Imperial Beach

[noneya_b]

Imperial Beach (IB) has a bad reputation, but it's in no way warranted. In the last 10-20 years, it has undergone some serious changes which have made it the safest area to live. If you need proof, go to the link below and compare any zipcode in San Diego (or national for that matter!) and compare the crime rate.

IB's zipcode is 91932.

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IB is 5 times as safe as the elite Coronado zipcode, where you have to have make $300K+/yr to afford anything with a small view of the ocean. I suggest you visit IB for longer than a few hours and meet some of the locals. Yes, many of them are older and a lot of them surf, but that's what makes this such a great place to live! Stay close to Seacoast Dr. and you'll never be happier. It's a VERY safe place that everyone thinks is still stuck in it's old surf/biker town days of 20-30 years ago. Most people don't realize it's a diamond in the rough.

But saying this, it's actually cool that the prices have stayed so low. My bedroom opens to the sand/ocean, and I pay less than $1000/month for my condo. AND I actually know all of my neighbors, have everything within walking distance, and have made some great friends. Plus I don't have to deal with tourists and lousy parking! I get the same parking spot every day and only see aout 50 people walk the beaches during this time of the year. Best bang for the buck in the country. No question...

I'm watching waves as I type this on my oceanfront patio. This is the life!

[ib_surfer1488]

My grandparents have lived in IB since the 50's and it happens to have A LOT of retired Navy and defense contracting personnel. No one I can think of, which includes an entire four generation family, living in IB has ever had any problem with violent people, drug addicts drunks or gangs. If your grandparents are coming from a small town IB is even better because it has a very small community vibe. With the recent housing crunch the market in IB has fallen and availability is up as well
so I would say it's a good investment, but as a lifelong resident I'm surely biased.

[jksouthbay88]

Originally Posted by ib_surfer1488

My grandparents have lived in IB since the 50's and it happens to have A LOT of retired Navy and defense contracting personnel. No one I can think of, which includes an entire four generation family, living in IB has ever had any problem with violent people, drug addicts drunks or gangs. If your grandparents are coming from a small town IB is even better because it has a very small community vibe. With the recent housing crunch the market in IB has fallen and availability is up as well
so I would say it's a good investment, but as a lifelong resident I'm surely biased.

I had a friend that was attacked by cholos on IB Blvd@Seacoast Drive with a baseball bat.His back left window was broken into as he drove away.He then filed an investigation with SDCS that night but nothing came up.The next day he came back to the scene with SDCS to give a description/reenactment.I don't think this ever was resolved.I have to ask him.

This happened in Oct,2006 and stuff like that doesn't happen in IB because like it was said before,it's very laid-back.

[jessemh431]

Do you mean to say that that was a rare incident?

[jksouthbay88]

Originally Posted by jessemh431

Do you mean to say that that was a rare incident?

Sort of.
IB is not known for crime,at least of that magnitude.Something like graffiti,car thefts,drunk in public,things like that are the types of crime that go on there.Minor stuff.Nothing like ESD,the Northwest in Chula Vista,or gang infested areas of Oceanside.

[cherylschaum]

I love people that have never been to Imperial Beach or maybe "been there once" all of a sudden being an authority on it. I happen to live in Imperial Beach & have many friends of all ages that live in Imperial Beach. The bus system here is terriffic and you can be in Coronado for restaurants & shopping in 10 minutes once you're tired of the restaurantsa in IB. Most of the residents in Imperial Beach love the area & wouldn't give it up for anything. I know the grandparents have probably long ago made their decision where to live, but I get very irritated with people giving their views on something or someplace they know nothing about!