Anthony Carroll

Pacific Palisades is in the hills with gorgeous views. It is a neighborhood where the rich and famous reside. It is filled with gorgeous homes on perfectly manicured yards and meandering streets with high hedges. The community is located North of Santa Monica and West of Brentwood. It is a bit out of the way, but definitely worth the drive.

While writing this review prices for available homes ranged from $2 million to over $19 million, and rental prices ranged from $5,000 to $15,000/month. As you can see it is for a buyer or renter with deep pockets.

Greenbriar is a beautiful community across from Glendale Community College and next to Verdugo and Nibley Park. The homes are large, beautifully maintained and are not quite mansions, but more like "executive" homes. They are well situated on large lots and the landscaping is very manicured. The community feels very green, and a bit off the beaten path...not easy for public transportation. Although...it is close enough to shopping and restaurants and most importantly the glendale Freeway for a commute into Los Angeles.

The property values are much higher than many Glendale neighborhoods. Prices at the time of my review ranged from $700,000 for 1,500 sq. feet to $1.5 million for 4,000 square feet. Rentals are difficult to find. There was one 3500 square foot home with 3br/4 baths for $8,500.

A wonderful community with lovely large homes and a decent commute to Los Angeles...for the buyer with lots of cash.

Oakmont is a beautiful community located in the North East section of Glendale at the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains. The community is surrounded by the Glendale Freeway on the South, Foothills Freeway on the East and La Tuna Canyon to the North.

The community is mostly known for the gorgeous Oakmont Country Club and surrounding community. The homes are situated in the hills with great views. Most are large (given LA avg. home sizes) and are expensive. When writing this review prices ranged from $550,000 to $1 million. Rentals are plentiful compared to properties for sale, and ranged from $1,800 for a 1 br to over $8,000 for a 3500 square foot home.

The community is out of the way and has a nice upscale suburban feel.

The Mount Washington Neighborhood is a hilly oasis on the NorthEast side of Los Angeles. The area has a mix of historic homes and mid century homes. Many of the properties have nice views and large lots. The area is one of the most affluent areas in East LA. It is quickly becoming a popular alternative to the westside and finding more bang for your buck.

There were many properties available for sale at the time of writing this review, and ranged from the high $300,000's to just under 1 million. There were only 3 rental properties available at the time of the review and were $1000 for a 1 br and $6,000 for a 4 bedroom property.

Tujunga is located in the Tujunga Valley, and has the San Gabriel Mountains to the North and the Verdugo mountains separating Tujunga from Glendale, CA. The elevation is 2,000 feet above sea level, and is said to have the cleanest air in Los Angeles...a reason to choose to live in Tujunga.

Tujunga's demographic is different than neighboring La Crescenta-Montrose with a much lower income level and number of residents with a college degree. Tujunga was where E.T. was filmed in the forest scenes. Tujunga is home to Angeles National Golf Club, at the base of the Angeles National Forest.

Home prices at the time of writing this review are reasonable for Los Angeles. Prices ranged from $285,000 to $600,000. Rentals were not plentiful, and ranged from $1,500 to $3,000.

A reasonably priced place to live with cleaner air...that is if you don't mind the drive.

North Hollywood has been going through a transformation slowly over the past several years. Mostly due to the formation 743-acre North Hollywood Development District and the subsequent NoHo Commons projects. The residential area around the red and orange line subway is growing with apartment complexes and the idea was to create a walkable urban village.The NoHO arts district was created in 1992 and is trying to emulate the feel of SoHO in NYC.

Home prices at the time of writing this review on average ranged from $350,000 to $800,000. There were some lower and much higher, but most fell into this range. Rentals are plentiful, but mostly 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. The prices were in the $1,000 to $2,500 range.

The location is great in relation to getting on the 101 into LA or West Hollywood or other parts of the Valley. North Hollywood does not feel as manicured as its neighboring Valley communities like Burbank or Toluca Lake. It has more of an urban feel.

Toluca Lake is situated between Burbank to the East and Studio City to the West. The community is an ideal commuter location close to the 101 and 134. Toluca Lake is rich in history including The Tongvan settlement for 8,000 yrs. and after the Spanish conquest the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. More recently residents included Amelia Earhart. Toluca Lake is named after a private natural lake which is fed by the Los Angeles River.

The community has a similar demographic to Studio City with an older well educated and affluent low density population. Property values at the time of this review ranged from $315,000 for a 2 bedroom condo to $3.6 million for a 3900 sq. foot 4 br home. There are fewer rentals available as compared to it's neighbors Burbank and Studio City. Rents ranged from $1,700 for a 1 br condo to $5,500 for a 3 bedroom home.

Mariposa is a small community situated close to Glendale's City Center and The Americana. The community is densely populated for it's size. It consists mostly of 1950-1970's apartment buildings with a few same era homes mixed in. It feels relatively well maintained. The community is home to Maple Park.

