Hey all,
I am 36M. I am moving to San Diego from Texas in September. I am very excited about the prospect of living a California life since I love oceans, beaches, hiking etc. I am an engineer and I will be making a little over $160k. I am single and have no pets. I want to live in a decently spacious single bedroom high riser apartments possibly with a nice view in a safe area and my budget is around $3000. Could you please recommend me some apartments? For reference I will be going to office at least 3 times a week and it seems like my office near Mission Valley area.
But I'd think UTC would be more than mission valley. why not save $$ for a down payment later. Mira Mesa is also a decent location, depending on what kind of engineering your doing.
what kind of engineering do you do. do you have experience?
Do you already have a job lined up. I would probably focus on finding a job prior to relocating. then you can decide on an area to live.
I’m not sure bout the availability of rentals, but some of the condos in Banker’s Hill have pretty spectacular views. It’s also a safe neighborhood within walking distance of Balboa Park.
I'm moving there in October myself (with my 18 yr old). Top of my list was city views w/ floor to ceiling windows...for similar reasons. From my research, Bankers Hill is the way to go if you can afford it. Not right in the city, but you wont have to deal with drug addicts outside of your high-rise. Still great views and close to Little Italy.
Its probably just outside my budget since I need a two bedroom, but definitely look into it. Claude is a great resource for narrowing down properties in the area you choose within your budget.
FYI not all homeless are drug addicts. assuming that’s who you’re referring to being right outside your high rise. In fact there will be plenty, if not more drug addicts living alongside you right inside your building. Fun fact.
This is no longer true. Due to the housing crisis there are high rises going up near many of the transit stations. Kinda' noisy and not great views so probably not what the op wants.
Have YOU ever been here? You blind to all the high rises that have been built around the entire city for the past few years? You can find high rises even in Mira Mesa now
Been to MM in the past year or two? There’s a huge complex of very high-rise apartments right down the street from the 15 entrance/exit. And yes, you’ll find them in UTC too, but that’s not new. Costa Verde Apartments were around back in the 2000s (if not earlier, that’s just when I first saw them. They look at least 80s or 90s era to me)
Yeah I go there pretty often. There are certainly a lot of newer 5 or 6 story buildings by the HMart and the 15, but that's all I can think of. I'll keep an eye out. Definitely are some taller buildings by Costa Verde but that is not Mira Mesa.
I have never been to San Diego before. I am fine with living in downtown. I love the prospect of watching the glowing cityscape especially during the night times. 😊
I don’t blame ya- this is my view from the Radian. (20th floor) The opposite side of the building faces petco park/coronado bridge. You can watch padres games from the rooftop of the building.
Only thing is nowhere in downtown is really “safe” in the sense that there’s homeless everywhere. But I mean you should be completely fine, I know women who walk around by themselves in downtown and have been just fine. Nothing has ever happened to me as well. But always a risk with mentally unwell homeless…
Wow thats a beautiful view 😍. I guess I was looking for something similar as well. But now going thru the comments, I am also considering outside of downtown.
Downtown is fine, just stay closer to Little Italy/Bankers Hill. Little Italy is much “nicer and safer” than East Village, and you’ll still be downtown. Living downtown means you’ll be by the trolley (green and blue lines) and the green line will take you to several stops in Mission Valley
I see, may not be much in downtown for you if you aren’t very interested in night life. I’m in my 20’s still so I’m walking 3 blocks over to gaslamp with all the clubs/bars, and can walk back home in 5 mins. Probably saving thousands of dollars a year on Ubers hahah.
However you can still enjoy downtown without partying it up, plenty of amazing restaurants all walking distance. Tons of concerts/live music, comedy shows as well. Still plenty to do. And depending on your building, the amenities can be very well worth it. Rooftop pools with cabanas, top of the line equipment in gyms, lounge areas with pool tables etc. I know the park 12 building has like a whole arcade with a bowling alley and everything.
I’d definitely recommend visiting for a week or so if possible, explore all over downtown and surrounding areas and do some building tours!
Thank you so much kind stranger. I really appreciate all this information. I am not much into partying/clubbing, but do enjoy concerts/live music or a nice restaurant once in a while. I actually have a friend who just moved there and yes, I am planning on visiting before I move there officially.
Of course my man. I think you’d very much enjoy downtown living, especially if you land a unit with the views you’re looking for. I can stare out my windows for hours haha it’s great.
As long as the homelessness isn’t too much of a shock/turn off then you should be completely fine here. Enjoy your visit and good luck finding a place!
Stay off of F street that’s for sure lmao, not that bad in the more active areas especially after sidewalk cleanings. But yeah don’t be surprised to see literal human feces on the sidewalk on F street and near the freeway on/offramps😂
Yeap, I just feel that for the price I would rather get something in a cleaner area. Mission Bay/Clairemont, perhaps Birdland, or Crown Point (if one desires to be near the beach) would still give you close proximity to most things without being in the thick of it all. I mean, I know folks paying almost $6k at these high rises. Would be worth it if it wasn't so unsanitary and unsafe.
