Looking for an apartment...

cordvision

cordvision

Well-known member
I will probably move to LA to study at the Santa Monica College. As I was only once on vacation in LA, I have more or less no idea what the best way is to find a cheap apartment. Where would you start? What will a really cheap apartment near Santa Monica cost aproximately?

Thank you
 
cordvision said:
What will a really cheap apartment near Santa Monica cost aproximately?
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Hmmm, $1800 per month for a room the size of a typical closet?

tommyinla said:
There's no such thing.
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Ha! He should just try Korea Town! Though a bit of a commete, it's cheap and easy - but make sure you can dodge bullets! :kali:

:laugh:
 
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The best thing to do is go to westsiderentals.com. Then go to craigslist and buy a membership off someone for ten bucks ( to access westsiderentals). It's the most extensive LA rentals site and widely used. I landed my last two apartments through them. Good luck.
 
Plan to get a car. Thats very important. That way your options are much more diverse. You can then look at appartments in Reseda, Encino, Studio City, etc....
 
If you are willing to share an apartment with someone else (having your own room, of course), then there are plenty of options in LA, especially in Santa Monica. I lived in Santa Monica for $750 (incl utilities) and shared a two-bedroom with another person. I had my own bedroom and bathroom. Granted, I could pay that much and get an entire 2 bedroom to myself here in Seattle, but in LA that's quite a steal for an area as nice as Santa Monica. I found the apartment on Craigslist (actually found more places I liked on Craigslist than Westsiderentals or roomates.com). The reason why rent can be so "inexpensive" over there is because of rent-control. Find someone who is looking for a roommate and you might find a good deal.

I lived about 3 blocks from Santa Monica college, by the way.
 
i did the same as the above poster. i subleted an apartment from a friend (seems like a lifetime ago) on 18th street three blocks from SMC. it was a 2 bedroom going for $650/month because of rent control. the guy had been there for years.

but you could also look in the palms/mar vista area. or even culver city. its a little cheaper there and not far from santa monica. just shoot up venice blvd, right on lincoln and you're there.
 
Ha! He should just try Korea Town! Though a bit of a commete, it's cheap and easy - but make sure you can dodge bullets! :kali:


K-Town is expensive these days. Actually right next to my work on Wilshire and Vermont, they are building this low-income apartment complex thing that looks pretty nice. I'll get their website for you the next time I pass by it. Heard Culver City, which is near Santa Monica, was pretty cheap.

Anyways...if your planning on going to SMC...I'll see you there
 
Thank you very much for all the replies. I am going to check these web sites you recomanded. Do you think it is a good idea to organize everything in advance or would you just take a cheap hotel somewhere in LA and start then to search for an appartment. Something between 600-900$/month would be perfect.
How easy is it to get into SMC? I sent my application yesterday....
 
I'm guessin that it would be a good idea to organize everything before you come. as for gettin into SMC...its a community college so its ridiculously easy to get in. I don't know how it works for out of state/F1 students though. I'm a resident so it was pretty easy for me.
 
SMC won't turn anyone down, it's a public college. You can get a cheap motel if you want or plan ahead, either way is fine, but who wouldn't reccomend planning ahead, you know?

Be sure to do westsiderentals.com it'll save you a huge headache. Also, if it's just a roomate you want do craigslist. I found all my roomates there back when I did that sort of thing.

Good luck. If you need some advice when you get into town drop me a PM and I'll help out. I'm in Westwood, just blocks from SM. I know the area well.
 
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