Moving to L.A.

[lostkitty]

Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Thank you everyone! This is why I LOVE Piggington. I rarely write anymore, but I read it every day.

First of all – just to clarify – my girls were joking. With the excellent education they are getting in NY comes the frequent/incessant use of sarcasm. They said it with fake “bitchy” voices and a heavy Valley Girl accents.

Your suggestions are so helpful I will check them out. I especially like the Japanese thing. We lived in Japan as well and my girls went to Japanese preschool (yochien). We like lots of Asians around (I feel racist even writing that) because the work ethic in school is strong and there will absolutely be a youth orchestra nearby of the right caliber.

I do feel a little uncomfortable when a few of you write that there are areas of Torrance to avoid. It is so hard for someone “not in the know” to get led astray.

I also like the PV suggestions. I dont have a problem at all with “rich” people having grown up in RSF and SBeach/Del Mar. I think maybe what you are remembering me say negatively about Coronado folks was that our “friends” kept telling us we were “crazy” to leave and “crazy” not to jump into that real estate market. Lots of suggestions to get ARM’s etc. It was annoying. Now the tables have turned though and I feel sorry for many of those same friends and hope they can climb out of their financial quick-sand. it is really awful for a few of them in particular.

That said – I dont think we can afford to live in a neighborhood of million+ dollar homes anyway. We do not have all the pieces to the puzzle yet – job $$s, sale of this house etc. We are just as happy to go out and rent for a while and figure it all out for ourselves. But with a daughter in 10th grade we want to make a semi-good decision from the get-go.[/quote]

Lost kitty, if you need a place to rent in PV, actually i know there is a house that is being rented.

5 bed 3 bath, and it has an ocean view, been on the market for some time.

We’re not talking about the ocean view definition that some realtors like to say…in which you can see 1 inch of ocean if your in the bathroom, stick your head out the windows, lean over, and turn your head in a contorted way.

The ocean view is a 180degree ocean view of the pacific from the backyard. You do have to deal with the noise of the traffic from Hawthorne, but I believe the house has double pane windows inside.

Here’s the google maps to approximately the nearby street where you would be situated,

Do a google search on Leah Cir, 90275 and click on street view.

The backyard of these homes faces the pacific ocean. I’m not going to give out the exact location (it’s not even on the same street) because this is a public forum. If you’re interested, give me your personal email and I’ll send you the actual address, and possibly the phone number for you to call. I don’t have the exact number for how much they are renting it for, but I would guess e around $3/month, but it’s been on the market for some time, so maybe negotiable. NOTE: i have no financial interest in this.

The rental market in PV is bad right now and the housing market is bad too (though people can afford to hang around to weather the storm)…This particular home, the person is not in financial dire, that’s not the reason for renting.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Thank you everyone! This is why I LOVE Piggington. I rarely write anymore, but I read it every day.

First of all – just to clarify – my girls were joking. With the excellent education they are getting in NY comes the frequent/incessant use of sarcasm. They said it with fake “bitchy” voices and a heavy Valley Girl accents.

Your suggestions are so helpful I will check them out. I especially like the Japanese thing. We lived in Japan as well and my girls went to Japanese preschool (yochien). We like lots of Asians around (I feel racist even writing that) because the work ethic in school is strong and there will absolutely be a youth orchestra nearby of the right caliber.

I do feel a little uncomfortable when a few of you write that there are areas of Torrance to avoid. It is so hard for someone “not in the know” to get led astray.

I also like the PV suggestions. I dont have a problem at all with “rich” people having grown up in RSF and SBeach/Del Mar. I think maybe what you are remembering me say negatively about Coronado folks was that our “friends” kept telling us we were “crazy” to leave and “crazy” not to jump into that real estate market. Lots of suggestions to get ARM’s etc. It was annoying. Now the tables have turned though and I feel sorry for many of those same friends and hope they can climb out of their financial quick-sand. it is really awful for a few of them in particular.

That said – I dont think we can afford to live in a neighborhood of million+ dollar homes anyway. We do not have all the pieces to the puzzle yet – job $$s, sale of this house etc. We are just as happy to go out and rent for a while and figure it all out for ourselves. But with a daughter in 10th grade we want to make a semi-good decision from the get-go.[/quote]

Lost kitty, if you need a place to rent in PV, actually i know there is a house that is being rented.

