Helen-
San Pedro has a lot of nice areas and beautiful historic homes. It is kind of like a small community even though it is part of the city of Los Angeles. They have two very active Catholic Churches that many of the people send their kids to their schools. San Pedro is very nice in Averill Park, Upper Vista Del Oro, South Shores, White Point and Point Fermin. Taper Avenue area is also good. Many people do send their kids to private Catholic High School because the High School is L.A. Unified, but the elementary schools are good in the San Pedro areas mentioned. They are rated higher than the schools in Long Beach. Check out http:// www.GreatSchools.net. If you have kids and do not take the realtors word for it do your own homework, remember they are trying to sell something. Much of this depends upon your job. If you can afford it, Rancho Palos Verdes is right next door with great schools. Long Beach has crime that is just about the same as San Pedro, all of it is near a big city so it is not crime free, but you will find crime in Torrance as well. I wonder if some of the people who answered actually have been to San Pedro because it is just as "nice" as Long Beach, but it does get less publicity because it is smaller. People who have not lived in San Pedro do not know how nice it is. Torrance is a good option to look at in the area as well. I would recommend Susan Smeltzer, Gary Krill or Trutanich Realty for upper San Pedro, they are very active in the area and ask them the question based upon your budget. In South Torrance and Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach I would recommend Tashia Hinchliffe with Shorewood Realty to ask the same question. Most of these realtors would be glad to give you some time on the phone to ask your budget, job and neighborhood questions. I do not know any of the Long Beach realtors but ask them the same questions. I have so many friends in Palos Verdes who are realtors, and each have a particular "neighborhood they specialize in" who tend to know about houses coming up for sale before they hit the market. I do not know Mary Thomas as a friend, but she seems very honest with Remax in Palos Verdes. Make sure you specify if you are looking for investment, for proximity to job, to raise kids, etc. If you have over 950k go to Palos Verdes. If you are lucky enough to find a small house in Redondo Beach with a view, it will probably increase alot in value over the years. Have fun, but remember it is the big city in all these areas no matter what. If you have any kind of a club that you are in whether it is a sorority or a business group try to find a friend who is in the area and ask them. - Tue Apr 29 2008, 00:44
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