Good pockets (zip codes) in Huntington Beach (Santa Ana, Irvine: apartment complexes, rental)

[SNOWDOG3239]

Hello All,

I originally grew up in SoCal, in the Santa Monica area. And moved to SF Bay Area back in the late 1990's. Now, thinking of relocating back to SoCal with 2 kids. And HB is one of the areas we are considering, along with Irvine and Costa Mesa.

As far as HB is concern, which pockets or zip codes are good and bad. Good criteria being, safety, cleanliness, and good school districts for the kids.

There were houses in the 92647 zip codes that met our housing criterias. Is this a good zip code? Are there any zip codes we should "stay away" from and/or "consider". Our housing price range is b/w $500 - $675K; w/ $700K the max.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

[EscapeCalifornia]

HB only has 4 zip codes so you really can't use zip codes as a basis for anything. There's pockets of HB that look more like Santa Ana than HB, but there's not much of that. The bulk of the city is just fine.

[bob-jenkins]

The 92647 is generally the worst ZIP code in the city, it is home to the Slater Slums area, and has a large proportion of illegal aliens and poor singles and families. It really looks more like Santa Ana because it is so run down.

The few good parts of the city (part of South Huntington east of Newland) is a good area, but west of Newland towards downtown is taking a turn for the worst because of its age, small/tacky housing stock, and unkept commercial areas. Huntington Harbour and Seacliff areas are good too, very fine coastal communities (but very expensive). Other than that, Huntington is a craphole. I think you should go with your other options, you can get a MUCH better house at a better price in a better neighborhood in other central-county cities (which is where you seem to be looking).

[EscapeCalifornia]

Don't listen to jenkins. I have customers all over HB, including 92647, living in fine houses with fine schools nearby. Of course the Slater slums suck but you don't have to live there. As long as you're not bottom-fishing for the cheapest house price or rental rate in the city, you're not going to have a problem in HB.

[bob-jenkins]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Don't listen to jenkins. I have customers all over HB, including 92647, living in fine houses with fine schools nearby. Of course the Slater slums suck but you don't have to live there. As long as you're not bottom-fishing for the cheapest house price or rental rate in the city, you're not going to have a problem in HB.

Ocean View is almost all Hispanic, illegal immigrant haven. The only good pockets left are Seacliff, the Harbour, and South Huntington east of Newland.

[OC1017]

Escapecalifornia, you are trying to boast an area that is downright awful! You do this in every thread about anything; its like someone could say "OC has bad traffic" and your response is "Huntington Beach is a great place to live" its like, calm down.

It is an overpriced dump that only has a beach and a neat downtown going for it. The 92647 ZIP code is horrible, it is like a third world country and it is being taken over by a flood of illegal immigrants and non-english speaking people.

Give it up, I agree with bob, there are some areas, but the vast majority of the city looks like a large craphole with extremely small (overpriced) single family homes, and an endless stretch of tacky apartment complexes and run down retail centers.

[lagunaniguelsheryl]

I came across this website by accident and read this thread and felt compelled to comment.

Personally, snowdog, from my experiences in Huntington Beach, I think it is less than attractive. Here in Laguna Niguel, we dont regard it very highly because of how old it is and how "inner city" it physically appears. It is by far the least appealing and least attractive beach city in the county--a big disappointment.

Irvine or Costa Mesa would be a better option for you. They are both clean, arent overrun by so many weird looking people walking the streets (especially in the eastern part which is where I believe the 92647 zip code is, but not sure). I agree with the above comments, the Harbor area looks nice but I dont know where Seacliff is (is that the new development near downtown Huntington Beach?). But that city is going down, and fast. It is surrounded by some of OC's least desirable areas (including Stanton, Westminster, and Santa Ana) which have had a negative influence on Huntington Beach.

Overall, it was once a pretty area (in the 80's) but it is definately changing for the worse.

[EscapeCalifornia]

These people are smoking crack. I think its funny when people call HB "inner city", "third world", or a "craphole". I don't live in HB but I spend a lot of time working all over it. It doesn't even have a border with Santa Ana or Stanton so that's nonsense.

Snowdog, since you're not that far away, just come down here and drive around the area. Actually drive by the houses you'll find listed for $600k. They won't be Irvine beige boxes 3' apart, and they'll be a little older, but "ghetto" won't be the word that jumps to mind except in a few areas.

[EscapeCalifornia]

HB's 92647 is the lowest of the four but that's because a couple of bad areas bring down the average. But if you want to see real ghetto, look at Compton.

[SNOWDOG3239]

Thanks for all your feedback. I will be making a visit to HB, CM, Irvine sometime next week. I will provide my own feedback when I return.

Thanks!