Sunny skies, warm weather year-round, miles of beaches, and tons of things to do. These are likely the things that come to mind when you think of the city of Los Angeles, California. These are also the very things that make this US city one of the most popular places to relocate to. Though this accurately describes a large portion of LA, not all areas are ideal. As you look for your dream home on the west coast, here are some neighborhoods you may want to avoid:
1. Watts
Watts was founded in the late nineteenth century as a ranching community but was later transformed into a working-class neighborhood in the 1940s. By 1960, this low-income Los Angeles neighborhood was dubbed a high-crime area. While crime rates have fallen since the 1990s, Watts is still known as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods to live in.
With a median property value of about $214,000 and a median annual income of only $29,000, affording a home in this area may not only be dangerous, but financially challenging.
“The number of people ordering moving services through our portal shows that it is one of the LA neighborhoods from which people move out most frequently”, says Laura Bierman from YouthfulHome – a North American portal for homeowners.
Property Prices: $250,000 to $950,000
Crime Rates: 49% higher than the national average
2. The Fashion District
The Fashion District is the hub of all things fashion in the city of Los Angeles. The neighborhood is only about 90 blocks long and is mostly lined with quaint little retail shops, cafes, eateries, wholesale vendors, and warehouses. While you may be able to find some of the season’s hottest fashions straight off the runway, this small town may not be the best place to call home.
Much of the neighborhood is filled with commercial properties. What’s left is a few houses and apartments located above storefronts. Since it is a very popular place to shop, you’ll find that the neighborhood is always busy. This means crowded streets, limited parking, and lots of traffic.
The area is also ranked as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles. In fact, according to the Los Angeles city guide by Kristina Morales, a California REALTOR®, Fashion District is among the LA neighborhoods that have the highest crime rates and lowest home prices.
Property Prices: $375,000 to $475,000
Crime Rates: 68% above the national average
3. Koreatown
Located near Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown might seem like the ideal neighborhood to live in for those who enjoy the city life. The heavily populated neighborhood is home to more than 100,000 residents. Despite the name, Koreatown has a very diverse set of residents from all nationalities. A popular tourist attraction for those who love to shop, dine, or enjoy the nightlife, this LA neighborhood is always buzzing.
While a great place to visit, Koreatown may not be an ideal place to call home. The area is largely filled with commercial properties and apartments with a few single-family homes scattered throughout. Getting around is a bit of an issue as it’s always crowded and finding a place to park is nearly impossible. The city is also listed as one of the 50 most dangerous neighborhoods in LA to live in.
“For the last year, we’ve had more homeowners offloading their homes in this neighborhood than any other neighborhood in LA”, notes Brian Robbins – a residential real estate investing specialist from the Los Angeles team of a national house cash buying group HouseCashin.”
Property Prices: $260,000 to $7,500,000
Crime Rates: 313 violent crimes, 1,205 violent crimes (between July 22, 2019 to January 20, 2020)
4. Skid Row
Skid Row, also referred to as the Wholesale District is a LA neighborhood located downtown. The neighborhood consists of fish, produce, and other wholesalers. There aren’t very many attractions in the area. In fact, it is famously known to have one of the highest homeless populations in the city. This, unfortunately, means that streets can prove very dangerous as the crime rates are especially high.
Property Prices: $415,000 to $1,700,000
Crime Rates: 63% higher than the national average
5. South Park
Conveniently located near downtown, USC, and Exposition Park, South Park is another neighborhood in LA. Though the area is primarily residential and has plenty of green space and parks for outdoor fun and recreation, it is essentially a low-income, high-crime neighborhood.
Property Prices: $399,000 to $1,200,000
Crime Rates: 160 violent crimes, 354 property crimes (July 22, 2019 to January 20, 2020)
While these are just a few of the neighborhoods in Los Angeles that home buyers tend to steer clear of, your dream home is still out there. Whether it’s the Hollywood appeal of life with the rich and famous, the many beaches, parks and recreation, shopping, culturally-diverse cuisine, or overall diversity, there are plenty of other LA neighborhoods that can meet your needs.
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