Where to live in LA area

[Anonymous]

This is OP. 45 mins in the morning and 1 hour for evening commute isn’t too bad. My concern with Redondo is public schools (which are probably good for LA but may not be great compared to DMV). I don’t see many good parochial schools nearby either.

[Anonymous]

Can you afford $6K monthly rent for a condo in the Palisades? If so, that is probably your best bet.

[Anonymous]

We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

That's lower because it is on Sunset. Wouldn't want to be on that very busy street with young kids but hopefully there will be others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

That's lower because it is on Sunset. Wouldn't want to be on that very busy street with young kids but hopefully there will be others.

You're going to be driving in and out of this building, not walking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you afford $6K monthly rent for a condo in the Palisades? If so, that is probably your best bet.

Yes we can afford it, I also see some nice looking places up in Pacific Highlands. Is anyone familiar with that area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

That's lower because it is on Sunset. Wouldn't want to be on that very busy street with young kids but hopefully there will be others.

You're going to be driving in and out of this building, not walking

Are you OP? How do you know she won't want to walk around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you afford $6K monthly rent for a condo in the Palisades? If so, that is probably your best bet.

Yes we can afford it, I also see some nice looking places up in Pacific Highlands. Is anyone familiar with that area?

Yes, it's a drive up from the village but there's stores kind of on the way there. Its a quiet community but all ages and there's playground structures as well as tennis courts and pools designated for various houses / condos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you afford $6K monthly rent for a condo in the Palisades? If so, that is probably your best bet.

Yes we can afford it, I also see some nice looking places up in Pacific Highlands. Is anyone familiar with that area?

Highlands is the most affordable part of the Palisades (compared to Riviera, Huntington, the Bluffs etc). It gets hotter up there weather-wise, and there is one road going up and down which can be slightly annoying, but overall you will get the amazing schools and community at a much lower price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

This is OP. How was that experience in Santa Monica? Did you end up moving to a larger place in the LA area? Curious how other families similar to our size upgrade after living in a condo or townhome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Santa Monica in a 2 bed townhouse with our 2 kids for about 5 years.

This I found in the Palisades. There's not a lot on offer but westside rentals usually has most of the stock anyway

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16100-W-Sunset-Blvd-APT-301-Pacific-Palisades-CA-90272/2102654864_zpid/

This is OP. How was that experience in Santa Monica? Did you end up moving to a larger place in the LA area? Curious how other families similar to our size upgrade after living in a condo or townhome.

Our kids were in ES (Franklin) and I would say 75% of the families with ES aged kids were in town houses and condos the remaining 25% were in huge houses north of Montana Ave and were loaded. We knew a couple of families who crammed into 1 bed apts, curtaining off a corner bedroom in the living room for the parents and giving the kid/s the bedroom. That was sometimes tight. We are in a SFH now a bit further out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are relocating to the LA area with 2 kids 4 and 8. I will be working around Century City and spouse works from home. Our HHI will be around 500k. Any recommendations for great neighborhoods for families within 45 minute commute to Century City? We will be doing Catholic/Christian schools for both kids, and are a mixed-race family (like everyone else in LA). Any recommendations? Currently considering Playa Vista/Westchester, but not sure where else to look. We would like to stay closer to the ocean if possible, ruling out the valley. Thanks!

OP my good friend moved from Bethesda to Playa Vista. They love it. It's very clean, and very safe. They also love the quick access to Manhattan Beach, Century City, Santa Monica. They are currently renting an apartment in a lovely community. Let me know if you want more info.

PS I'm also a Bethesda transplant, but living in Orange County which I LOVE. The drive would be too much for you though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are relocating to the LA area with 2 kids 4 and 8. I will be working around Century City and spouse works from home. Our HHI will be around 500k. Any recommendations for great neighborhoods for families within 45 minute commute to Century City? We will be doing Catholic/Christian schools for both kids, and are a mixed-race family (like everyone else in LA). Any recommendations? Currently considering Playa Vista/Westchester, but not sure where else to look. We would like to stay closer to the ocean if possible, ruling out the valley. Thanks!

OP my good friend moved from Bethesda to Playa Vista. They love it. It's very clean, and very safe. They also love the quick access to Manhattan Beach, Century City, Santa Monica. They are currently renting an apartment in a lovely community. Let me know if you want more info.

PS I'm also a Bethesda transplant, but living in Orange County which I LOVE. The drive would be too much for you though.

It's a common swap, not unusual.