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I basically won the lottery but am still trying to make ends meet. Sometimes think about leaving LA. Any advice or guidance?
I'm pretty young (26), and its brought on a lot of responsibilities since. Basically the last few years have been stabilizing the property overall, keeping up with all the taxes/bills...stepping up to new challenges, and I'm making it work. But I've never had a fing legit job! Always been freelance, in a creative industry, and I continue to make it through.
I feel like i'm constantly on the precipe of financial failure...but in such an ironic way: my taxes (since moving in) have been paid from songs I wrote, sessions I ran, sometimes the occasional royalty check if the timing lines up. Baffles me every time I sit down and think about it: My brain wrote things that people wanted enough to pay for, which in turn grants me a license from the government to live in this house for the next year legally. Which brings me to something I've learned: YOU CANNOT TRULY NOT OWN A HOME IN AMERICA.* Try skipping your property taxes and see what happens.
In conclusion, I'm trying to really not rush this whole life process, be easy on myself and remember to be grateful that my late-friend gave me something very valuable here. I just want to avoid running to my only parent and remaining support system with my tail between my legs, not able to make this work.
What do make of this crazy life I have and how would you think about things here? LA is home. I just want to do what makes me happy, share that with others, and have enough success that I can be extra generous with my friends and family who helped raise me through such an insane time.
dude honestly you're already doing the thing most people here never figure out - you're making the art pay for the life, not the other way around. that freelance hustle where you're constantly stitching together income from different sources? that's basically LA's real economy, just most people are paying rent with it instead of property tax
couple things i'd add to what others said. first, if you haven't already, look into the property tax reassessment rules for inherited property in california. prop 19 changed some stuff but depending on when your friend passed, you might still be locked into their old tax basis. that could be way lower than what a new buyer would pay and it changes the whole math on whether selling makes sense
second, and i know this sounds basic but i mean it - keep making music. like, don't let the house stress kill your creative flow. i've seen people get a windfall like this and suddenly they're spending all their mental energy on being a landlord or a property manager instead of doing the thing that actually got them there. the house is a tool, not the point. you said LA is home and you want to share your art - bet on that instinct, it's already working
honestly the best move nobody's mentioned is looking into the Mills Act if your place has any historic bones. some neighborhoods in LA like parts of highland park or angelino heights qualify and it can slash your property tax by 30-40% in exchange for keeping the place's character. takes some paperwork and maybe a maintenance plan but it's worth a couple hours to check
also re: the freelance thing, you should look into what the city calls "creative economy" grants. LA has a bunch of small pots through DCA and the arts commission that are designed for people exactly like you, like 5-15k for projects that don't require you to be a registered business. that could cover a property tax bill or a big repair without touching your royalties
the fact that you're making it work on creative income at 26 with a house says more about your hustle than your luck. most people with a paid-off place in LA are still paying a mortgage to the city via taxes. you're just paying it with songs instead of a paycheck which is honestly more LA than anything i've seen in a while
The property tax thing is real, but you should check if your friend had it under Prop 13 from way back. If they bought before 1978, your base rate could be absurdly low, like 1% of a 1970s valuation. That changes the whole math on whether selling makes sense.
What I haven't seen anyone mention is the city's Mello-Roos districts. Some neighborhoods have these special tax assessments layered on top of regular property tax that can add a couple thousand a year. Check your title docs or pull the parcel from the county assessor's site to see if you're paying extra for things like street lighting or sewer bonds that might be expiring soon.
You're 26 with a paid-off structure in LA and a creative income that covers your nut. That's not a precipe, that's a head start most people here would kill for. The only real risk is letting the house turn you into a nervous property manager instead of a musician. Rent a room to another creative for $1500, put that straight into your tax escrow, and get back to writing.
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How can I find mobile hot dog vendors for a private event?
honestly the SGV has a ton of licensed cart operators who mostly do private stuff now. look up "hot dog cart catering San Gabriel Valley" on Yelp and you'll get a handful that are fully permitted, which matters if your venue needs a health permit on file. expect around $400 to $700 for a few hours plus a per person minimum, usually 50 or so. the ones based in Alhambra and Rosemead tend to be cheaper than Pasadena because they're not paying that rent.
fwiw the county health dept keeps a public list of permitted mobile food operators, its searchable by city on the LA County Public Health site. filter for "pushcart" or "MFF" and you'll get vendors cleared for SGV zip codes, which saves you the headache of a venue asking for paperwork later. also worth checking with the Old Town Monrovia or Alhambra farmers market folks, the carts there are usually booked solid but they know who's free and they'll pass along names. just dont wait till the last week, good ones book out 2 to 3 weeks in teh summer.
You could try hitting up the folks who set up outside Home Depot or the DMV in El Monte on weekends, a lot of those carts are owner operated and they'll do private gigs if you ask. Just walk up and grab a card, they usually have one taped to the cart.