For patrons on the cheap, the Southern California housing marketplace can really feel impenetrable. Bidding wars and provide shortages have pushed costs to ancient highs, and in step with Redfin, the median house in Los Angeles County bought for $839,000 in February.
Thankfully, The Instances not too long ago printed “The Nice SoCal Space Hunt,” a complete, step by step information to shopping for a house in Southern California. It even comes with a Southern California-specific calculator that analyzes your budget and tells you ways a lot you’ll manage to pay for (and what neighborhoods are a fit).
Consumers within the $500,000 vary could have to believe condos, the city houses or tenancy-in-common devices along with single-family flats, however for the ones keen to get ingenious, there are nonetheless a variety of choices. Right here’s what $500,000 buys in 5 L.A. County communities.
Downtown L.A.
L.A. isn’t precisely identified for vertical dwelling, however if you happen to’re keen to lose the white wood fence and grassy yard, the price-per-square-foot in maximum downtown structures is less expensive than many single-family choices. Relying at the house, condos record as little as $350,000 and be offering facilities that exchange the conveniences of dwelling in a area. Simply watch out in regards to the house owners affiliation dues.
A one-bedroom loft within the Style District in downtown Los Angeles contains an open format kitchen, eating desk and front room.
(Jonathan Yuen)
The house: This century-old unit sits within the Cornell, a ancient development within the Style District’s Santee Village that’s been transformed into sublime lofts. Authentic steel-framed home windows pair with 10-foot concrete ceilings within the dwelling areas, and even if there’s just one devoted bed room, the 1,000-square-foot flooring plan leaves enough room to be versatile. It additionally enjoys Generators Act standing to avoid wasting a little bit on belongings taxes.
The cope with: 746 S. Los Angeles St. #604, Los Angeles, 90014
The associated fee: $509,000 (and $813 per thirty days HOA dues)
The specifications: One bed room and one toilet in 1,000 sq. ft
The agent: Jonathan Yuen of Iota Realty
Lengthy Seaside
Described via one fresh house purchaser as “a town with attraction the place you need to additionally spend a complete weekend,” Lengthy Seaside turned into a scorching spot all over the pandemic when many L.A. employees went far off and moved farther south. It additionally has an enormous housing inventory, and there are at all times single-family houses in the marketplace for just about any charge vary.
This house features a fenced frontyard, grassy yard, lined patio, a couple of bedrooms or even some customized components.
(Crew Whitney)
The house: Make no mistake — it is a fixer-upper. It’s a long way from move-in able, however it has just about the whole thing you need to need in a starter house: a fenced frontyard, grassy yard, lined patio, a couple of bedrooms or even some customized components together with antique cabinetry and a sliding farmhouse door.
The cope with: 255 E. Bort St., Lengthy Seaside, 90805
The associated fee: $499,000
The specifications: Two bedrooms and one toilet in 777 sq. ft
The brokers: Danielle Whitney Moore and Lauren Yi of Keller Williams Realty
East L.A.
East L.A. is this type of bastion of Latino tradition that it even has a Latino Stroll of Repute, which as an alternative of Hollywood icons, commemorates Latino legends this type of Cesar Chavez and Graciela Beltran. With a inhabitants of greater than 118,000, it has a variety of houses up for grabs, particularly two- and three-bedroom bungalows.
A rework of this East L.A. house became an advantage room right into a 2d bed room and added beamed ceilings and laminate flooring.
(Keller Williams Realty)
The house: A up to date rework of this single-story house close to Whittier Side road became an advantage room right into a 2d bed room and added beamed ceilings, recent paint and laminate flooring. The outside is billed as “low upkeep” because it options gravel as an alternative of grass — however don’t fear, there are many timber to make up for it.
The cope with: 4708 Hubbard St., Los Angeles, 90022
The associated fee: $485,000
The specifications: Two bedrooms and one toilet in 648 sq. ft
The agent: Ralph Ruiz of Keller Williams Pacific Estates
San Dimas
San Dimas sits on the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, providing a suburban retreat stuffed with tract houses, strip department stores and just a little more room than you’ll get in L.A. Commuters take the highway this present day, however in 2026, the Metro L Line is predicted to increase out to town.
This San Dimas house contains granite counter tops and whitewashed brick. Its again patio overlooks the group pool.
(Steve Padilla / Most sensible Agent Images)
The house: Columns and clay tile contact up the outside of this single-story house within the deliberate city building group of Montecito Village. Granite counter tops and whitewashed brick pop up within the dwelling areas, and the again patio overlooks the group pool.
The cope with: 116 W. By way of Vaquero, San Dimas, 91773
The associated fee: $525,000 (and $323 per thirty days HOA dues)
The specifications: Two bedrooms and two toilets in 1,122 sq. ft
The agent: Michael Wallace of Higher House Monetary
Willowbrook
Anchored via scientific establishments such because the Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Medical institution and Charles R. Drew College of Drugs and Science, the unincorporated group of Willowbrook covers about 3.7 sq. miles simply south of the 105 Highway. Houses there are generally lovely inexpensive, with the bulk list on the market at lower than part 1,000,000.
This revamped house options new kitchen cabinetry, quartz counter tops, tile flooring and home equipment.
(Century 21)
The house: Tucked at the back of gates, this revamped house has new kitchen cabinetry, quartz counter tops, tile flooring and home equipment. Out again, a patio ends up in a spacious garden ultimate for webhosting.
The cope with: 2212 E. 117th St., Los Angeles, 90059
The associated fee: $499,000
The specifications: Two bedrooms and one toilet in 572 sq. ft
The agent: Chris Limon of Century 21 A Higher Provider Realty