There are relatively few homes available on the market (at the time of this review). They consist of single family California bungalow style homes and condominiums. They range in the $300-$600K range. The rentals were even more scarce with monthly rent not over $2000.

The location is great for commuting. It has a working class feel to the community. A good choice for apartment dwellers looking for a value close to shopping and restaurants.

Arcadia is an upscale Suburban community approximately 13 miles North East of downtown LA and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population is about 55,000.

The community has many parks including the extremely well maintained and large Arcadia County Park, Santa Anita Park and Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

The average property prices range from $550,000 to $3,000,000. The majority of the prices are in the $800,000 range for 3,000 square feet 3 br/3ba. Homes offering newer construction, larger lots and more amenities are on the higher end.

A wonderful upscale suburban community perfect for commuting to downtown Los Angeles.

El Miradero is a charming neighborhood with a mixture of traditional California architectural styles built early to mid 20th Century. The best features of the neighborhood are the meticulous lawns, treed streets and proximity to Brand Park and Library. Kenneth Village is located at the most Western portion of the community and is a great place to grab lunch and do a limited amount of errands. Further West on Glenoaks Blvd. you will find every type of store imaginable..although no upscale boutiques which would seem fitting to have close to such a lovely upscale neighborhood.

The yards and the houses are larger the further East you go into the community. My favorite styles include the Tudor style homes, Colonial Spanish Revival and the Arts & Crafts style.

A great location to live with convenient access to the 5 and the 134. The prices tend to be on the higher end $600K to 1 million. Square footage averages about 2500 sq. feet 3-4 bedrooms in the $700-800 K range.

Northeast Pasadena is defined locally as two independent neighborhoods: Upper Hastings and Lower Hastings. The main access road is Sierra Madre Boulevard. The most prominent building in Hastings is The Church of the Nazarene which supposedly can be seen from outer space. The Van Halen Brothers grew up in Hastings. Hastings also has a popular annual Christmas Display.

Lower & Upper Hastings have a similar feel. Well maintained nice size homes averaging in the 1800 Sq. ft. range. Prices range from $375 for a 2br townhome to $1.2 million on the high side for a 4 br 3K sized home. Upper Hastings the Streets are a bit tighter, and more heavily treed. There is a large shopping area at Hastings Southernmost end and one at the corner of Sierra Madre and Michillinda.

West Hollywood is an extremely large neighborhood, but it is densely populated, diverse and spread out. There is even a West Hollywood West. The area runs from Northern part of La Brea to Doheny Drive on the West. Sunset Blvd. runs on the top and the Western portion runs as far South as Beverly Drive.

There are many apartment complexes with lower rents as you go further East towards Hollywood. West Hollywood feels mostly comprised of apartment complexes, but then you can turn down the next Street like N. Orlando or Norma Triangle and happen upon charming and beautiful homes.

The Easter part of West Hollywood feels very urban. There is a lot of foot traffic, shopping and restaurants. The area feels safe, although, I'm not sure I'd want to be walking around late at night by myself.

The community is vibrant and seems to be made up of a mix of young creative types, young families and some original residents. The location can't be beat. You are halfway between the valley and the coast. A great place to live if a nightlife is one of your priorities.

Burbank along with Glendale are two of the best communities in my opinion to reside in the Valley. Burbank is a well run city, and offers much for the 100K residents.

Burbank has many different areas each with it's own vibe. The neighborhood within Burbank set at the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains has a more upscale feeling than the communities to the West of the 5. The yards tend to be spacious, remodeled and many have been added onto. You will also find newer homes which were built after tearing down the original home. West of the 5 is flatter, and feels more middle income. A great community for bike riding, pushing strollers and walking. There is a 2 mile running/biking path along Chandler Blvd. In the Southwest corner of Burbank is the Equestrian community which is well-treed and has many charming homes.

Shopping and Dining is never-ending in Burbank. You will find big box chains, resale shops, mom & pop shops, every type of restaurant, and movie theatres galore. There are no upscale shops or boutiques, but easy to get to in Glendale or West LA.

Burbank appears to be an extremely safe community with it's well run municipal services. The parks are beautiful including McCambridge Recreation Center for tennis and Wildwood Canyon Park for hiking. The Starlight outside Theatre is a fun place to take a picnic and watch a concert on a Summer evening.

Burbank is famous for the Studios. Warner Brothers, Walt Disney to name a couple. Who can forget Johnny Carson talking about Burbank on The Tonight Show?

When I think of California living..I think of beach, natural beauty and mountains. Malibu offers all of this and much more. That is...of course...if you have a few million to spend. To really get a true feeling for Malibu you have to walk on the beach, or visit someone who owns a home in the hills looking down at the beach. Shopping is plentiful. My favorite is the Malibu Country Mart. It is a wonderful place to spend the day shopping, having lunch, and on Sunday visiting the Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Restaurants are plentiful. Nobu is the latest high-end celebrity magnet eatery.

