Mark's place is a charming and quaint find! It is located in the perfect location in the hip and trendy Abbot Kinney of Venice Beach. You are a 2 minute walk from coffee shops, clothing stores, bars, and restaurants and a 10 minute walk to the beach! The lifestyle and quality of life in Abbot Kinney is amazing! No need to worry about a car (you can walk, bike, or scooter anywhere), which is very rare in LA. Though, if you do have a car like us, there is free street parking in front of the house (huge plus) and it's not difficult finding a spot, given how popular the area is. We left the front door open almost always during the daytime which brought in so much California sunshine. My husband and I lived here for 4 months (WFH) and have lots of fond memories (sunbathing on the patio, biking to Santa Monica, walking to coffee, lunch, and dinner, etc. as normal everyday activities).
Advice for long term stays:
With that said, the unit itself wasn't perfect. It is an older unit and there are a couple of things to be aware of for a longer term stay. The house itself has an old and musky smell. We had a small issue with termites, unkept lawn, and the furniture is not as clean as we had hoped (couches were very dusty and floors were not pleasant to walk on with bare feet). Mark was very accommodating and always found ways to make it up to us for any minor inconveniences such as sending extra supplies and always being a call away if needed. In terms of safety, Venice is Venice so just always be alert.
IN CONCLUSION:
We are very happy with the 4 months we spent at Mark's place! It was very easy to make it feel like home. The location and quality of life while living in the unit, outweighs its negatives. Truly a unique find in LA.