definitely need a car.
However, if you live near were you work, you definitely can get away without one. I've lived in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, & Pasadena (each for different jobs). I still had a car, but I tend to use it 1-2 a month, to do things like pick up friends from the airport, roadtrips to Vegas & what not.
The important thing to note is that unlike New York/Manhattan, LA hasn't really had a downtown that is exclusively commercial property. Businesses are scattered throughout the regions' major cities (LA, Pasadena, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Irvine, etc.) That means that those commercial areas are intermixed with housing, etc. This works great if you can land a near-permanent job, then buy housing nearby. It's not so good if you can't afford housing in the area your employer is located (the westside), or if your employer relocates their HQ across town after you're bought your home.
* The bus system and rail is better than many people seem to be aware -- if you live/work near a good line you can commute as quickly as an auto commuter (and sometimes quicker). Once you have to make multiple transfers or otherwise bridge a gap, speed of transportation goes down fast.
* Bicycling is possible, but the quality of bike accommodations varies widely and so does the consideration afforded cyclists.
* Real estate costs here are lower than San Francisco and New York but still far from sane for the median wage... even modest homes are often much more expensive to rent (let alone buy) than you'd think.
LA is a patchwork of small "neighborhoods" -- each typically only a few square miles. Adjacent to any particularly pricey area will probably be several more affordable ones. Can't afford pricey Beverly Hills? There may be parts of Century City or Culver City or Mid-Wilshire more in your price range.
I lived in LA for 7 years, in a variety of locations. Living within walking distance to your job isn't possible unless a) you make a lot of money or b) you don't mind living far from everything else.
I do iOS dev work, so I considered SF, but maybe 20 years ago...