Find a Place to Live in LA

Moving anywhere can be intimidating, but moving to a sprawling metropolis like LA is extra hard. Luckily, LA is a city of transplants, and with people coming and going all the time, there is plenty of housing for everyone. While there are many different neighborhoods, the housing is scarce and expensive. So all you have to do is find a place and sign the lease!

Steps

Finding a Place Remotely

1. Learn the layout. LA is divided into four main quadrants - East Side, South Side, West Side and the Valley. Each quadrant holds many different neighborhoods and each has its own distinct feel. Figure out which quadrant you want to live in, then research neighborhoods in that area.
   • The Valley has a more residential, suburban feel and is at least 10 degrees hotter than the rest of LA. It includes neighborhoods like Reseda, Studio City, Burbank and Woodland Hills.
   • The East Side is more affordable and diverse and includes neighborhoods like Downtown, Echo Park, Los Feliz and Atwater Village.
   • The West Side is expensive and much closer to the ocean. It includes neighborhoods like West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Santa Monica.
   • The South Side is the most dangerous and the least convenient. It includes neighborhoods like Inglewood, Long Beach, El Segundo and South LA.
2. Learn the neighborhoods. The first step to finding a place in LA is narrowing down the neighborhoods you’re considering. As LA traffic is notably terrible, it’s a good idea to live close to work or other places you’ll be frequenting regularly.
   • Culver City averages $1,950 for a one bedroom and is great for singles.
   • Atwater Village averages $1,399 for a one bedroom, $2,400 for a two bedroom and is great for people with kids.
   • Koreatown averages $1,450 for a one bedroom and is great if you like a city feel.
   • Santa Monica averages $2,800 for a one bedroom and is great if you want to live near a beach and are comfortable having a roommate.
   • Downtown averages $2,650 for a one bedroom and is great if you hate driving.
   • Echo Park averages $1,160 for a one bedroom and is great if you like being outside.
   • Silver Lake averages $1,880 for a one bedroom and is great if you consider yourself a hipster.
3. Look online. Even if you don’t currently live in LA, you can check out available listings through one of the many sites that offer them. Pay $60.00 to sign up for West Side Rentals to receive instant e-mails regarding availabilities. Utilize sites like Craigslist and Rent.com every day.
   • Padmapper.com allows you to search listings by zip code and city.
   • Zillow.com lets you see prices by neighborhood, but is a better resource for those looking to buy property.
4. Consider getting a roommate. There are many benefits to having a roommate: you split the costs of living, you have someone to hang out with and with two people looking, you double your chances of finding a great place to live.
   • If you’re choosing to live with a roommate, make sure it’s someone you can get along with and who has a similar lifestyle to you.
   • If you’re looking remotely, see if you have any friends in LA who are looking for a roommate. If not, chances are that someone you know who lives there knows someone who is looking. Ask around, post on social media, do whatever it takes to get the word out.
5. See the place in person. Once you’ve narrowed your search down significantly, it’s time to see the places in person. Ideally, you would do this by planning a trip to see them yourself, but sometimes that’s not feasible. If this is the case for you, send a friend who already lives in LA to scope out the places on your behalf.
   • Have your scout take notes and photos and send them to you for you to peruse. Have your scout give you insights, but know that the decision is still ultimately your own.
   • If you don’t know anyone in LA, you will have to take a trip yourself. Try to pack as many neighborhoods and apartment tours into your trip as possible, in order to make the most informed decision.
6. Sign the lease. Once you have selected a new place to live, it’s time to make it official. If you can, sign the lease in person while visiting the city. If you can’t, have your future landlord or realty company e-mail you a copy of the lease. Sign it electronically and send it back.
   • Read everything before signing. If you’re not sure what you’re reading, give it to a lawyer or friend to look over as well.
   • Keep copies of everything. Print out and save a copy of your lease and any other important documents. Also save e-mails between you and the landlord, in case you should need to reference them later.

