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What is apartment hunting in Los Angeles really like?

I don't live in LA, I live in PA, so I've only bee able to search online. So far, the closest thing to reasonable I've found is an apartment company called the Swel Group who run a bunch of places in Koreatown; the majority of their buildings have Efficiency apartments for $695. But, I just recently have heard mixed reviews about the quality of the neighborhood. I'm still keeping it in mind, but now, there's a new place that I'm eyeing; it's around the Miracle Mile: http://www.hubbuzz.com./LosAngeles/ MiracleMile/CochranApartments/PropertyOverview.aspx I don't want to budget myself much higher than that. It wouldn't make sense with my income. I probably wouldn't mind a roommate, but how safe is a site like Craigslist anyway? I don't want to fly out 3,000 miles to meet a sociopathic booger. Any safe tips on finding roommates? Sorry, the Miracle Mile apartment is here: http://www.hubbuzz.com./LosAngeles/MiracleMile/CochranApartments/PropertyOverview.aspx Also, is a site like westsiderentals.com worth paying a fee to use? $60 for two months. Is it more likely that I'll find what I'm looking for using a service like that, though? Either way, I'm aiming to move somewhere within a 10 mile radius of West Hollywood.

Public Comments

1. I have high cholesterol
2. I imagine using a site like westsiderentals is actually worth it. What's $60? I'm sure you get plenty of access there, along with much information. Trying to find a roommate online is certainly hit-and-miss. Risky, too. As a general rule, any place in L.A. with a rent of less than say, $900.00/month, one bedroom, will likely be located in an area which would garner "mixed reviews."
3. expensive...good luck on your search...remember, if the rent is very cheap, then there is a good reason why...
4. I've used westside rentals before, and it's not too bad. craigslist is a crap shoot just because you're dealing with a very diverse city. might as well move to echo park than korea town. it's a little nicer
5. koreatown is crap. cheap, but bad neighborhood miracle mile is nice. you can post up looking for roommates signs. like around.. craigslist, myspace, ... idrk..
6. My job gave me 1.5 weeks to relocate to the So cal area. I found a place on Craigslist that was a good price, had gated covered parking and was only 6 blocks to the beach. Since I didn't have much time to plan anything I wired almost $2000 for 1st months rent and deposit so I could move in as soon as I got into town. Do NOT make any arrangements with an apartment complex or a roommate without physically seeing the place first. I had a friend that was also transferred out here and got a roommate in advance and found out quickly the person was a nutter. I ended up moving out of that place within 2 weeks of moving in. The neighborhood was dangerous, the covered parking was only for long-term residents and quite a few of my neighbors seemed mentally unbalanced. Within that 1.5 weeks my bank statement was also stolen from my mailbox and somehow the person managed to empty out my checking account of several thousand dollars. I live in a much better neighborhood now (2 blocks from the beach), my bank gave me my money back and I am very happy to be in Southern California. It was a very good lesson I learned.