Hello all, I hope you guys can help, especially the southern CA gang.

My OH and I are both moving to LA at the start of August. We don't want to move in to somewhere with a long lease, cos we don't know what our long term budget will be, or where we will be working.

Does anyone know of any shorter lease serviced apartment. I don't need room service, just fully furnished with all the utilities, cable etc. all set up already.

I found these people: Archstone, we would be looking to stay in the Los Feliz one.

they are pretty much what we're looking for, but on the expensive side. Also on an apartment review site there's loads of bad comments about them. I can't figure out if it's just spam, or if the website is misleading, and it's not the resort it looks like.

Anyone got any firsthand experience of short let apartments in LA?

whoops, should this be in the moving to america forum?

Those look like typical prices to go with the pictures shown for the areas . How far are you willing to commute ? ( Futher = cheaper house more spent on gas )

If it were another city, I would say that I would want an apartment that is central. But this being LA, I'll say I think that the best areas to find the temp apartment would likely be West Hollywood or Silverlake/Los Feliz.

When we find jobs and know where we need to be more permanently we will revisit the commute v's cheaper housing debate.

This is LA for sure. If you are just looking for a place to be for a bit. What do you two like ?
Beaches and swimming, skiing , hick camping ? opera ? sports ? In LA you short of do an affordability vs activity trade off. I went more affordable / mountain activities / horses

As it's a temporary place, I'm not so picky on area. I'd just like a recommendation on a company or apartment building with good affordable short term housing. Preferably one that I can book before getting there.

Anyone got any suggestions?

You may also want to check out private home rentals. With the housing marketing being as it is just now - there are many more homes which are available for month-to-month rent....

For a 2-bed apartment over this side you're looking at paying from $1600 up in a "moderate" area.

For apartments - check out rent.com and apartments.com

Craig's list is a good place to start:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/

Thanks, WideAwake, I actually found Archstone on Craigslist. But on sites like Craigslist, sometimes it's hard to know how reputable the company is, or how accurate the photos are. That's why I was looking for personal recommendations from people in LA, or those that know of any good short term accomodation there.

You're right about that! I've been lucky though, I found a job and a place to live, but was living in the town already.

well, don't suppose you know anything about Archstone? Particularly the Los Feliz one?

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I was able to find a place to live and a job in Knoxville, TN! Maybe you could try posting that question on the L.A. Craigslist.

Have you thought of a Suburban Lodge or Homewood Suites type of accomodation? These have a kitchen(ette), cable TV, bed, bath, phone and ISDN.

Daily and weekly rates are generally available--and you may be able to negotiate monthly rate with them.

You can also check on priceline under hotels (I've "lucked out" nicely with this site, having booked thrice; first time, on my wedding night, a full compact*** kitchen; other two times, kitchenettes).

***Reduced-size appliances (4-burner stove of 24" rather than 30" width) as found also in some apartments.