Question for all CA dudes

**REIGNSUPREME814** · 09-27-2009, 07:11 AM

So for as long as I can remeber I've wanted to live in CA and the time has now come since I recently graduated college and now have the chance to go. I've visited there multiple times from San Fran to Laguna and I like most places I've been. My question to you guys is how do you afford it? All I ever hear is how expensive it is to live there so do you guys have high paying jobs or are there more affordable places to live without ending up in the ghetto? Also, I kinda like the idea of living away from the big cities somewhat to avoid all the traffic and everything, any info you guys could gives would help. And I hear Santa Cruz area is nice and it's further north away from LA which would be nice I would think. And is it a lot cheaper to live further inland and then just travel to the shore? Thanks in advance, hope you guys can help me out.

**Colin Tracy** · 09-27-2009, 07:16 AM

Dont call it CA...

just kidding. good luck with it man. ive thought of it too

**Logan Sabo** · 09-27-2009, 07:45 AM

I know a buddy looking to move out there this winter.. he skims, and a cool dude. roomie makes things cheaper

**shin-n** · 09-27-2009, 10:04 AM

yep like logan said, getting a roomate makes rent affordable. Youre going to be paying more for rent, car insurance, and sales tax (over 10% in some areas). SC is a lot more further north than LA than you think, and locals dont seem so friendly from the forums.

**veeyecee** · 09-27-2009, 10:10 AM

California is more expensive then other states, but jobs out here also make more then most other places. And it doesn't always get cheaper to live if its farther from the beach it really just depends but definitely living on or close to the beach will run you a good couple mill

**Skim4Lfe1988** · 09-27-2009, 10:32 AM

live with your parents 20 min from malibu. Im only 21 so.. that may not work out for you. Get a 3 bedroom appt and look for 3 roommates. Rent goes down real quick once you are splitting it 3 ways. Or find a couple that wants to move in with you, then it gets split even more. Living by yourself unless your making bank doesnt work out here. most people have more than 2 roommates. if your going for Laguna area, try to find an appt in irvine area, Malibu you can get into Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo. Idk about san fran. rent in socal is no less than 800 a month. usually higher

**REIGNSUPREME814** · 09-27-2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Logan Sabo

I know a buddy looking to move out there this winter.. he skims, and a cool dude. roomie makes things cheaper

i guess i should specify itd be me and my girlfriend so we wouldnt be looking for another roomate...maybe ill just have to stick it out over here on the east coast haha thanks for the help though guys

**zeus** · 09-27-2009, 10:54 AM

if your both working im sure it can be done

**MightyMiguel** · 09-27-2009, 11:18 AM

you can find a one bedroom anywhere from san clemente to santa ana from anywhere around 1000-1500. its managable with 2 people splitting if both are working. i live in irvine, which is 15 minutes from laguna and i pay 600 for my own room in a friends house. thats not a special deal for being his friend either lol. here are some good areas to check that arent too ghetto: tustin, costa mesa, irvine, some parts of santa ana, san clemente, lake forest, mission viejo.

**paddymack** · 09-27-2009, 11:32 AM

You will never avoid traffic, or high rent rates...good luck

**scskimmin** · 09-27-2009, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by shin-n

yep like logan said, getting a roomate makes rent affordable. Youre going to be paying more for rent, car insurance, and sales tax (over 10% in some areas). SC is a lot more further north than LA than you think, and locals dont seem so friendly from the forums.

lolz

**extr3m3** · 09-27-2009, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by REIGNSUPREME814

i guess i should specify itd be me and my girlfriend so we wouldnt be looking for another roomate...maybe ill just have to stick it out over here on the east coast haha thanks for the help though guys

i used to live in the in fremont, ca which is like 30-45 mins away from santa cruz and now i live here in los angeles. Personally im enjoying l.a. cuz of so many things to do and you can never beat the weather here its like summer all year round.

