We still don’t have a place to live in California, which sometimes seems a little disconcerting given that we are less than a month away from moving to Los Angeles. We continue to research buildings we’d like to live in, all of them in downtown LA. Our list has narrowed considerably since our initial visit out west in January, down to a dozen or so properties. One more quick trip is planned to visit some new spaces and check back in with some spots we saw the first time around.
Like any housing search, no one property has everything that we are looking for. But as we get closer, there are a few things high on our list of ‘must haves’:
- One bedroom: Well this hasn’t been decided as of yet but it is something we really want. Many of the new developments in downtown are ‘loft’ spaces and some of them have a bedroom, some do not. Considering the experience at our first building we really think it in important to have a separate sleeping area so one person isn’t bothering the other late at night.
- In-unit washer/dryer: When you have to schlep your t-shirts and pants into the elevator and down to the laundry room, well let’s just say it gets old after a while. And who ever has enough quarters? Having laundry in our condo has been great the last few years and it is something we really want to have in our new place.
- Parking: Luckily most properties we have come across include parking, either in the rent or as an option. Parking location seems to be split 50/50 at this point between gated outdoor parking and ’subterranean’, a.k.a. indoor.
Most of the places we have our eye on our newer, developed within the last 2-5 years, and include upgraded appliances and materials. Some buildings have character as well, including one that was the former federal reserve and another which served as a subway station back in the day. Having some history is great but it isn’t going to be a deal breaker for us.
So what is going to make or break a place in our eyes? Cost. Right now the places we are looking at fall within the $1,900-$2,400 a month price range. What’s that? You can’t believe it? Neither can we. It seems as though housing is the one thing that is a great deal more expensive than in Chicago. Sure auto insurance is too and perhaps gas or entertainment is (I have no idea). I am guessing the first thing you thought to yourself when you saw the price is “Why don’t you buy a place and put that money towards a mortgage and owning something?”. Hey, we are right there with you except for the fact that condos downtown range from $450,000 – $1,000,000 and a mortgage for something in that range would be a lot more than our rent payment. So we will do what we have to do, hopefully put a little money away over the years and see what happens.
