Arthur Ambarachyan

North Hollywood is a great option for those who like the feel of Hollywood or West Hollywood, but can't afford to be right there. North Hollywood's NOHO Arts District has been developed for the past 10 or so years and is the communities attempt at a walkable village with restaurants, and shopping. It definitely feels a bit rougher around the edges than West Hollywood.

The location is great right off of the 101 & 170 with easy access North and South. It feels more convenient than Burbank and other Valley neighborhoods East due to the fact that you do not have to fight East West traffic. Although...it does not have the well manicured and safe feeling that Burbank or Toluca Lake has when you are driving through. I think this is a main reason that North Hollywood tends to have a younger demographic. It has more of an urban feel for a Suburban location.

Rentals are plentiful, and home prices tend to be higher in the South West corner of the community near the 101 and Sherman Village.

Echo Park is an urban neighborhood West of LA and just NorthWest of Dodgers Stadium. It is centrally located between the 110 Glendale Freeway and the 5. Echo Park is broken into two areas Angelino Heights and Elysian Heights. Angelino Heights architecture almost has a San Francisco feel (on a small scale) with hills and Victorian bungalows and larger homes. On some streets the houses are built on an angle which makes for very nice curb appeal. The area feels historic for Los Angeles. The original stores and the Bank of America on Sunset and Echo Park are a good example of the old commercial architecture.

Echo Park is going back to its roots as a creative and artistic center for Los Angeles. The original silent film studios originated in Echo Park including Elendale and Keystone Studios. Other creatives who have called Echo Park home at one point or another are Steve McQueen, Frank Zappa and Shia La Beouf. It is definitely growing in popularity and a better value than Silver Lake and Los Feliz.

Home prices ranged from $360,000 to $1.4 million at the time of writing the review. Rentals ranged from $1,200 for a 1 bedroom to $3,300 for a 2-3 bedroom.

A small town feel but it's close to Pasadena, Hollywood & Downtown. There is a yearly music festival and also Summer concerts in the park.There is a local community effort to keep Eagle Rock clean and green via a group called cleanthestreet.com. There are beautiful homes on large lots facing wide streets. The Occidental College students add a nice youthful energy. Eagle Rock ranks high for schools nationally. There is a Recreation Center and a wonderful certified Farmer's Market on Fridays. The New York Times compared it to Tuscany.

Prices range from $425,000 for a 765 square foot home to $875,000 for a 2000 square foot home (when writing the review). The rentals were limited at the time of writing the review, and were $825 for a 1 bedroom in the Southwestern quadrant of Eagle Rock and $2000 for a 2 bedroom on the Eastern side of Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock appears to be transforming into the next Los Feliz or Silver Lake. Young and hip.

Montrose Verdugo City is a community situated between the Foothills Freeway on the East and The Verdugo Mountains Open Space Preserve on the West side. The community is primarily ranch style homes built in the 1950's and 1960's and apartment complexes built in that same era.

The location is great for commuting into Los Angeles or Western destinations. The properties on the market at the time of this review ranged in price from $500-$700 K and were under 2000 square feet. The rentals ranged from $1500 - $3000 for a 2-3 bedroom.

La Crescenta-Montrose is a community due East of Burbank on the other side of the Verdugo Mountains, and North East of the City Center of Glendale. It is situated in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. The location of the community makes it a bit challenging to get to, and the main access from LA is by highway. Given it's seclusion, the community has become a great location to get away from the noise, and dense population of communities further West. There are about 20,000 residents in La Crescenta-Montrose.

The rentals available (when writing review) were limited, and ranged from $1700 to $4000. There were many properties available ranging from $369,000 for a 1 bd/1 ba to just over a million for a 4 br/3 ba. There are not many parks located within La Crescenta-Montrose, but you do have Angeles National Forest in your backyard.

The community is not as affluent as it's neighbor La Canada-Flintridge, but does have a high ranking school district (California's Distinguished Schools and Blue Ribbon Schools).

There was a flood in 1933 after wildfires left the hillsides susceptible. It continues to be a popular place to live despite the threat of wildfires and mudslides.

