If you live or work on LA’s Westside — Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Westwood, Century City, or anywhere near the 405 — you know traffic isn’t just a nuisance… it’s a lifestyle. But here’s an underrated real estate and quality-of-life hack: live east of where you work.
Sound backward? Stick with us.
Sun in Your Eyes? Not Today.
Let’s say you work in Santa Monica and live in, say, Culver City, West Adams, or even Baldwin Hills. That means in the morning, you’re heading west — into the ocean breeze and with the rising sun behind you. No squinting. No sun visor origami. Just a smoother drive with better light.
At the end of the day, when traffic is sluggish and your patience is thinner than a Malibu parking spot, you head east — and once again, you avoid that blinding, low-angle sunset blasting into your windshield like a Michael Bay explosion.
Dodging the Traffic Tsunami
Here’s the secret: most people do the opposite. They live inland and drive west for work, which means they’re part of the freeway flood. If you reverse that flow — say, by living in Mid-City, Koreatown, or Pico-Robertson and working in Century City — you often enjoy a calmer commute.
Even a few minutes saved per trip adds up to hours every month. That’s real time you could be spending at the beach instead of brake lights.
More House, More Vibes
The closer you get to the coast, the more you pay — for less space. But just a few miles east can unlock charming neighborhoods with character, culture, and yes, a little more breathing room. Whether it's a bungalow in Faircrest Heights or a view home in View Park, you might be surprised what your money gets you.
The Bottom Line
Living east of your Westside workplace isn’t just a directional decision — it’s a lifestyle upgrade. Less sun in your face. Fewer traffic headaches. More house for your money. And a commute that doesn’t feel like a scene from Speed.
So next time you’re house hunting, don’t just think north vs. south of Wilshire. Think east of the office — and reclaim your mornings, your evenings, and your sanity.
Your daily grind doesn’t have to grind you down. Flip the map. Live smart. Live east.
