House hunting continues

Santa Monica is an interesting market to be renting in.  Based on the proximity to the beach, and the lack of  land for new development, most of the apartments are older (circa 1950/60) and leave most of the modern amenities lacking.  For example, we have a pretty short wish list of items we are looking for in a new place:

• Mandatory
  • Location – feeling safe in your neighborhood is key, not having to worry if your car will be there when you wake up in the morning is even better.
  • 2BR/2BA – would be pretty nice to not have to share our master bathroom with everyday house guests (which we currently have to do now)
  • Hardwood (or even new-ish laminate) -OR- new carpet
  • Matching appliances that were not born before we were
  • Within Budget (this one should be a given)
• Preferable
  • 2 car parking (preferably side by side)
  • SOME type of storage (even if it’s just one closet in the living room)
• Bonus
  • Washer/Dryer
  • AC

We’ve looked at over 35 places, inquired on well over 50, and  viewed over 100 online.  We haven’t seen a single place with all of the items.  No joke, in fact I think we’ve only seen one place with a washer/dryer in the unit and it was GHETTO.  Places in Santa Monica get “beach breezes” so AC is out on 99% of the places as well (I don’t think we’ve seen a single unit with it).

Maybe it’s because of the baby on the way, but this move seems more significant than moves in the past.  Those that have followed Clinton, know that he has moved every couple years since leaving high school.  Living in strange places hasn’t been far fetched (a rooftop bunk house in Alaska comes to mind), but when it’s finding a place to call home for the family … you get to be a little bit pickier.

So the hunt continues.   It’s been a long 3 weeks of shopping for a new apartment, and we’re not really any closer to the finish line.  We’ve got a few more lined up this week and a couple more over the weekend (I think).  We’re not in a rush to get moved, but hoping that we can find a good fit to call home here in the coming weeks.  I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted, but in the meantime – here’s to house hunting!

Tags: apartment, baby, move, rent, Santa Monica

2 Comments