5 bed 3 bath, and it has an ocean view, been on the market for some time.

We’re not talking about the ocean view definition that some realtors like to say…in which you can see 1 inch of ocean if your in the bathroom, stick your head out the windows, lean over, and turn your head in a contorted way.

The ocean view is a 180degree ocean view of the pacific from the backyard. You do have to deal with the noise of the traffic from Hawthorne, but I believe the house has double pane windows inside.

Here’s the google maps to approximately the nearby street where you would be situated,

Do a google search on Leah Cir, 90275 and click on street view.

The backyard of these homes faces the pacific ocean. I’m not going to give out the exact location (it’s not even on the same street) because this is a public forum. If you’re interested, give me your personal email and I’ll send you the actual address, and possibly the phone number for you to call. I don’t have the exact number for how much they are renting it for, but I would guess e around $3/month, but it’s been on the market for some time, so maybe negotiable. NOTE: i have no financial interest in this.

The rental market in PV is bad right now and the housing market is bad too (though people can afford to hang around to weather the storm)…This particular home, the person is not in financial dire, that’s not the reason for renting.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Thank you everyone! This is why I LOVE Piggington. I rarely write anymore, but I read it every day.

First of all – just to clarify – my girls were joking. With the excellent education they are getting in NY comes the frequent/incessant use of sarcasm. They said it with fake “bitchy” voices and a heavy Valley Girl accents.

Your suggestions are so helpful I will check them out. I especially like the Japanese thing. We lived in Japan as well and my girls went to Japanese preschool (yochien). We like lots of Asians around (I feel racist even writing that) because the work ethic in school is strong and there will absolutely be a youth orchestra nearby of the right caliber.

I do feel a little uncomfortable when a few of you write that there are areas of Torrance to avoid. It is so hard for someone “not in the know” to get led astray.

I also like the PV suggestions. I dont have a problem at all with “rich” people having grown up in RSF and SBeach/Del Mar. I think maybe what you are remembering me say negatively about Coronado folks was that our “friends” kept telling us we were “crazy” to leave and “crazy” not to jump into that real estate market. Lots of suggestions to get ARM’s etc. It was annoying. Now the tables have turned though and I feel sorry for many of those same friends and hope they can climb out of their financial quick-sand. it is really awful for a few of them in particular.

That said – I dont think we can afford to live in a neighborhood of million+ dollar homes anyway. We do not have all the pieces to the puzzle yet – job $$s, sale of this house etc. We are just as happy to go out and rent for a while and figure it all out for ourselves. But with a daughter in 10th grade we want to make a semi-good decision from the get-go.[/quote]

Lost kitty, if you need a place to rent in PV, actually i know there is a house that is being rented.

5 bed 3 bath, and it has an ocean view, been on the market for some time.

We’re not talking about the ocean view definition that some realtors like to say…in which you can see 1 inch of ocean if your in the bathroom, stick your head out the windows, lean over, and turn your head in a contorted way.

The ocean view is a 180degree ocean view of the pacific from the backyard. You do have to deal with the noise of the traffic from Hawthorne, but I believe the house has double pane windows inside.

Here’s the google maps to approximately the nearby street where you would be situated,

Do a google search on Leah Cir, 90275 and click on street view.

The backyard of these homes faces the pacific ocean. I’m not going to give out the exact location (it’s not even on the same street) because this is a public forum. If you’re interested, give me your personal email and I’ll send you the actual address, and possibly the phone number for you to call. I don’t have the exact number for how much they are renting it for, but I would guess e around $3/month, but it’s been on the market for some time, so maybe negotiable. NOTE: i have no financial interest in this.

The rental market in PV is bad right now and the housing market is bad too (though people can afford to hang around to weather the storm)…This particular home, the person is not in financial dire, that’s not the reason for renting.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Thank you everyone! This is why I LOVE Piggington. I rarely write anymore, but I read it every day.

First of all – just to clarify – my girls were joking. With the excellent education they are getting in NY comes the frequent/incessant use of sarcasm. They said it with fake “bitchy” voices and a heavy Valley Girl accents.

