Rich Kids Guide to LA Neighborhoods
One of the best things about LA is that there are a number of different neighborhoods to fit a wide array of personalities and budgets. You can literally carve out any type of life that you would like based on your neighborhood choice. Do you love skinny jeans and American Apparel? Maybe Silver Lake or Echo Park is the way to go. Are you most comfortable strolling Robertson by day and drinking at Teddy’s by night? Perhaps the hills behind Sunset Plaza are a good fit for you! Regardless of your lifestyle, the one thing every rich kid knows is that you are where you live!
BEL AIR
Bel Air is a family oriented neighborhood located north of Sunset Blvd just west of Beverly Hills and just east of Brentwood. Although Bel Air has a reputations for being one of the priciest locations in Los Angeles, there are many homes for under $1,000,000. The zip for Bel Air is 90077, which encompasses Beverly Glen and the surrounding streets (side note – I would consider this “Faux Bel Air“, as it is not behind the gates but is still a great area). Lower Bel Air is where the great estates are found – priced up to $125,000,000 – while the upper hillside portion includes more modest homes, starting at around $950,000. For my rich kids who now have a partner and some rich kids of their own, this is a great option!
BEVERLY HILLS
Brentwood is a wonderful, laid-back community in close proximity to the beach, and not too far from West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Chic but very casual, Brentwood caters to the rich kid who will rock a Chanel purse while wearing jeans and Reef flip flops. Below San Vicente (Brentwood’s epicenter – a walkable street with a Whole Foods, great dining, shopping, etc) is mostly condos/apartments that that are home to a mish mash of professionals and UCLA students. North of San Vicente is more family oriented, consisting primarily of large houses. $400,000 will get your foot in the door for a very small condo that needs extensive work, while $1,500,000 might buy you an extremely modest single family home.
BRENTWOOD
Brentwood is a wonderful, laid-back community in close proximity to the beach, and not too far from West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Chic but very casual, Brentwood caters to the rich kid who will rock a Chanel purse while wearing jeans and Reef flip flops. Below San Vicente (Brentwood’s epicenter – a walkable street with a Whole Foods, great dining, shopping, etc) is mostly condos/apartments that that are home to a mish mash of professionals and UCLA students. North of San Vicente is more family oriented, consisting primarily of large houses. $400,000 will get your foot in the door for a very small condo that needs extensive work, while $1,500,000 might buy you an extremely modest single family home.
CARTHAY (South, Square , and Circle)
When I mention Carthay to my friends, their first response is, “Where?”. Carthay is a beautiful neighborhood consisting of architecturally historical duplexes and homes, just outside of Beverly Hills between La Cienega and Fairfax lying south of Olympic but north of Pico. Through the “Mills Act”, owners who own homes within Cathay’s HPOZ (Historical Preservation Zone) district enjoy extensive tax benefits by adhering to the neighborhoods strict architectural guidelines. Entry into Carthay begins at around $1,200,000. Great area to lease!
ECHO PARK
Ten years ago, when my friends and I drove through Echo Park the rule of thumb was lock your doors and look straight ahead at the road. With “richpster” (rich-hipster) favorites such as Silverlake and Los Feliz becoming increasingly more expensive, the east side crowd has started to favor Echo Park (5 minutes from downtown) as a affordable alternative. Drinks at the divey Short Stop, bands at The Echo, and late night munchies at the Brite Spot diner make Echo Park the new trendsetter for hipster chic. Affordable home prices starting in the $399,000 range, but it’s definitely hit or miss, Echo Park is a neighborhood to consider for the rich kid on a budget!
HANCOCK PARK
Hancock Park (east of Highland Ave) features stately homes, duplexes, and condos. This is a great option for the rich kid who works at Paramount Studios or in the center of Hollywood. Larchmont Village, at the heart of Hancock Park, offers wonderful cafes, salons, and shopping. Budget around $500,000 for a decent condo and about $1,150,000 for an entry level house.
HOLLYWOOD
Much like Echo Park, Hollywood has seen a major revitalization over the last 8 years. With the addition of the Hollywood and Highland complex and the construction of several hip new condo developments, rich kids of all kinds are flocking to Hollywood. Whether you’re looking for a home in the hills or a loft on Hollywood Blvd, there are many different price points and options within this neighborhood. My favorite addition to Hollywood is The Broadway Lofts on Hollywood and Vine. A rooftop pool to rival the downtown Standard and a building as chic as they come, I can’t think of a cooler place for the bachelor rich kid to hang his hat. A loft can run you $899,000 at The Broadway.