Silver Lake is a community South and East of Los Feliz. It is named for the reservoir which it surrounds. The community is known for it's diverse people and architecture. In recent years, it has been considered one of Los Angeles' most "artsy" communities. It is also known for the many trendy restaurants and clubs.

The prices range (when writing) from about $600,000 for a 2 br/2 ba 1200 approx. square foot home to over a million for a 2800 sq. foot home with 4 bedrooms. Rental prices range from $1,500 for a 1 br apt. to $7,000 for a 3 bedroom 2300 sq. foot home.

The location is great for commuting to downtown LA or to West Hollywood. Silver Lake is surrounded by many parks including Griffith Park, Elysian Park, and Bellvue Recreation Center.

La Canada Flintridge is a beautiful community North East of the City Center of Glendale and situated at the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. The easiest access to the community is from the Foothills Freeway or the Glendale Freeway. This community is not for the resident who does not want to travel on highways. Although...the above highways feel open and light traveled compared to those found further West.

The community is meticulously maintained and has a upscale suburban feel. The homes are large, renovated and added onto and offer spacious lots. The part of the area East of Foothill Blvd. is heavily wooded with pines and other deciduous trees. Foothills Blvd. offers the typical community business and restaurant offerings, however, they feel a bit more upscale due to the architecture and landscaping which surrounds them.

The community is extremely expensive...not many properties listed under the $700,000 price range. The square footage does tend to be higher than neighborhoods West of La Canada Flintridge. It is one the prettiest Valley Communities.

Atwater Village lies between the Los Angeles River to the west and the City of Glendale to the north and east. It shares borders with the neighborhoods of Silver Lake to the south, Elysian Valley to the southeast, Glassell Park to the northeast, and Los Feliz and Griffith Park across the river to the west. It is also adjacent to Forest Lawn Memorial Park and contains many commercial buildings and businesses.

Principal thoroughfares include Fletcher Drive, and Los Feliz and Glendale Boulevards. The Golden State and Glendale Freeways run along the district’s western and southeastern borders, respectively. Having Griffith Park so close is wonderful for hiking and the dog park.

Most of the homes range from 400k to $700K. The square footage averages 1000 - 2000. The lots are small and the homes tend to be a mix of non descript California bungalows and apartment complexes.

The population is diverse, however, the hipster population is seeking more affordable opportunities and moving from places like Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

Los Feliz has that old time California/Hollywood feel. The large homes bordering Griffith Park on the North end of the community are built in many different styles. Some of the mansions have walls with bougainvillea growing giving you the feeling someone in the entertainment industry lives there..they probably do. The apartment complexes along Los Feliz have that Mid-Century modern feel. Further South into Los Feliz on Hillhurst you will find a hip area.. reminding me of Greenwich Village in NYC. There is a plethora of boutiques, bohemian cafes, and upscale dining. A great place to go with a group of friends is The Upright Citizens Brigade. It's a comedy club further West on Franklin. It is a comedy/improv school, and the students perform for the audience. Many up and comers in comedy get their start here.

Brockmont is a neighborhood with meandering streets and mature trees leading into the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains. Given the elevation of the neighborhood, views can be lovely. The yards are more spacious and larger homes are spread out as compared to the homes down the hill going towards Glenoaks Blvd. The aesthetic of the neighborhood goes from village-like in Glenwood to more of a suburban feel within a few blocks. The homes are mostly mid 20th century ranches. It appears that many are original owners. The neighborhood's feels quiet with less activity compared to the Westerly neighbors. Brand Park is very close.

There are not many homes available for sale in Brockmont. The homes range in the higher end from $600K to over a million. The pricing relates directly to the amount of land and square footage that you get in Brockmont. It's a beautiful neighborhood convenient to the city of Glendale, Los Angeles and Hollywood for commuting. Glenoaks Blvd. has the typical array of restaurants, fast food and other strip mall conveniences. Burbank is also a short drive for shopping and restaurants.

It's a great option for buyers looking in the Valley. It is17 miles from downtown Los Angeles via Route 2 and 110. Separated from the business/shopping district of Glendale by the scenic Verdugo Mountains. The population is about 30,000. Crescenta Highlands offers many pretty parks. One residential area that is highly sought after is the area surrounding Willalee Avenue. In general home prices usually range from $500-$800 K for 1-2K square feet.