Relocation Package

INTRODUCTION This Relocation Package was created to help you make your decision to move to the Los Angeles / San Fernando Valley area. Below is information and website links that should answer all your questions.

AREA & CITIES The San Fernando Valley (colloquially known as The Valley) is an urbanized valley located in Southern California. More than half of the city of Los Angeles' land area lies within the San Fernando Valley. The San Fernando Valley is 345 square miles (894 km2) bounded by the Santa Susana Mountains to the northwest, the Simi Hills to the west, the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, the Verdugo Mountains to the east, and the San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast. The San Fernando Valley includes the following municipalities and communities: Arleta, Burbank, Cahuenga Pass, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Kagel Canyon, Knollwood, Lake View Terrace, Lake Balboa, Mission Hills, NoHo Arts District, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Olive View, Pacoima, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sepulveda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Toluca Woods, Tujunga, Universal City, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Warner Center, West Hills, West Toluca, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills

According to the 2008 San Fernando Valley Census Report the population of the San Fernando Valley is 1.76 million. The most populous districts of Los Angeles in the valley are North Hollywood and Van Nuys. Despite the San Fernando Valley's reputation for sprawling, low-density development, the valley communities of Panorama City, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Reseda, Canoga Park, and Northridge, have numerous apartment complexes and contain some of the densest census tracts in Los Angeles. Many wealthy families live in the hills south of Ventura Boulevard; as a result, the phrase "South of the Boulevard" has become a buzzword for homes valued at more than $1 million.

ECONOMY The valley is home to numerous companies, the most well-known of which are involved in motion pictures, recording, and television production, including CBS Studio Center, NBC-Universal, The Walt Disney Company (and its ABC television network), and Warner Bros.

TRANSPORTATION Although most of the valley is part of Los Angeles, its development pattern is almost exclusively suburban, and the automobile is the dominant mode of transportation. Despite the dominance of the automobile, the valley has two Metro subway stations, in Universal City and North Hollywood, which opened in 2000 as an extension of the Metro Red Line Subway connecting the Valley to Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. The Orange Line, an east-west Bus Rapid Transit bus-way was opened in October 2005, connecting the North Hollywood Metro station to Warner Center in the west Valley. If you are traveling by air, flying in and out of Bob Hope Airport in Burbank (BUR) is recommended to avoid the 1+ hour drive to LAX. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is a convenient, friendly airport in the best location for access to and from Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. It’s the closest airport to Downtown L.A., Hollywood, Disney, Warner Bros., NBC, Universal Studios, the Rose Bowl, and Dodger Stadium. Airline service to and from Burbank includes Alaska, Airline American Airline, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways.

CLIMATE The San Fernando Valley is typically 10 degrees hotter in the summer and 10 degrees colder in the winter than the city of Los Angeles. The summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees. Downtown Los Angeles

San Fernando Valley

Days with Rain

Hi F/ C

Lo F/ C

Hi F/ C

Lo F/ C

Jan

66/ 19

49/ 9

67/ 20

41/ 5

6

Feb

68/ 20

51/ 10

70/ 21

42/ 6

6

Mar

69/ 20

32/ 11

71/ 22

44/ 7

7

Apr

71/ 22

54/ 12

76/ 25

47/ 9

4

May

73/ 23

58/ 14

81/ 27

52/ 11

2

Jun

77/ 25

61/ 16

87/ 31

57/ 14

1

Jul

83/ 28

64/ 18

94/ 35

61/ 16

0

Aug

83/ 28

66/ 19

94/ 35

62/ 17

1

Sep

82/ 28

65/ 18

90/ 32

59/ 15

2

Oct

78/ 25

60/ 16

83/ 28

52/ 11

2

Nov

73/ 22

53/ 12

72/ 23

44/ 7

4

Dec

68/ 20

49/ 9

67/ 20

40/ 4

5

F= Fahrenheit C=Celsius/Centigrade

SCHOOLS The number of public and private schools in the San Fernando Valley is too large to include any useful information in this package. For both public and private school choices, you can compare schools in a specific city by class sizes, test scores, parent ratings and lots of other useful information at:

http://www.greatschools.net/

CARS Registering Your Car & Obtaining A California Driver's License If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents. It is recommended that you make an appointment at your local DMV office to take the written test to avoid standing in line for hours. You can make your appointment online at: https://eg.dmv.ca.gov/foa/welcome.do?localeName=en A copy of the Driver's Handbook can be downloaded here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl600.pdf If your car is new to California you must register and pay the fees within 20 days of entry or residency. Make an appointment online and bring the following to the DMV office on the day of your appointment: ! The last-issued, out-of-state title and a copy of the last registration. ! Proof of insurance. ! Smog certification unless your car is new, federally certified and already registered in another state. Smog Certifications can be obtained at licensed service stations. Look around your neighborhood for one. Be prepared to pay a hefty fee. The DMV has a fee calculator that you can use online so that there are no surprises when you get there: https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb/index.jsp

UTILITIES Most residences in the San Fernando Valley are in the LA Dept of Water and Power (LADWP) district. Requests for turn on service can be found here: https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/loginSSOeService.ladwp?srtype=turnon LADWP service includes water, electricity and garbage collection rolled into one big monthly bill. If your residence is new and does not already have the garbage (black) container, the recyclable (blue) container, and the garden/lawn (green) container; you will need to call them and have the containers delivered to you. The DWP call center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) Natural gas service is provided by Southern California Gas Company. Turn on service can be requested online here: http://www.socalgas.com/service/

GEM MIMMS This Relocation Package is designed to help you understand my commitment to you as a Realtor servicing the San Fernando Valley. I guarantee the optimum level of service for your real estate needs when buying or leasing a home, condominium, or apartment in Studio City, Valley Village, Sherman Oaks, Valley Glen, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood, Burbank or in surrounding Los Angeles County, CA communities. Next time you need a Realtor, be sure to contact me today. CONTACT Cell: (818) 421-3604 Office: (818) 783.7721 Fax: (818) 783.7211 Skype: Gemmimms email: [email protected] Facebook: Gem Mimms - aaroe+williamson Twitter: gemimms