One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
What Are Hipsters & Where Will They Strike Next?
Are these hipsters? (Shutterstock)
Which hipster r u? (Shutterstock)
"What is a hipster?" real estate agent Tyler Harman asks. It's more complex than man buns and flannel shirts, he explains—here in Los Angeles, hipsters are mainstream, yet conceptually speaking, "really hard to pin down" and define. Sometimes it's easier if you just define them as: humans. But no, they must be labeled and defined, because they are leading a gentrification movement across the sprawl. If you aren't cringing yet, keep reading...Harman separates the hipster species into two subclasses: the Long-Time Locals and The Opportunists (or Bandwagoner). The former are "the real hipsters," who "live in gentrifying areas because they were cheap when they moved in." Catch their scent, and find your dream home for under $500K.
As far as Hipster Real Estate is concerned… They were the ones that brought the Opportunists to Silver Lake, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and so on. The Long-Time Locals don’t so much “clear the way” for the Opportunists, instead, they simply make it socially acceptable to move into the next Opportunity Neighborhood.
These Long-Time Locals have been known to bravely depart the Sunset Triangle and "venture across the Arroyo River into East L.A. into neighborhoods like Lincoln Heights and El Sereno to make room for the Opportunists in Northeast L.A." Investors follow their lead, and start flipping houses in those areas, which Opportunists then purchase because they are the hipsters with bank accounts.
Previously, The Opportunists could be found in Silver Lake or the Arts District in DTLA, and in recent years Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Altadena's Lincoln Corridor, and Pasadena have seen a hipster movement, meaning there's "a very large concentration of investor flips that are driving up prices." Where will the hipsters strike next?
I have it on good authority that they are moving into neighborhoods like Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, and Boyle Heights pushing right up against Monterey Park, which doesn’t need more rehabilitation as it is. I predict soon they will start venturing south of The 10 Freeway and underneath Downtown L.A.
Sponsored message
Harman suggests you school yourself on hipsters, and make sure you're "able to spot and identify the different breeds of hipsters" in the wild. This way you can "figure out which stage of gentrification and/or rehabilitation certain neighborhoods are in." Our advice: If you see a lot of hipster fences, you probably can't afford it.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
