In Los Angeles, They Wanted a House for Their Growing Family. Which Neighborhood Was Right?

Ashley and Jon Oliver met in New York City a decade ago, when she was preparing to go to medical school at Columbia University and he was working as a D.J. They got used to tight living quarters in the city, and then in San Francisco, where Dr. Oliver completed her residency in anesthesiology at the University of California-San Francisco.

In 2022, with two young sons now in the mix, the couple debated their next move: perhaps Ohio or Alabama, where they had family and where single-family homes would be more affordable. They compiled spreadsheets and shared notes galore on potential homes around the country, and how they might afford them.

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“It was always, if we go to those places we can buy a house, but the thought was if we go back to New York, live in San Francisco or in L.A., I don’t know, maybe not,” said Mr. Oliver, 48.

In the end, they decided to stay in California and head south to Los Angeles, where she got a faculty position at UCLA and he could pursue a career in audio mixing and mastering.

The couple began going to open houses for fun, looking for a friendly neighborhood with plenty of places to walk and play, and for a home with enough space to host family and friends, and for Dr. Oliver to set up a home office.

The plan was to wait and save more money for a larger down payment. “But instead we were coerced by friends of Jon’s who own in View Park to meet with their realtor,” said Dr. Oliver, 42. “We did, and were won over by her confidence and charisma.”

It was Erica Carter Walden, an agent with Compass, who warned the couple that, even with their budget of around $1.3 million, inventory was low and prices were high as sellers touted their recent renovations. But she always tells her clients not to get discouraged too soon in the process.

“I said, ‘Your house is out there, you got to go out and look for it,” Ms. Carter Walden said. “Your house will find you, and when you get that house you will be so in love with it you will forget about all of the frogs you kissed before.”

Among their options:

No. 1

Amanda Friedman for The New York Times

This three-bedroom, three-bath, 1,527-square-foot house from 1911 was in Jefferson Park, a few miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It had curb appeal and charming wood craftsmanship inside, and was a block from a public library, a park and a coffee shop. There was a cute front porch, a large kitchen and a garden out back with a stone walkway and a detached studio. Storage was limited, and they weren’t sure whether the outdoor space would be useful for their children to run around and kick soccer balls. The asking price was $1.199 million, with annual taxes of around $12,000.

Compass

Compass

No. 2

Amanda Friedman for The New York Times

This renovated three-bedroom, three-bath, 2,300-square-foot house from 1951 was on a tree-lined street in View Park, just south of Crenshaw. It had a large formal dining room, ample closet space, an updated kitchen with quartz countertops, two fireplaces, a rear den and a terraced backyard. The third bedroom had a separate full bath and kitchenette, making it a good office space. They didn’t like the glass pane separating the living room and family room, nor the lack of space for a studio. And they were concerned that the house was being flipped. The asking price was $1.389 million, with annual taxes of around $4,100.

Keller Williams Realty

Keller Williams Realty

No. 3

Amanda Friedman for The New York Times

This three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, 1,508-square-foot house from 1940 was in Leimert Park, a neighborhood just east of View Park known for its Spanish Revival homes. It had character, with stained-glass windows, a kitchen with Saltillo tile floors and a breakfast nook, original hardwood floors, and sliding glass doors out to a sprawling concrete courtyard. A detached outbuilding had two bonus rooms and a half-bath. Two of the bedrooms were on the smaller side, and the lack of kitchen storage, and of grass in the courtyard, could be an issue. The house also needed some work. The asking price was $1.348 million, with annual taxes of around $13,000.

Compass

Compass

Which Would You Choose?

Which Did They Buy?