A drive-by, an AK-47 and SWAT: Welcome to your starter neighborhood

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In a report earlier this week, the California Association of Realtors discussed affordability of ‘entry level’ homes in Los Angeles. The Realtors calculated it would take household income of $86,700 a year to buy a home priced at $433,200, which the Realtors figure is an entry-level home in this county. Only 27 percent of the households in the county can afford that, the group said.

What kind of home might you get for that kind of money? And in what kind of neighborhood? For $399,800, you could buy a very small house on Estara Avenue just north of downtown. Two bedrooms, one bath, only 572 square feet.

The listing describes this little house as a ‘First time Buyer’s Alternative ... a great property with good size fenced Yard lots of room for your children to Play.’

While playing, your children could look out in the street and see the terrifying scene above. The house is a stone’s throw from the spot where police today shot and killed one man and wounded another after a wild incident that began with a drive-by shooting.

I don’t mean to pick on this neighborhood -- there are no doubt hard-working people there struggling to make a better life, and home ownership plays a role in that quest. My point is this: There is something not right about paying $400,000 for a tiny house in a neighborhood the police described today as ‘a base of operations for Avenues gang members.’

Four hundred thousand dollars for a tiny house in a neighborhood where violence is common, according to a man named Juan Soto. ‘This kind of incident happens about once a month,’ Soto told the L.A. Times. ‘This is not the first time.’

I understand that Los Angeles has become a very expensive city in recent years. I’m afraid I don’t fully understand why.

Thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com
Photo credit: L.A. Times