From New Jersey to Los Angeles
Are you ready for a change?
If we were to pick a city that defines the west coast, that city would definitely be Los Angeles. Seasons almost don’t exist there. You’ll soon witness a repeated pattern of warm days and cool nights throughout the year, except for a few rainy days in winter. It’s completely different than New Jersey’s rainy summers and cold winters. You will be moving from the east coast to the west coast, so, be prepared to experience a culture shock the minute you settle.
Transportation
If you’re trying to get away from New Jersey’s traffic jams, you will not have it easy in L.A.. Los Angeles metro area is one of the biggest in the world – widely spread. Traffic for Angelenos is something they have to face daily. Not counting the surrounding counties, there are almost 4 million people living in the city. The majority of them have to commute to work every day, so you can imagine the traffic situation. If you can not imagine it, just check Google Maps in a peak hour.
According to a study by INRIX, which analyzed 1.360 cities in 38 countries and five continents, Los Angeles ranked number one for the worst traffic jams in 2017. The study also found that city commuters spend over 100 hours a year in traffic jams. It is kind of terrifying.
Don’t let traffic jams scare you off though. On the bright side, L.A.’s Metro rail system, which started working in 1990, has been expanded ever since and keeps on expanding. It is nothing compared to NYC or New Jersey’s metro stations, but there is definitely hope for the future.
Housing
The Los Angeles County is made up of 16 different regions that have a variety of cities and neighborhoods you can pick from. When looking for housing, make sure you do your homework and pick a good neighborhood that suits you. Housing in L.A. will be considerably higher compared to New Jersey, so be prepared. It would be ideal for you to find housing close to work so that you can avoid this whole traffic jams situation, but if you have no way out, apps like Google Maps and Waze will help you get real-time traffic information.
Employment
Hollywood and the entertainment industry is the first option for many people, but the doors don’t open easily there. So, besides being a part of the entertainment industry you can find many other opportunities. L.A. is actually the largest manufacturing center in the US so you’ll surely find plenty of manufacturing jobs. IT jobs are also on the rise, it is not only San Francisco that has them. The number of job openings in technology-related fields is expected to rise even more in the coming years. Cafes and restaurants are always an option and in need of good personnel. It all depends on what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. One thing is for sure, hard work always pays off.
What to do in the City of Angels?
Since adjusting to a perfect weather will be a piece of cake, you won’t really have a problem adjusting to a diverse culture and the spectacular nature. If you’re an outdoorsy person, you will love it there as you will have plenty of things to explore if you’ve never been to L.A. before. Disneyland, Runyon Canyon Park, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood sign, Museum of Art, Dolby Theatre, Griffith Park, and Madame Tussauds, to mention a few that will keep you busy for a while.
Even if you are not an outdoorsy person, expect to become one within the first few weeks of moving there. Camping, cycling, rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, surfing, walking, barbecuing, visiting a farmer’s market and various flea markets, and plenty other activities and adventures, are waiting for you there. If you’re moving to the City of Angels with your dog, even better – you can go for a jog at the beach every day.
Moving to Los Angeles with a car
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, you need to register your car within the first 20 days you move there and apply for a California driver’s license within the first 10 days you establish your move. You also need to hold a valid car insurance, so keep that in mind as well. Now, you can call us and discuss your car moving options and price. Thank you!