Your suggestions are so helpful I will check them out. I especially like the Japanese thing. We lived in Japan as well and my girls went to Japanese preschool (yochien). We like lots of Asians around (I feel racist even writing that) because the work ethic in school is strong and there will absolutely be a youth orchestra nearby of the right caliber.

I do feel a little uncomfortable when a few of you write that there are areas of Torrance to avoid. It is so hard for someone “not in the know” to get led astray.

I also like the PV suggestions. I dont have a problem at all with “rich” people having grown up in RSF and SBeach/Del Mar. I think maybe what you are remembering me say negatively about Coronado folks was that our “friends” kept telling us we were “crazy” to leave and “crazy” not to jump into that real estate market. Lots of suggestions to get ARM’s etc. It was annoying. Now the tables have turned though and I feel sorry for many of those same friends and hope they can climb out of their financial quick-sand. it is really awful for a few of them in particular.

That said – I dont think we can afford to live in a neighborhood of million+ dollar homes anyway. We do not have all the pieces to the puzzle yet – job $$s, sale of this house etc. We are just as happy to go out and rent for a while and figure it all out for ourselves. But with a daughter in 10th grade we want to make a semi-good decision from the get-go.[/quote]

Lost kitty, if you need a place to rent in PV, actually i know there is a house that is being rented.

5 bed 3 bath, and it has an ocean view, been on the market for some time.

We’re not talking about the ocean view definition that some realtors like to say…in which you can see 1 inch of ocean if your in the bathroom, stick your head out the windows, lean over, and turn your head in a contorted way.

The ocean view is a 180degree ocean view of the pacific from the backyard. You do have to deal with the noise of the traffic from Hawthorne, but I believe the house has double pane windows inside.

Here’s the google maps to approximately the nearby street where you would be situated,

Do a google search on Leah Cir, 90275 and click on street view.

The backyard of these homes faces the pacific ocean. I’m not going to give out the exact location (it’s not even on the same street) because this is a public forum. If you’re interested, give me your personal email and I’ll send you the actual address, and possibly the phone number for you to call. I don’t have the exact number for how much they are renting it for, but I would guess e around $3/month, but it’s been on the market for some time, so maybe negotiable. NOTE: i have no financial interest in this.

The rental market in PV is bad right now and the housing market is bad too (though people can afford to hang around to weather the storm)…This particular home, the person is not in financial dire, that’s not the reason for renting.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Thank you everyone! This is why I LOVE Piggington. I rarely write anymore, but I read it every day.

First of all – just to clarify – my girls were joking. With the excellent education they are getting in NY comes the frequent/incessant use of sarcasm. They said it with fake “bitchy” voices and a heavy Valley Girl accents.

Your suggestions are so helpful I will check them out. I especially like the Japanese thing. We lived in Japan as well and my girls went to Japanese preschool (yochien). We like lots of Asians around (I feel racist even writing that) because the work ethic in school is strong and there will absolutely be a youth orchestra nearby of the right caliber.

I do feel a little uncomfortable when a few of you write that there are areas of Torrance to avoid. It is so hard for someone “not in the know” to get led astray.

I also like the PV suggestions. I dont have a problem at all with “rich” people having grown up in RSF and SBeach/Del Mar. I think maybe what you are remembering me say negatively about Coronado folks was that our “friends” kept telling us we were “crazy” to leave and “crazy” not to jump into that real estate market. Lots of suggestions to get ARM’s etc. It was annoying. Now the tables have turned though and I feel sorry for many of those same friends and hope they can climb out of their financial quick-sand. it is really awful for a few of them in particular.

That said – I dont think we can afford to live in a neighborhood of million+ dollar homes anyway. We do not have all the pieces to the puzzle yet – job $$s, sale of this house etc. We are just as happy to go out and rent for a while and figure it all out for ourselves. But with a daughter in 10th grade we want to make a semi-good decision from the get-go.[/quote]

Lost kitty, if you need a place to rent in PV, actually i know there is a house that is being rented.

5 bed 3 bath, and it has an ocean view, been on the market for some time.

We’re not talking about the ocean view definition that some realtors like to say…in which you can see 1 inch of ocean if your in the bathroom, stick your head out the windows, lean over, and turn your head in a contorted way.

