If you are a budding actor, you know for a fact that Los Angeles is where all the magic happens. Though people move to LA for all kinds of reasons, it is a well-known fact that people move here to experience Hollywood’s allure and become actors. If you are moving to LA, you must be wondering- where are the best places to live in LA? What might be the average rental price?
The recent Netflix Original, Hollywood, portrayed the struggles of actors post World War II. It is a fact that times have changed a lot now, but the struggle persists even now. Till you make it to the spotlight, finding an affordable and convenient room for rent in LA will save some bucks and give you the best experience of the city.
It’s not a hidden truth that LA is massive and offers an extensive range of housing options. Thus, finding rooms for rent in LA can be a tedious job!
If you are an actor, you might get overwhelmed by
LA’s vibe and end up making the wrong choices. These choices can then derail your experience of the city. You do not want to rent a room in Los Angeles that will make you poverty-stricken during your early days of becoming an actor.
If you are an aspiring actor, recently moved to Los Angeles, with a bag full of starry dreams, here is your step-by-step guide to renting a room in LA.
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Come to LA with at least a few months of living costs
Los Angeles is a pricey place to call home. The prices of rooms for rent in LA & transportation alone are among the highest in the nation. You will need a lot of investment in yourself before you book your first job. You will probably have to pay for acting classes, great headshots, and possibly the membership dues to SAG-AFTRA. It is better to dive into this city with enough money that would last a few months. You would not want a financial disaster to ruin your dreams of becoming an actor.
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Cheap apartments in LA is not a myth
Cheap rooms for rent in LA is not a myth: The decision to rent a room in LA may seem like a high-priced affair, but it’s not. Yes, you heard it right! If you are manageable to location, you can score rents closer to rents in smaller cities (in the mid $1000). For more affordable digs, try Northeast LA and South Central. Like every other metropolitan, the prices for rooms for rent in LA change drastically throughout the city. The average rent of rooms in LA for a 1-bedroom apartment is close to about $2500.
Some parts of LA will never be cheap, regions like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or the oceanfront communities like Venice. If you’re ready to explore more inland and diverse neighborhoods, it’s certainly possible to find more manageable rents. Besides, If you want to visit new jersey, there are some apartments for rent in weehawken.
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Living in central Hollywood is a bummer
Most actors moving to LA stay on their toes to live in the center of Hollywood. However, Hollywood is a grimy neighborhood and doesn’t live up to its silver screen portrayals. The cost of living here soars to the skies, and parking can be a real nightmare. However, you can find some fantastic deals on Hollywood’s rental rooms if you know what you are doing.
Also, the neighborhood is quite dangerous in certain places. Hence, it is better to consider this as an advanced option.
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West Hollywood or North Hollywood?
West Hollywood or WeHo is a trendy area known for its high-energy nightlife. It’s safe, packed with greenery, and full of activities.
Altogether, an attractive option while looking for rooms for rent in LA. It’s also a great location to find auditions easily. Also, WeHo offers some of the city’s most buzzworthy restaurants. However, the cost of living can be a matter of concern. North Hollywood or NoHo is across the hills in the San Fernando Valley and has a very different vibe than WeHo. It lies on the affordable side of neighborhoods and could be an excellent place for someone trying to save bucks. NoHo also has loads of nightlife and is close enough to get you to auditions quickly.
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When the room hunting saga begins
Once you have decided on the neighborhood, It is best to explore the areas you are interested in on foot. It will give you a unique sense of what the vibe of the community is. You might also end up finding “for rent” signs during exploration. Some of you might score rooms for rent in LA based on your friends’ referrals or maybe end up renting with other actor buddies. You could always skip this process and save your time by using roommate finder platforms. Some of the best ones would be platforms like Cirtru, Apartments.com, Craigslist, among others.
Once you have found a listing that you like, you must see it in person before closing the deal.
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The climax
Once you have found your perfect place, you must be on your toes to move in. Rooms for rent in LA have a low vacancy rate, and affordable rentals can get competitive. Keep your documents ready as you do not want to miss out on a fantastic rental just because you forgot your rentals. It is also essential that you know your tenancy rights. Some of the important ones are- 24 hours’ notice before a landlord visit, the right to a clean and habitable home. You can check some other rights here.
LA is home to more than 4 million people, and that is just in the city. Every day, hundreds and thousands of more people move to this fantasy city to become actors.
Room hunting in LA is undoubtedly a challenge, and once you conquer it, take a weekend off and celebrate. Acting can wait!
