Best place to live while working in Chula Vista? (San Diego: 2015, apartment)

[nebhar97]

My girlfriend and I are preparing for a move to San Diego and we're trying to figure out the best area to live in. We're looking for a place that is priced around $1350-1500, closer to the beach/downtown, has things for people in their mid 20s to do, and is about a 20 mile/35 minute commute from Otay Ranch. Any ideas on what areas would fit this description?

-Thanks!

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Otay Ranch or Eastlake are the nicest/newest areas of Chula in general. Bonita is great but probably not for a renting crowd. Proximity to Downtown SD is decent and probably about a 15-20 min drive on the 5 freeway once you get to it.
You can probably find and apartment or condo/townhouse for your budget.

Keep in mind, this is suburbia so it tends to be more family friendly than anything else. I would not really consider it a cut loose drinking/nightclub hub.
The Otay Ranch towne center is arguably the nicest mall layout in SD. Not the best shops, but certainly plenty of shops to choose from with just a great ambiance. Definitely something for everyone.

I think its severely underrated in Otay Ranch and Eastlake for comparable areas in the northern part of the County. The only slight issue is that takes about 15-20 mins to get to the 5 freeway as Otay Ranch and Eastlake are a bit inland. This can be a plus or minus though. There is a toll road is there (125) to get in and out very easily.

However, I dont live in this area, I think there are some posters here in city-data that can give you more accurate places to live based on budget etc.

[mricu]

You mentioned your "price" is $1350-$1500. Is this price a rental price or a mortgage cost?

If renting and you want to be in a community with other younger couples and easy access to downtown, beaches, shopping, etc., I would recommend Mission Valley.

If you are talking about mortgage costs, the only place you can probably get a suitable proeprty in that range would be in Otay Ranch, East Lake, Bonita in Chula Vista (this is including HOA fees).

I work in Chula Vista myself and have rented in Mission Valley for the past few years. Commute is always against the flow of traffic so I'm usually at work/home within 15 minutes.

[Clevelandgal]

If you work day time hours, living near downtown would be a reverse commute. I would looking into neighborhoods adjecent to downtown like South Park and Bankers Hill as you can get on to south 5 l easily. South Park has some nice little bars and is close to downtown and coronado bridge. Mission Valley is not for everyone. It is centrally located and has lots of chain store shopping (if that is even your thing), but it has a very suburban in feel. I would feel like I lived at the mall. If you want san diego to feel like a suburban area where you are from then maybe it is ok b/c all the stores are the same as anywhere else.

If you are working a second shift job, it would not be a fun commute, 5 southbound, S of the city can gridlock in the afternoon rush hour.

Both Bankers Hill and South Park are next to Balboa Park, a big plus

[hitman619]

Don't count out Imperial beach

[Clevelandgal]

Originally Posted by hitman619

Don't count out Imperial beach

I am sure a lot of people will chime in how awful it is, but I think it is OK-to not bad at all. Are there a lot of younger people though? Also if the girlfriend plans on working, they may want to locate more centrally

[Bakeneko]

We're in Otay Ranch and so far , like it very much.....but I'm not sure I would have felt the same in my younger days - there's no much of a night life out here (to my knowledge anyway...)

[tstieber]

I second Mission Valley. Lots of housing options, decent complexes, good prices, great shopping nearby, and really close to get downtown or other hip neighborhoods, even on the trolley if you like.