The ocean view is a 180degree ocean view of the pacific from the backyard. You do have to deal with the noise of the traffic from Hawthorne, but I believe the house has double pane windows inside.

Here’s the google maps to approximately the nearby street where you would be situated,

Do a google search on Leah Cir, 90275 and click on street view.

The backyard of these homes faces the pacific ocean. I’m not going to give out the exact location (it’s not even on the same street) because this is a public forum. If you’re interested, give me your personal email and I’ll send you the actual address, and possibly the phone number for you to call. I don’t have the exact number for how much they are renting it for, but I would guess e around $3/month, but it’s been on the market for some time, so maybe negotiable. NOTE: i have no financial interest in this.

The rental market in PV is bad right now and the housing market is bad too (though people can afford to hang around to weather the storm)…This particular home, the person is not in financial dire, that’s not the reason for renting.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Really, I’m not a PV salesman.

PV is “walkable” in the sense, you’ll find enough trails/etc and the general ambience will be nice enough to walk around. PVE (Palos Verdes Estates) has the unusual characteristics that they don’t have sidewalks. The person’s lawn runs all the way to the curb… Plus PVE has a lot of restrictions on what people can do to their homes (not HOA rules, city rules)…Hence my previous statement about “snooty”… RPV doesn’t have as nearly amount of rules, BUT you won’t find bubba next you you tearing down his honda civic with the bling bling wheels next door, if you know what I mean. (Folks use to joke that RPV is the slums of PV).
You generally won’t be able to walk to a supermarket or to the mall etc, because the way the city is laid out..

Can’t comment on torrance, but some parts of it are as nice a PV. Torrance has the same issues. Don’t think you can easily walk to malls, or etc (unless you live an a neighborhood you probably don’t want to).

Not sure about gardenia…

In L.A., you’re gonna have to get use to driving to get everywhere.

Lastly,

Here:

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/california/house/Palos-Verdes/Palos-Verdes.html

Again, do your own due diligence. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, you’re on your own to verify everything. If you do have an specific address, and what to share it with me (when you get to that point), you can ping me at my address for my biased opinion.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Really, I’m not a PV salesman.

PV is “walkable” in the sense, you’ll find enough trails/etc and the general ambience will be nice enough to walk around. PVE (Palos Verdes Estates) has the unusual characteristics that they don’t have sidewalks. The person’s lawn runs all the way to the curb… Plus PVE has a lot of restrictions on what people can do to their homes (not HOA rules, city rules)…Hence my previous statement about “snooty”… RPV doesn’t have as nearly amount of rules, BUT you won’t find bubba next you you tearing down his honda civic with the bling bling wheels next door, if you know what I mean. (Folks use to joke that RPV is the slums of PV).
You generally won’t be able to walk to a supermarket or to the mall etc, because the way the city is laid out..

Can’t comment on torrance, but some parts of it are as nice a PV. Torrance has the same issues. Don’t think you can easily walk to malls, or etc (unless you live an a neighborhood you probably don’t want to).

Not sure about gardenia…

In L.A., you’re gonna have to get use to driving to get everywhere.

Lastly,

Here:

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/california/house/Palos-Verdes/Palos-Verdes.html

Again, do your own due diligence. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, you’re on your own to verify everything. If you do have an specific address, and what to share it with me (when you get to that point), you can ping me at my address for my biased opinion.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Really, I’m not a PV salesman.

PV is “walkable” in the sense, you’ll find enough trails/etc and the general ambience will be nice enough to walk around. PVE (Palos Verdes Estates) has the unusual characteristics that they don’t have sidewalks. The person’s lawn runs all the way to the curb… Plus PVE has a lot of restrictions on what people can do to their homes (not HOA rules, city rules)…Hence my previous statement about “snooty”… RPV doesn’t have as nearly amount of rules, BUT you won’t find bubba next you you tearing down his honda civic with the bling bling wheels next door, if you know what I mean. (Folks use to joke that RPV is the slums of PV).
You generally won’t be able to walk to a supermarket or to the mall etc, because the way the city is laid out..

Can’t comment on torrance, but some parts of it are as nice a PV. Torrance has the same issues. Don’t think you can easily walk to malls, or etc (unless you live an a neighborhood you probably don’t want to).

