Okay! I'm FINALLY leaving Las Vegas! Moving my **** to So. Cal.! I need some info regarding a couple areas I've been looking at to live and I have some concerns. Car related concerns. Let's start with the area so we know geographically where we're talking about. Been looking in Belmont Hts. in Long Beach and around Huntington Beach. For those of you familiar with Belmont area I'm looking for an area in Huntington that would fall in the price range and qualities that Belmont has to offer (safe, quiet, low crime, some culture, etc.). Would really appreciate any input you would have on finding a house to rent with a garage and a few bedrooms. Can't afford to buy just yet and want to get familiar with the areas before I do anyway. Also could really use some websites where I could actually look for these places to rent. I found some great ones for Long Beach area, but not a whole lot for the HB area. Now. The car related part... In the areas I'm looking in, am I going to get pulled over every time I leave my house for having an obnoxious car or bike? How about actually WORKING on cars or bikes? Are these areas prone to beating up residents for working on crazy stuff in their garage with the door open or making a bunch of noise grinding and what not? Really not familiar with how things work or the neighborhoods. I want decent access to the Northwest part of Huntington (commute wise) and would like to stay as close to the coast as possible. Can't wait to get out of Vegas! Any help you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated!! P.S. long_beach_dave RULES! Thank you for that awesome map!!!
Lots of car guys and especially racers live in Lakewood. As far as beating metal and grinding goes, a little consideration goes a long ways. Go too late and the cops will look at you like you're a tweaker. Not good. Why would you want a car or bike that's obnoxious?
I have no idea why... I'm nuts?? Yes! I agree! Some consideration for neighbors is key and respectful too! Beyond consideration and being a good neighbor, are there crazy ***ociations/HOA's/house Nazis that have spys that go around slapping people around with letters and fines for even thinking of having something in their garage that would require more than an oil change? Happens here in Vegas and it gets out of control. Seriously though, need to find a place to live in the next few weeks or I'm going to be parking a Ryder truck in a parking lot and sleeping in an unfinished and uncomfortable Model A. Let me know of some places to look at and how to find houses for rent. Craig's list seems decent, but doesn't break it down too well into the smaller cities. I'll check into Lakewood... EDIT: Just checked out where Lakewood is... I think it's a little further North than I wanted to be. How do you like it though?
Avoid, like the plague, Cerritos, Mission Viejo and any fairly new communities. They are the ones that have CCRs. And be involved once you settle somewhere. Even Lakewood has to fight new proposed laws regarding our cars. And welcome. Let me offer ya a beer when you get here. Obnoxious car, or not. ha ha ha
I love it in Lakewood. I think a bunch of our local Sheriffs are car guys. Always something to do within an hours cruise. And I'll probably catch hell for this, but Huntington Beach cops are humorless *****s, mostly. I always heave a sigh of relief when I see the city limits in my rear view.
Hey Scooter there is nothing wrong with Lakewood it borders Long Beach and is very close to everything it has to offer. As far as working on cars I believe it all depends on your neighbors and how you get along with them. My neighbors nearest to my garage hate me but still put up with alot of my **** such as cutting tops with a saw zaw in the driveway starting cars wit open headers etc. When the police have come to my house they generally are more interested in what we are doing because they are car guys themselves rather than giving me a warning or a ticket. I will keep an eye out for you. PM me with what price range you are looking to stay in and that will help trying to find you a spot. If you got any other questions feel free to ask I have lived here my whole life and know the area pretty well.
try www.realtor.com - but you will only find rentals listed by agents there. try the local papers (long beach - beach comber) they'll have the 'for rent by owner' ads that tend to be the best deals. good luck and come to the Swap Meet in Long Beach
I live near NW Huntington Beach (you're meaning near the 405, right?) in a mobile home park. Great low rent for the square footage you get, but definately no working on old cars allowed. A friend of mine rents shop space in an industrial park to work on his drag car any time of day or night with no neighbors to complain.
If HB is anything like it was 10 years ago when I lived down there, the cops aren't particularly fond of hot rods or old, loud bikes. They know the difference between the typical Donut rodders and, well, everyone else. Mostly, every one I've ever encountered was on permanent "July 4th" tactical defense mode--in other words, what Phil said. They have inter-departmental homo relations with the Newport PD, or vice versa, or maybe it's just a beach cop thing (except I've never had any problems with LBC cops).
I live in Belmont Shore LB...you need a garage anywhere in LB if you plan on working on cars. My car runs at 90decibles on idol and the cops have never harrased me, now the fact that I dont have gl*** in my car thats a whole nother story. Lakewood is probobly the best bet for a good price and a working cl*** man....all these other areas(including where I live) are all prissy and ****. you can always look in Compton? I always see cars on blocks without gl*** or an engine there and for some reason or another the cops or neigbors dont seem to mind.
I am on the border of Lakewood and there is nothing wrong with working on your cars in either neighborhood. If you are making noise late at night in any area in So Cal you will get **** from neighbors. Just tone it down after 10pm. There are not any major ***ociations that are going to give you grief in my area since all of the homes are older.
I live in the Bixby / California Heights area of the LBC on the other side of the Long Beach air port from Lakewood. I've been there for 5 years now and not one problem with making noise with the tools or the open header thing. But I am curtious to the neighbors most of the time. The other guys are right, a lot of racers and just car culture in Lakewood and Long beach.. Quick Story... One Sunday morning a buddy and me were heading to the Long Beach Swapmeet at about 6 am. We were driving his '54 Lincoln that we just got running the night before. The car had open headers, a cracked windshield and no actual headlights... (It did have blinkers and brake lights for you up tight folks) Any way, heading down Carson street at 6am past two different groups of cops in parking lots drinking their morning coffee in their cruisers... Never blinked an eye. If you want to PM me your price range for rent I'll keep my eye out for you. But for your reference; Right now there's a place down the street for rent with a two car garage and 3 bedrooms for $2500 a month.... BYC
Thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate it! And thanks for the warm welcome! Beer offers and the long beach swap meet are always good things!
Bump for any good neighborhoods to look at in the HB area... Can't really spend more than $2400 or $2500. Even that would be pushing it I think.
all i can say is stay out of irvine! i just open my garage and cops are writing me a ticket! im moving back to costa mesa as we speak
This guy and his "life partner" live near me and he is right, this is a great area for hot rodders. Most of the houses have detatched garages and good sized yards. I currently have five cars behind a gate in my backyard and still have plenty of room for my doberman to tear ***. H.B. cops are f-ing nazis, stay away.
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