Prices range for example from $529K for a 2 br/1 ba condo to $54 M for a 13 br/14ba 16K square foot home. Most of the prices you see are 2-4 million for 3-4 bedrooms and about 3000 sq. ft. Needless to say...pricey. One of my favorite areas is Point Dume with it's breathtaking rocky outcrop and wave riding seals.

The neighborhood of Eagle Rock is in a great location South East of Glendale and North of Los Angeles. The community is named after a huge rock outcrop at the Northern edge of the community. There is a diverse population ethnically and socioeconomically. Many creative types call Eagle Rock home. It has been gentrified over the past several years. Many young professionals moving from communities like Los Feliz and Silver Lake. I found when driving through the hilly area of Eagle Rock that one side of the street can be a completely remodeled and enlarged home with a view of the valley below.. while on the other side of the street an original owner home with no updates can be found. It has a bit of a funky bohemian feel. There is not a huge inventory of properties currently on the market. As a snapshot of August 2013...the prices ranged from $400K for 1500+ sq. feet condo to 1.2 M for a 3K sq. ft. home with 3 br/3 ba. You can get a 3br/ 2 ba 1500 single family in the $500-$600 range. It's expensive, but a great location for a commute.

Glenwood could easily be a neighborhood used as a movie set with it's well maintained homes and landscaped streets. The homes are a mixof the best architectural styles California has to offer. The homes East of Kenneth are very spacious and offer much larger lots. The homes to the West of Kenneth tend to be less square footage and offer smaller yards as you go further West towards Glenoaks Blvd.

Glenoaks Blvd. offers typical strip mall shopping, and many different types of dining. Although the area around Brand Park is made up of wealthy residents, you will not find high end restaurants or boutiques. Luckily, it is not a far drive to the Americana in Glendale City Center or into West LA for more options. The small village on Kenneth Road offers a few Mom and Pop stores and gives you a feeling of stepping back in time. A great place to live for many reasons.

If you are looking for a small home and yard close to the 5 for your commute to Los Angeles or Hollywood..this is your neighborhood. This middle class neighborhood offers California bungalows and a few other styles including Tudor and Spanish revival. You are close to all types of retail shopping and restaurants including Glendale City Center. Griffith Park borders the neighborhood on the West side of the 5. The commercial area becomes more industrial on the West side of San Fernando Blvd. It would be a great neighborhood if you want to fix up a home, and are an avid roller skater as you have a Home Depot and a great retro roller rink right around the corner.

Emerald Isle is a quintessential California neighborhood. An aerial photograph would show never-ending rows of spacious ranches situated on well landscaped streets with a pool in the back of each home. The community feels well-maintained and pride of ownership is evident.

It is a decent drive from shopping restaurants and the hustle and bustle of the city center. You would choose to live here for these reasons. The setting is also prone to be in the path of wildfires during the hot Summer months.

One of the best features in the area is Emerald Isle Park. Hidden away in the deep uncharted recess of Chevy Chase Canyon high up in the mountains, Emerald Isle Park is a green oasis with a children’s playground, tennis courts, basketball court, picnic tables under a canopy of shade trees, and an expanse of grass that seems to go on forever.

A beautiful and peaceful place to live in the Valley.

Grandview is a typical older Valley neighborhood/village with a mix of apartment buildings (closer to S. Glenoaks Blvd.) , bungalows, and more spacious homes and yards as you go East towards Kenneth Road. You get the usual mix of dated homes, original owners, and completely renovated properties. It's a convenient location close to schools, parks, shopping and restaurants. It's a nice community feel when driving through. All different types of people out and about. The amount of homes available on the market stays low due to the demand. Rentals pop up for single family homes occasionally, and go quickly.

If you have wanted to be an urban apartment dweller of a luxurious new construction apartment...living in Glendale's city center is a great choice. The amenities, activities and features are wonderful. Imagine 5 star hotel-like fixtures, spa/resort like-pool area and world class shopping in your back yard. The rents are competitive if not reasonable when compared to apartment complexes in a 5 mile radius. Additionally the commute into downtown LA and West Hollywood are relatively simple...to excellent when going in after hours. The obvious cons are traffic, parking and the constant flow of visitors to the shopping areas.

Rossmoyne is located close to Glendale Community College off of North Glendale Avenue. The neighborhood has many homes built in the first half of the 1900's utilizing Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The yards are on the smaller side, and are extremely well-maintained. Homes range in size from bungalows to mansions. The location is excellent in that it is close to all types of shopping and restaurants, and easily accessible to the Glendale Freeway and Route 134. An excellent choice for community to LA yet getting more bang for your buck than West of The 5.