**Walruz996** · 09-27-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Skim4Lfe1988

live with your parents 20 min from malibu. Im only 21 so.. that may not work out for you. Get a 3 bedroom appt and look for 3 roommates. Rent goes down real quick once you are splitting it 3 ways. Or find a couple that wants to move in with you, then it gets split even more. Living by yourself unless your making bank doesnt work out here. most people have more than 2 roommates. if your going for Laguna area, try to find an appt in irvine area, Malibu you can get into Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo. Idk about san fran. rent in socal is no less than 800 a month. usually higher

What does your signature mean?

**mjs** · 09-27-2009, 12:54 PM

i have rich parents. thats how i afford it.

**shin-n** · 09-27-2009, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by MightyMiguel

i live in irvine, which is 15 minutes from laguna.

try around 30min

15min wont even get you to balboa

**Skim4Lfe1988** · 09-27-2009, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Walruz996

What does your signature mean?

its just what boards I have and when I bought them and the college I go to.

**Walruz996** · 09-27-2009, 02:26 PM

Ah, ok.

**mjs** · 09-27-2009, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by shin-n

try around 30min

15min wont even get you to balboa

uhhh not if he lives over by laguna canyon rd.

**shin-n** · 09-27-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by mjs

uhhh not if he lives over by laguna canyon rd.

pretty much where i lived. laguna canyon road is pretty long and will get congested when it merges to one lane. then you have to drive through downtown which is always crowded all the way to solag. you can maaybe get there in 20min if youre going for dawn patrol with no traffic. it would be quicker during the day to drive all the way to crown valley pkwy and take it all the way to the 1.

**paddymack** · 09-27-2009, 03:26 PM

look for places in Dana point. That is where i live

**Clayton** · 09-27-2009, 03:55 PM

I live in Sacramento...dont come here

**paddymack** · 09-27-2009, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Clayton

I live in Sacramento...dont come here

nobody wants to.

**Skim4Lfe1988** · 09-27-2009, 04:56 PM

its actually nice if you pull a milf that just got divorced from her CEO ex husband and then you move in with her in Laguna Hills and gives you her extra lambo

**Sterman808** · 09-28-2009, 02:05 AM

Thats what i am planning on doing. haha

**RUM_RUNNER** · 09-28-2009, 04:59 AM

Im doing that as well

**REIGNSUPREME814** · 09-28-2009, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Skim4Lfe1988

its actually nice if you pull a milf that just got divorced from her CEO ex husband and then you move in with her in Laguna Hills and gives you her extra lambo

hahaha time to go cougar hunting

**sealy** · 09-28-2009, 09:13 AM

depends on location...location depends on everything...how much you make and what you pay for rent...

what was your prior experience for jobs?..research jobs before coming...research craigslist for places, and look at google maps

in LA:
rent from 400-500 is going to be around monterey park, el serreno, alhambra area...some parts are ghetto and some are alright but they work..and you live inland so you will battle with traffic..its LA..just need to know shortcuts...

500-600 pasadena, altadena, eagle rock...nice area, different way of getting to beaches also...

600-700 sherman oaks, burbank, van nuys, long beach(can bike to get around)...closer

and if you want beach property....what i mean is no canyon drive, on beach, maybe not on sand but its beach you will sepnd 800-1400...work two/three jobs...haha shit is expensive...

these are rooms you would rent and share , not apt or condos or studios to self...if desperate you can split a room...rent is A LOT cheaper...

ventura is a good area also...

LAGUNA/OC(can bike to get around):
plan on spending lots of money, unless you got rich parents that will pay for it...or you work a lot of jobs..

Bay Area:
SF: is usually expensive, studios 1 room go for 900+, bike to get around is a +

SC: good area, got pretty good rent around 500-800, can bike to get around +

best bet is fremont or san jose to save money, but got to commute to spots like SF or SC or BB(HELLAAAA FAR)...emriville is good too...those are inland...

keep in mind some of these do NOT include utilities...and gas and food and insurance and what not...

