Should I move... up or down?
 

So the apt complex im in decided they are not going to renew leases and everyone is going to be month to month until they tear down the complex (rumor has it everyone will be out early 2008). So there are about 300 or so apts in the complex and all of those people will be looking for apartments soon. In croweded west LA, its going to be nuts.

So i want to take a jump start and start looking now. The place i have is great and is HUGE and right on the water (in Marina del Rey). I wanted to move to Santa Monica near main st. or north of Wilshire so i can be in walking distance to stuff.

If you dont know the area i know you dont give a shit, so here is my question. Should I spend teh extra $$ to get a better place close to the beach and bars and shops, or spend less and be not walking distance to the beach, bars and shops. Since i was younger, I always wanted to live by the beach, but should I spend the extra to do it?

Its a matter of +/- $500 a month. $500 more to live in a cool area or $500 less to live in an "ok" area.

What else would you do with the $500? Perhaps invest it so that you could afford to actually buy a house one day?

I dont think id ever buy a house in souther cali, way to expensive and the market jumps around to much. 4 years ago places were under half what they are now. prices doubled, now they are going down again