The B-2 Spirit Bomber was unveiled in Pico Rivera in 1988. The real question is, how did they even see it?
Located in Southeastern Los Angeles County, Pico Rivera is home to 63,400 citizens and growing! This illustrious city was founded in 1858, combining the unincorporated communities of Pico and Rivera. What was once mainly agricultural land, quickly became a haven for entrepreneurs in the home building industry after World War II. Since the 1950's, Pico Rivera has become a residential as well as industrial city that continues to thrive. There are impressive amounts of parks and playgrounds placed throughout the city as well as an extraordinary number of athletic fields. There are 18 in all! Just 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, a stone's throw away, and you can be in the heart of the big city. However, one of the reasons why the residents love Pico Rivera, is because it doesn't feel like Los Angeles! It is a beautiful city nestled between Montebello and Whittier. Pico Rivera is easily accessible from the Santa Anna Freeway and an excellent place to visit, raise a family or retire!
Moving to Pico Rivera
The best time to begin looking for a home to rent or possibly rent to own is the moment you know it will be a future reality. Take a good look at where you are currently and why you like it. Make a list of what you expect to have in your new home, those things that you just cannot see yourself doing without. Examples might be a washer and dryer connection if you have young children, a big family or just prefer to air your dirty laundry in private as opposed to public. Do you need a garage? How about central heating and air-conditioning, or will a window unit arrangement suit your needs? These are the myriad of seemingly small, but hugely important details you need to begin to think about and write down as you go.
Finding a realtor, an agency or someone you might know that is already a local of the town will vastly improve your odds of finding a home with which you will be happy. With an agent, you can let someone else do all the leg work of finding prospects and you can come along in one swoop and look through the ones that interest you and pass up the ones that don't. This will save countless hours of driving and frustration on your part, so be smart about it from the beginning! Bring your credit references, rental history and references if you have them, your identification--of course--and be prepared to put down some money for a security deposit to hold a place if you just happen to find one on the first time out--which is not unheard of, but very lucky indeed! Follow these few simple points of advice, and you should have a much easier time of finding just the right place with a minimal amount of stress or worry...Save that for packing and unpacking instead!
Pico Rivera's Neighborhoods
Downey Rd/McCampbell:This densely urban neighborhood has a very balanced mix of owners and renters with an extremely low vacancy rate of just 0.7%! The average rent in this neighborhood is moderate to high. Many of the structures are older, built between 1940-1969, while the rest tend to be more modern, having been built after 1970. The commute time is also quite short, about 15-30 minutes per day, not too bad considering what other cities like Los Angeles have to contend with. $$$
Beverly Blvd/Durfee Ave:On the western side of Pico Rivera, the Beverly and Durfee neighborhood is a beautiful area flanked by Pico and Streamland Parks. The average rental price in this area is a bit on the high end, but you are paying for more room and better views of the mountains on this side of town. The vacancy rate is a little higher in this area as well, up at 4.3%, which is great for those looking to move into this chic, very urban little neighborhood. It is considered a walkable neighborhood, but those commuting can expect a 30-45 minute trek each way. However, many of the residents in this neighborhood tend to commute from their bedrooms to their home office for work each day. That's right, this is a huge work-from-home community!$$$$
Rosemead Blvd/Manzanar Ave:This upscale neighborhood is very trendy, walkable and mostly owner occupied. The average rent does not come cheap, nor will it completely break the bank. Most homes in this area are medium to large single family homes, however there are some smaller dwellings as well as a few apartment complexes and high rises. Overall, the average commute is a short 15-30 minute drive each day, something the locals seem to appreciate! $$$$
Rosemead Blvd/Beverly Blvd:Nestled alongside the Rio Hondo River sits this charming little neighborhood. The average rent is moderate for this area and the vacancy rate is 0.0%! Those who move here tend to stay, so finding an apartment or a home for lease might be a challenge in this area. The neighborhood is very urban, the commutes are usually a short 15 minutes and the proximity to Grant Rea and Rio Hondo Parks cannot be beat! This area is a fantastic place to live if you enjoy being outdoors and being a part of a tight knit community. $$$
Pico Vista Rd/Lochinvar Dr:This metropolitan neighborhood is just off of I-605, making your commute, if you have one, relatively painless and short depending on where you work in the city. The average rental price will make you smile, nice and middle-of-the-road! This working class neighborhood is favored by many in the manufacturing and sales industries, as well as some executives and professional managers.$$$
Clarinda Ave/La Docena Ln:A little further to the south brings us to this somewhat pricey, upscale neighborhood. This area has a very low vacancy rate, currently at 1.1%, which makes it a hard nut to crack if you are trying to move into the area. However, show tenacity and stick it out because this is a favored neighborhood to live in and raise a family in. Local residents predominantly own their homes here, and enjoy the benefits of living in such an urban environment. $$$$$
City Center:This urban neighborhood is in the heart of Pico Rivera, with City Hall at its center. A stone's throw from I-605, this moderately pricey neighborhood has a relatively low vacancy rate of 3.8%. The location of this neighborhood guarantees a short commute for most of its residents and the area is pedestrian friendly! $$$
Passons Blvd/Nan St:This neighborhood is a bargain compared to most others in the city. The average rent is quite affordable by the city's standards and most of the homes here were built between 1940-1969, giving the area a well lived in, somewhat historic feel. Again, the commutes to and from work are negligible as this neighborhood is close to the heart of Pico Rivera. The vacancy rate is nil... 0.0%. Finding an apartment or home for rent in this neighborhood is not very easy, and it's not a hard leap of the imagination to understand why. $$
Whittier Junction/Bartolo:With Pico Rivera Golf Club tucked into one corner of this affluent neighborhood, it is safe and correct to assume that the average rental price is steep in this area. Populated with up and coming executives and young professionals, many choose this area because it is so family oriented and has a somewhat secluded feeling, almost private. $$$$$
Rosemead Blvd/Whittier Blvd:This densely urban neighborhood is one of the more affordable in Pico Rivera. This is an older section of town, with most of the homes having been built before 1970, but it truly adds charm and beauty to the area. Most of the homes here are owner occupied, but there are a number of apartment complexes and high rise condominiums in the neighborhood as well. The rental vacancy rate is low at 2.1%, so there are few openings for housing in this area, but if you find one, it is a good bet you will stay! $$
Living in Pico Rivera
Want to live the LA area? Pico Rivera might be just the right choice for you. Pico Rivera is great for outdoor lovers. The town is full of parks and sports complexes, so if you like to compete or stay in shape, you'll have no problem doing it here. Like shopping? The town has every large international chain you could want or need. Need to get into LA? Get a car. Everyone here drives. It's just the way it is.