oh boy, time to move!

[nostatic]

One upside to divorce is that it gives more flexibility when it comes to public schools. We weren't thrilled with the LAUSD middle school last year, and the one in Santa Monica gets rave reviews from friends so I'm pulling up stakes and moving at the end of this month.

The downside is that apartments are still stupid expensive in Santa Monica, and looking around gets depressing. You'd be amazed at the shthole $2500 gets. I finally found a place that is on a bit of a busy street but it is an upstairs front unit with lots of light and I think on a clear day you can see the ocean (was overcast today). About 9 blocks from the beach, 8 blocks from middle school, a couple hundred yards to grocery store and other stuff.

Now the fun part - cleaning and packing (though it isn't available until 9/1). And getting paperwork in order to register the boy. They are sticklers for real utility bills etc as people often try to fake residency to get their kids into the school.

[dd74]

Are you north or South of the 10 fwy?

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by dd74

Are you north or South of the 10 fwy?

North, just below Montana on Lincoln.

[dd74]

Yes, that's a nice area. Most of SM is, really.

Get your son into an honors program and a tutor for whatever he's lacking. Public schools are the new private schools now. The economy has seen to that.

In fact, there are a few private elementary schools who are suggesting parents look into honors programs at their local middle schools instead of continuing with privatized education. You'd be surprised: LAUSD does have some very competitive honors programs. I'm certain SMSD have similar programs.

[Hugh R]

That is nice, my Mom lived in an apartment on Lincoln north of the 10 right across from that church and small park. Good luck, if you need to borrow a pickup truck let me know.

[nostatic]

Calvin was in the IHP (individualized honors program) at his LAUSD middle school. It was rather unimpressive (mostly due to class size), but it really varies from school to school. Lincoln MS has a great reputation. SanMoHi is less stellar but at least viable as a high school. Uni HS is not an option.

The good private schools in the area are wicked expensive and have pretty serious drug problems.

[Rick Lee]

Can't wait to come visit! I love SM.

[trekkor]

WOW! $2500?!?!

You don't even want to know what I pay...

( let's just say it's much less than HALF of that )


KT

[Tobra]

you just have to rub it in doncha Trek, now tell him how far from your house you have to drive to see smog

Todd, that is so cool your kid is named after a comic strip

[daepp]

Send him to the best private school you can afford. There are great, affordable pvt schools all over LA - not so sure about SM though. You will not be sorry. When the parents have to write that monthly check, the are very particular about the teachers, the curriculum, their student's performance etc.

[trekkor]

Smog?


Huh?


KT

[varmint]

have worked in santa monica off and on for 15 years.



the cool beach climate stops at about 20th street.

the homeless situation really is that bad.

decent farmers market.

the girls at samo high dress like absolute whores.

great place if you're 20-30 and want to enjoy the sort of bohemian surf culture. can't imagine wanting to raise kids around there though.

[juanbenae]

calvin's a good kid too. met him a couple times at the track and he & mcqueen got tight. good on you todd.

t

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by trekkor

WOW! $2500?!?!

You don't even want to know what I pay...

( let's just say it's much less than HALF of that )


KT

LOL my mortgage payment is way less than half of that

Of course nearly 20 years ago that was enough to make me lose sleep wondering if I would be able to pay it.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by trekkor

WOW! $2500?!?!

You don't even want to know what I pay...

( let's just say it's much less than HALF of that )


KT

$2500 around here is a mortgage on a REALLY nice suburban single home.

[deanp]

Sorry for the hijack Todd, but here goes -

I was going to start my own thread, but the voices I would have hoped to hear from are here with the exception of SloDave. There is a possibility of my company relocating me to the main office in Santa Fe Springs. Need to work out details which they don't want to do until we go out and look around and say we're open to the idea, so my wife and I are coming out Sept 10th-13th to look around a bit. I've had business trips to SoCal, wife has never been. I've been told to look at, in no particular order - Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Anaheim, Irvine, Cypress, Cerritos and Fullerton. Would love to get input from the likes of guys that aren't always pissing on how terrible SoCal is and how they can't wait to leave.

We'd ideally like to buy, but that is contingent on finding a place (not extravagant, sub 300K would be great), selling our house here, etc, etc, etc. Two dogs, no kids. Also open to renting townhouse, condo, house.

Any pointers on how to best spend 2 1/2 days looking around?

Thanks.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

$2500 around here is a mortgage on a REALLY nice suburban single home.

yeah...in Philly

[jyl]

I haven't lived in LA for a long time but just to get this started -

Huntington Beach to Santa Fe Springs looks like a haul through a pretty congested area.

Check out Whittier, I recall there were nice quiet small-town feeling spots. Also where it backs up to the foothills, also I see a country club there. In general, an L.A. neighborhood that is up in some hills is worth at least asking about.

My old stomping grounds, Pasadena-Altadena-Glendale, would be a short shot on the 210 then down the 605. Not real close but it is a nice area.

Unless things have fallen more than I think, a house that is nice and safe for sub $300K seems like a stretch. Townhouse, maybe.

[deanp]

Thanks John. I'll add your suggestions to the list - wasn't sure how far of a drive the Glendale area would be to Santa Fe Springs.

It's tough to say - looks like there's condo's, townhouses and smaller (1200sqft) homes in the $250-$300K area, but that's looking online and not having any idea what the street area is like until you get there and look.

I know some others in the office live in HB and the ride is about 30 min from what I am told. My commute right now is 35 miles and 50-60min. I'd like to keep the drive to 45min or less and understand out there that may be 20 miles or less.

I'd prefer to rent to start out and get a lay of the land but the dogs would be coming with, no question, and one is a 140lb 1yr old female St Bernard. The other is our 11yr old Husky that we've had since she was 8 weeks old. Both are spayed, crate trained and well socialized, but still two big dogs...

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by nostatic

yeah...in Philly

No, in someplace like huntingdon valley. We have nature here too you know.



For that kind of scratch you can live like a prince here.