LOS FELIZ
Los Feliz is the mecca for hip rich kids with big bucks who still want to maintain their alternative status. North of Sunset, east of Western and bordered by Griffith Park, Los Feliz has it all for the rock star: cool diners, old school movie theatres, divey-but-pricey bars, and retro music stores. I have an acquaintance who comes from rock and roll royalty who has made Los Feliz her “city home”. She says she prefers Los Feliz because she likes “the grime of the city” – $2 million+ of well manicured grime in the hills above Los Feliz Blvd. This post-modern irony pretty much sums up the Los Feliz mentality! $400K will get you a condo while a bungalow can be had at around $900,000.
MALIBU
Malibu is one of the most beautiful places in the country. Located about 25 minutes north of the Westside, Malibu is where the hills meet the ocean. Beautiful views, charming restaurants, beachside bars, and sandy beaches make Malibu the perfect choice for the laid back rich kid. Many Malibu residents have told me that living there is a commitment. With basically one major road (PCH) and one freeway (the 101) getting you into Malibu, people who live there tend to hang out there as well. If you enjoy cocktailing it up on the weekends in Hollywood, this may not be the place for you. However, if you like to surf during the day, BBQ in the afternoon, and hit up the local beach bars at night, Malibu could be the perfect fit! Living the California dream does not come cheap! The current lowest price ocean view condo is $649,000 for a studio.
PACIFIC PALISADES
The last stretch of Sunset Blvd takes you into the Palisades before you hit the ocean. Located between Santa Monica and Malibu, Pacific Palisades is a fantastic place to settle down and raise the next generation of rich kids. Cliffside ocean views, wide tree-lined streets, and a charming city center makes the Palisades the place where that dream of the white picket fence becomes a reality. A remodeled 1 br is the least expensive condo in Pacific Palisades for $589,000. Want to pack the fam into your Porsche Cayenne and move into the neighborhood for under a million? Bring your tool belt! There are major fixers on the market for less than 1 million!
SANTA MONICA
Santa Monica combines the best of both worlds – the beach lifestyle without sacrificing any of the amenities of living in a major city! Within Santa Monica, you’ll find a myriad of different types of neighborhoods. From the uber chic Montana shopping and housing district, to the more modest homes surrounding Santa Monica City College, there really are quite a few housing options depending on your budget. Cozy up in a small studio for $250,000 or host a clam bake on the beach in an ocean front mansion for $7,350,000!
SILVERLAKE
Silverlake is the middle ground between Los Feliz and Echo Park! What makes the neighborhood so cool is that you can get authentic Italian gelato, fulfill your urge to sip a beer at a gay leather bear bar, and then stroll through the Sunset Junction street fair – all without ever having to get into your car! From fetish, to hipsters, to uber cool parents strolling around toddlers clad in Gymboree – Silverlake caters to all types. Located south of Los Feliz and west of Echo Park, there are still good deals to be had in this neighborhood. A cool mid century 3 br home in the hills with a view could set you back $799,000 – not bad!
SUNSET PLAZA – WEST HOLLYWOOD HILLS
This is the ultimate address for the Hollywood rich kid. The streets off of Doheny, north of Sunset, The Bird Streets, Kings, Queens – you don’t get much cooler than this location. Located off of the prime Sunset Strip, you can cab to the best nightlife and restaurants Los Angeles has to offer. Homes in this neighborhood feature panoramic city to ocean views, privacy, and stunning architecture. You move here when: a) you’ve made it b) you’re parents have made it and they are willing to share the wealth c) you’re a celebrity d)all of the above. A 1 br pied a terre off on Sunset Plaza Dr could get your foot in the door at $599,000.
VENICE
Like a few of the other neighborhoods in this guide (and like a few of my friends), Venice had a rather sordid past but has transformed itself into a very cool place to live. Located a short stroll down the boardwalk from Santa Monica, there is a vibe to Venice that is like no other. Put a cup full of tourists, a dash of bohemian, a pinch of yuppy, and just a sprinkling of local crazies into a bowl, you’ll get the full ethos of Venice. Property values have increased exponentially over the last ten years in this neighborhood as developers and home buyers alike continue to make improvements. Live in a 2br condo on the boardwalk for $650,000 or a house on one of the famed canals for $1,800,000!
WEST HOLLYWOOD
This is one of the more popular neighborhoods among my clientele. Whether you are gay or straight, a rich kid or a rich kid on a budget, there really is something for everyone. The location is central to the best of LA: nightlife, restaurants, cafes, the finest shopping in the world, 15 minutes to the beach – you get the picture! What’s also great about West Hollywood is that is a very walkable city. There will almost always be a café or hip lunch spot (or for all you lushes – a bar) within walking distance of where you reside. You can get a nice condo for $400,000, an attractive home for around $900,000, and lease something livable for $1400/month.
