What areas of North SD should I look for a safe apt? (San Diego: middle-class)

[HarborEastGuy]

I am moving to San Diego and need some advise on what areas to look
for a SAFE apartment in. When I look at the apartmentratings website I
see many reviews stating their cars were broken in to or vandalized.
I also read of apartment break-ins.

I want to find an area to rent a 1 bedroom for $1500-$1600 where
I know my car is safe at night and my things will still be there when I
get home from home at night.

I will be working in Rancho Bernardo but I am a single guy so I want to
be in a area of 20-35 singles. If I have to hide out in a family area of
apartments to get safety, that is fine so long as I am close to areas of
the single scene.

What areas would everyone suggest? Mira Mesa? Miramar? Sorrento?
Serra Mesa? I'll be working right off the 15 in Rancho Bernardo and
would like no more than 20 min drive (25 mins at the max) What areas
should I avoid?

Thanks!!!
Tom

[mewzikguy]

Check Craigslist for better recommendations. . .also Yelp.com is where the hipsters/scenesters talk about things- - sure they can help Nice, fun areas for you would be Carlsbad, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, Downtown, North Park. . . if you wanna hang out in an urban environment with people your age. Otherwise, live in RB, which some of my friends did, then drive down to the city when you wanna party, go to art shows, catch a concert. .etc. .

[NYSD1995]

It's hard for me to get a bead on what your perception of a "safe" area is. Would you feel safe in say, Manhattan?

San Diego is a major city, so there is high crime areas and sleepy suburbia. The majority of the bars and clubs are going to be in urban areas where safe and unsafe may be a matter of a few blocks.

There are also smaller, more upscale singles scenes as well. Generally speaking, you are looking at SD city or the beaches for nightlife. There is nothing to do in Rancho Bernardo or Mira Mesa.

[HarborEastGuy]

Well, I'm not into clubs. I like to hang out on the beach on the
weekends, and as for meeting single people I prefer to go to happy
hours after work or laid back places. I am getting a little older (30)
and have outgrown the loud music/club scene.

I now live in PA, but in 2006 I sent a year in Irvine CA. Irvine was
super safe, trendy, new, bike trails, parks and shopping but it was
hard to meet single people. I had to drive over to huntington beach
to meet single people. People in Newport Beach were to rich and
I never clicked with people there. My 2004 Inifiniti G35 was looked
down upon from all the people with Mecedes 500SLs and Aston Martins.
But I really liked the time I spent in Irvine. I would say I am trendy,
working middle-class kind of guy.

As to safe, I don't fear people at all. I just want to know that my
stuff will still be there when I get home from work and that my cars
will be left alone at night..

I see some really nice new apartments in which are in high-rises downtown.
I would have to think these "newer" towers (high-rises) are safer for
break-ins due to limited/controlled access? If so how long is the drive
between Rancho Bernardo and downtown? I assume it's going to be a
reverse traffic pattern? (heading out of the city in the mornings)

Thanks!

[CrissCT]

Try the Reserve in 4S Ranch which is technically still Rancho Bernardo. You would have a very short commute to work and not too far from the beach. There is a nice pool and you can walk to restaurants and the grocery store.

[cnkad]

just something to be aware of...it has been my experience that sometimes the apartment ratings websites seems to only attract opinions of people who have had really bad experiences. (not that they arnt valid...) Also, in regards to break ins, it is often the way the apartment complex is set up (is it gated well, do you have to park on the street or do you get a garage? ext) rather than the area it is in. I would say that compared to most other large cities or metro areas, most places in san diego are pretty safe.

[HarborEastGuy]

Everyone raves about Torrey Ridge (an Irvine Company Property) but this may be
to far away from the singles scene..??? It's up where the 56 and 5 meet..

I like newer apartments that have gates and garages and I was told PB is more
established and older..?? Maybe I have to rent a loft downtown near gaslamp
or live out in family-land suburbs to get something like this??

more ideas/advise for me???

[mini_cute]

There are some apartments on the edge of Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa. I think that is a safe and nice place to get an apartment. It has excellent access to restaurants and retail too.