So you’re thinking of Leaving Los Angeles, but you’re not sure where to go.
I went through the exact same thing, and I’m going to share with you the BEST areas outside of LA that offer all the perks of Southern California Living, without all the traffic, smog, and grime of the city.
If we haven’t met before, I’m Emily Berdon, and I’m a Realtor who specializes in helping people relocate from Los Angeles to the Conejo Valley- an area which I believe is Southern California’s Best Kept Secret.
I lived in LA for 13 years and I actually loved living there… until I had kids. When you have kids you suddenly see everything through a different lens. Instead of being able to walk to my favorite bars, restaurants, and yoga studios, I wanted to be able to walk to beautiful parks and hiking trails with my kids. I wanted a backyard, better air quality, and a sense of community. I found all that (and more!) in the Conejo Valley, and I’d love to help you find that too!
The Conejo Valley is the area northwest of Los Angeles, positioned in between LA and Santa Barbara. So if you’re driving north on the 101, once you pass through Calabasas, you’ll be in the Conejo Valley. So the towns are: Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Oak Park… and then I’m including Camarillo, Moorpark & Simi Valley (which are not technically part of the Conejo Valley, but they are close by)
Each town has it’s own vibe, and things that make it special, but in general the Conejo Valley attracts families who want close proximity to Los Angeles, but the slower pace of life you get in a suburb.
Now there are a lot of suburbs on the outskirts of Los Angeles, but this one is special:
#1 The Beaches
Depending on where you live, you’re 15-30 min from the beach. And there are many beaches to choose from. You can hop over the Santa Monica Mountains to Malibu, or go up the coast to the beaches in Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura. Living in the Conejo Valley, I go to the beach way more often than I ever did living in LA.
#2 The Open Space
There is tons of open space in the Conejo Valley – and a lot of the houses back up to the open space. As a result, you have more privacy and stunning views. And if you’re into hiking or mountain biking, there are trails all over the place. There’s even one trail that goes all the way to Malibu. Yes, you can walk from the Conejo Valley to Malibu in a couple of hours!
#3 The Friendly People
People are friendly here! When I first moved here it was almost surreal how nice people were. I mean, everywhere I went, people would hold doors for me, say hello, and ask how my day was going. This never happened to me living in LA so it was quite refreshing. After living here for a while, I’ve realized that people here are happier and less stressed, probably from the slower pace of life…and happy people are nice people to be around!
Side note: If you’ve been to the Conejo Valley (or you already happen to live here), comment and let me know what you love most about it.
If you’re considering a move…
If you’re considering making the move to the Conejo Valley, I would encourage you to read my next 2 blogs, where I go over the things you will LOVE about living here, and the things you will HATE. It is a wonderful place to live, but I’ll be honest, there are some drawbacks too.
So If you’re like me and you’re thinking of leaving Los Angeles, please reach out. I would love to be a resource for you. My contact info is below, so please get in touch and let me know how I can help.
emilyberdonRE@gmail.com
CALBRE# 02166248
Aviara Real Estate