**Taylor Cadiz** · 09-28-2009, 10:53 AM

LAGUNA/OC
plan on spending lots of money, unless you got rich parents that will pay for it

YEP...

**REIGNSUPREME814** · 09-28-2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by sealy

depends on location...location depends on everything...how much you make and what you pay for rent...

what was your prior experience for jobs?..research jobs before coming...research craigslist for places, and look at google maps

in LA:
rent from 400-500 is going to be around monterey park, el serreno, alhambra area...some parts are ghetto and some are alright but they work..and you live inland so you will battle with traffic..its LA..just need to know shortcuts...

500-600 pasadena, altadena, eagle rock...nice area, different way of getting to beaches also...

600-700 sherman oaks, burbank, van nuys, long beach(can bike to get around)...closer

and if you want beach property....what i mean is no canyon drive, on beach, maybe not on sand but its beach you will sepnd 800-1400...work two/three jobs...haha shit is expensive...

these are rooms you would rent and share , not apt or condos or studios to self...if desperate you can split a room...rent is A LOT cheaper...

ventura is a good area also...

LAGUNA/OC(can bike to get around):
plan on spending lots of money, unless you got rich parents that will pay for it...or you work a lot of jobs..

Bay Area:
SF: is usually expensive, studios 1 room go for 900+, bike to get around is a +

SC: good area, got pretty good rent around 500-800, can bike to get around +

best bet is fremont or san jose to save money, but got to commute to spots like SF or SC or BB(HELLAAAA FAR)...emriville is good too...those are inland...

keep in mind some of these do NOT include utilities...and gas and food and insurance and what not...

thanks for all the help dude that gives me a lot of info, my plan is to check out lots of places for the next few months and try to move sometime during the summer

**bunkerking692** · 09-28-2009, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by shin-n

yep like logan said, getting a roomate makes rent affordable. Youre going to be paying more for rent, car insurance, and sales tax (over 10% in some areas). SC is a lot more further north than LA than you think, and locals dont seem so friendly from the forums.

sc locals are really nice, not sure you should judge so quickly

**NStraus** · 09-28-2009, 10:00 PM

santa cruzians are nice people. If you show respect, they show it right back.

**shin-n** · 09-28-2009, 10:04 PM

yes thats why i stated my impression from somb.

**Deebo** · 09-28-2009, 10:17 PM

Sonoma County is a nice place in California if you want good uncrowded waves and also at the same time want to avoid some of the traffic and general overpopulation of the Socal area. It's not completely traffic free up here and not a whole ton cheaper, but it is better and overall alot more low key generally speaking than Socal IMO. If you live in say Sebastopol, which is a nice chill place, you're like 20-30 mins from good waves in Bodega Bay, 1 hour from SF for the night life and all that, and 3.5 hours from Tahoe, so it's a good middle grounds for all kinda of fun stuff. Skim scene is growing, but still pretty small compared to other places and everyone is super friendly here. (end of advertisement)

**Will925** · 09-28-2009, 11:29 PM

i live in thousand oaks and i feel like my rent is dirt cheap im paying 485 a month plus utilities. im probably 20 minutes from real fun skim in malibu like westward and esco. leo is too far either and if i feel adventurous its a hour drive down to laguna. not too bad really. the worst cost out here is gas for sure so i highly recommend finding people to skim with that live near you so you can take turns driving to the beach. it cuts costs significantly

**Skim4Lfe1988** · 09-29-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Will925

i live in thousand oaks and i feel like my rent is dirt cheap im paying 485 a month plus utilities. im probably 20 minutes from real fun skim in malibu like westward and esco. leo is too far either and if i feel adventurous its a hour drive down to laguna. not too bad really. the worst cost out here is gas for sure so i highly recommend finding people to skim with that live near you so you can take turns driving to the beach. it cuts costs significantly

yo will I live in TO too. we should hit up westies