Finding a Place When You’re Local

1. Scope out neighborhoods in person. If you know what neighborhood you’re interested in living in, drive, walk or bike around the area. Look for “For Rent” signs, and if possible, inquire within.
   • Make a list of all the things you “want” to have in your new place and all the things you “need” to have in your new place. Make sure any place you see has all the things you need before committing.
   • Trust your gut. If a place feels too good to be true, it probably is.
   • If no one is at home, try leaving a business card with your information. They may not call you back, but it’s worth a try.
2. Read the newspaper. Before the Internet, all home and apartment vacancies were listed in the classified section of the newspaper. Purchase a local paper, and while you’re at it, drop in on some local coffee shops and businesses. Sometimes people will hang listings on bulletin boards or by the front desk.
   • Check social media. Oftentimes, it’s easier to rent by reference, rather than listing an apartment online. Even if you don’t know someone well, chances are a mutual friend will be able to put in a good word for you.
   • Try looking on Reddit. The front page of the Internet often has apartment listings for the greater Los Angeles area.
3. Hire a realtor. Renters do not have to pay realtors; the person renting the property pays that money. With that said, realtors have a wealth of knowledge and their expertise can come in handy when looking for a new home.
   • Even if you choose not to hire a realtor, you can call a realtor to verify an owner’s name, so you don’t end up getting bamboozled.
   • Rental agents are often the first to know of a new property, so they are excellent resources for getting started.
4. Attend open houses. Look for open houses online and attend any that seem interesting. LA is a very competitive market, so open houses are usually crowded and aggressive. Renters frequently make offers at open houses, so attend each open house armed with the following materials:
   • A renter resume, that includes credit score, your household income and occupation, any pet information and your rental insurance policy info.
   • A completed rental application.
   • A copy of your credit report.
   • A copy of your driver’s license or state ID.
   • Proof of income.
   • A checkbook. Make sure you have enough money in the bank to cover the cost of first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit.

Making Your Selection

1. Determine your budget. Los Angeles is an expensive city and moving is not cheap. Determine your monthly rental budget, as well as your budget for utilities. Most landlords require first and last month’s rent, as well as a small deposit. Once you know how much you can afford to spend, your search will become a lot more focused.
   • Budget $200 for utilities in LA.
   • Factor in a $1000 buffer – this amount will cover unexpected expenses like buying a fridge (which is sometimes necessary), as well as covering renter’s insurance.
2. Look into short-term housing options. If you’re having trouble finding a place, don’t panic. Look into subletting a place short-term, staying in a family or friend’s spare room, renting an apartment month-to-month or using Airbnb or a hotel to secure a room.
   • If you can, check Craigslist multiple times a day. New listings pop up every minute and you don’t want to miss one.
   • Word of mouth is your best form of advertising. If your friends and family know you’re looking to rent, they can connect you to other people who might have openings. Tell everyone you know what you’re looking for – you never know who might be able to help you out.
3. Research potential neighborhoods online. Learn everything you can about the neighborhoods you’re looking at. Google or Yelp potential landlords and realty companies to make sure they’re legit. The better informed you are during your search, the better chance you’ll have of successfully securing a new home that you’ll love.
   • Use Google Street View to check out streets and neighborhoods from the comfort of your own home.
   • Use GoogleMaps to estimate commute times.
   • Use CrimeMapping to check the safety of the neighborhoods you’re looking into.
4. Get comfortable with compromise. With an area as competitive as LA, it’s almost impossible to find everything you’re looking for in an apartment, especially if you’re on a budget. Be realistic about what you absolutely need and be willing to compromise on everything else.
   • Ask your LA friends to weigh in on your options. They’ll be able to give you good feedback on whether or not your prospective place is a good buy or a waste of money.
   • Be flexible about things like space and size, but be rigid about your rights as a renter. If you feel that you are being taken advantage of, get out while you still can.

Tips

• If you have a flexible timeline, be patient. There is a lot of housing available in LA, you just need to wait for the right home to come along.
• If you have an aggressive timeline, then you also need to be aggressive in your search. If you see something you like, jump on it.

Warnings

• If you’re looking on the Westside, inquire about mold, as this is a pervasive problem.
• Whenever possible, don’t go apartment hunting alone. You never know which Craigslist ads are legit and which landlords are abusing their power to take advantage of people who are new to the city.

Related Articles

• Rent an Apartment in Los Angeles
• Meet Your Commuting Needs in Los Angeles

Sources and Citations

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