Not sure about gardenia…

In L.A., you’re gonna have to get use to driving to get everywhere.

Lastly,

Here:

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/california/house/Palos-Verdes/Palos-Verdes.html

Again, do your own due diligence. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, you’re on your own to verify everything. If you do have an specific address, and what to share it with me (when you get to that point), you can ping me at my address for my biased opinion.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Really, I’m not a PV salesman.

PV is “walkable” in the sense, you’ll find enough trails/etc and the general ambience will be nice enough to walk around. PVE (Palos Verdes Estates) has the unusual characteristics that they don’t have sidewalks. The person’s lawn runs all the way to the curb… Plus PVE has a lot of restrictions on what people can do to their homes (not HOA rules, city rules)…Hence my previous statement about “snooty”… RPV doesn’t have as nearly amount of rules, BUT you won’t find bubba next you you tearing down his honda civic with the bling bling wheels next door, if you know what I mean. (Folks use to joke that RPV is the slums of PV).
You generally won’t be able to walk to a supermarket or to the mall etc, because the way the city is laid out..

Can’t comment on torrance, but some parts of it are as nice a PV. Torrance has the same issues. Don’t think you can easily walk to malls, or etc (unless you live an a neighborhood you probably don’t want to).

Not sure about gardenia…

In L.A., you’re gonna have to get use to driving to get everywhere.

Lastly,

Here:

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/california/house/Palos-Verdes/Palos-Verdes.html

Again, do your own due diligence. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, you’re on your own to verify everything. If you do have an specific address, and what to share it with me (when you get to that point), you can ping me at my address for my biased opinion.

[Coronita]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Really, I’m not a PV salesman.

PV is “walkable” in the sense, you’ll find enough trails/etc and the general ambience will be nice enough to walk around. PVE (Palos Verdes Estates) has the unusual characteristics that they don’t have sidewalks. The person’s lawn runs all the way to the curb… Plus PVE has a lot of restrictions on what people can do to their homes (not HOA rules, city rules)…Hence my previous statement about “snooty”… RPV doesn’t have as nearly amount of rules, BUT you won’t find bubba next you you tearing down his honda civic with the bling bling wheels next door, if you know what I mean. (Folks use to joke that RPV is the slums of PV).
You generally won’t be able to walk to a supermarket or to the mall etc, because the way the city is laid out..

Can’t comment on torrance, but some parts of it are as nice a PV. Torrance has the same issues. Don’t think you can easily walk to malls, or etc (unless you live an a neighborhood you probably don’t want to).

Not sure about gardenia…

In L.A., you’re gonna have to get use to driving to get everywhere.

Lastly,

Here:

http://www.apartmenthunterz.com/california/house/Palos-Verdes/Palos-Verdes.html

Again, do your own due diligence. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, you’re on your own to verify everything. If you do have an specific address, and what to share it with me (when you get to that point), you can ping me at my address for my biased opinion.

[(former)FormerSanDiegan]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Try http://www.westsiderentals.com

By walkability do you mean ability to walk to local shops, restaurants, etc or access to hiking/jogging trails ?

The website http://www.walkscore.com is geared more towards the former and is higher in more urban areas.

[(former)FormerSanDiegan]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Try http://www.westsiderentals.com

By walkability do you mean ability to walk to local shops, restaurants, etc or access to hiking/jogging trails ?

The website http://www.walkscore.com is geared more towards the former and is higher in more urban areas.

[(former)FormerSanDiegan]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Try http://www.westsiderentals.com

By walkability do you mean ability to walk to local shops, restaurants, etc or access to hiking/jogging trails ?

The website http://www.walkscore.com is geared more towards the former and is higher in more urban areas.

[(former)FormerSanDiegan]

[quote=lostkitty]Two more questions:
1. Are there any good websites to find rentals? Realtor.com has very little.

2. What about walkability of these towns? Any better than others? We like running/walking. [/quote]

Try http://www.westsiderentals.com

By walkability do you mean ability to walk to local shops, restaurants, etc or access to hiking/jogging trails ?

The website http://www.walkscore.com is geared more towards the former and is higher in more urban areas.

[Author]

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