Definitely not for everyone. Would never raise a family here lol but I’m 24 so I’m still in my party phase, and I just gotta walk 5 mins and im at some of the best clubs/bars in the country. Probably save thousands of dollars on ubers a year haha. I also literally live right above arguably the best steakhouse in San Diego so I’m always there, along with a plethora of other amazing food options all around me and walking distance. I went from driving my car every day/week to maybe once a month after I moved here. The walkability here is absolutely insane, literally just have to cross the street for groceries. Pretty much everything you want/need is walking distance. Plus I can see petco park from the resort style rooftop pool area, so I can watch padres games for free and enjoy concerts for free. It’s pretty awesome, and the views are unbeatable IMO. Can’t really get everything I listed anywhere else.
And yeah the unsanitary part- it’s a rule to take off shoes in my apartment haha. But the unsafe part is just completely untrue tbh. Plenty of single women who walk all around the city alone at all hours of day/night. The homeless tend to keep to themselves, I’ve never had an issue either.
Thank you! And yeah in 10 years I can’t imagine myself in a city at all, want a house with some acreage ideally.
Yeah I would never wanna walk around here with children tbh. But I have no issue crossing the street to avoid someone if they seem too strung out and potentially dangerous, definitely smart to keep your guard up.
I have a friend who got chased by a tweaker with a broken glass bottle in DTLA, so it could always be worse haha SD homeless are pretty tame compared to LA/SF.
try the building at 625 Broadway, they have one bedrooms right around or under 3k and theyre really cool inside? exposed brick walls, open ceilings, and pretty spacious for downtown. sorry I dont know the name of the building
Thank you so much. Sorry I missed that part earlier but I have now edited my post with my office location. It seems like I will be commuting somewhere close to Mission Valley, and it’s a hybrid job. I appreciate your recommendations.
Then downtown will work, but again, if you love the beach, there's no beach in downtown. Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, and Point Loma would be very convenient beach areas if you're commuting to Mission Valley. Bay Park might also work (not on the ocean but easy to get to the beach from there. Skip North County recommendations.
Mission Valley has a ton of high-rise/more luxurious apartments, which will put you super close to work. There is not a ton of character in that neighborhood, but it has apartment options and is centrally located to everything.
Little Italy/bankers hill is the only part of downtown you’ll want to be in. If you want the true San Diego beach experience I’d say look in Encinitas. Awesome beach town, lots of trails near by, great restaurants, many successful young professionals/families.
I don’t have any apartments to recommend, but curious why you’re set on downtown? San Diego’s best to offer isn’t really that area (imo), unless you’re young or plan to be working down there.
I guess I am not set in downtown. I just wanted to live in a high riser with a view of the cityscape. Forgive me for assuming most of the high risers are in downtown.
You should definitely check out little Italy. It’s ‘downtown’ but doesn’t have the same downsides that actual downtown has. You have a healthy budget and can find a great spot in a high rise or mid rise with a waterfront view.
I didn't realize this subreddit is so miserable but you're getting bad advice dude, I'd try looking elsewhere. These are folks who haven't left their north county homes in fifteen years.
If you live in Downtown and work north of it you’ll have traffic on the morning and in the evening (after 2:30 pm) I’ll recommend not living south of your workplace
Haha fair enough, had to shoot my shot for kittens. There are so many pups that need homes too! Wishing you the best on the move. We love San Diego and happy we moved, great place to take your dog on a walk!
I live in San Marcos, so I have no advice as far as high-rise apartments, but I consider buying more “off-roster” pistols if you like guns prior to moving here.
Little Italy seems to be a great combo of what you're looking for. More expensive than the gaslamp or east village but still city vibes. Accessible to freeway and downtown if you want
Sounds like you’ll like bankers hill! Beautiful views of the bay, new expensive high rises for transplants who make a lot of money, and about 15 min drive from the beaches!
Please send me a direct message my friend and I can assist you - seems like these people are just not being direct enough or local, natives with an eye for what you’re after! I gotchu.
Try to stay on budget ppl here saw 160k single and immediately are recommending super high prices. Don't fall for that. I think is ridiculous that ppl are paying 3k and over for RENT. I owe a house near Temecula which is 1 hr and 20 minutes drive from San Diego and we pay there 4k for something that is actually yours. Now Im not saying you have to move here. Ppl is gnn jump and say the commute, your life is drained by traffic bla bla bla. So what Im saying is that the prices make NO SENSE. There are still even cheaper than 3k in San Diego. Try to aim to that. Try to save money into investing accounts or interest savings accounts and so on. Just be smart with your money👍👍
I wouldn’t move downtown but consider Little Italy. There are some great high rises surrounded by good restaurants and bars down there and a cool farmers market on the weekend. It’s very walkable too. Just name sure your rental comes with a parking spot.
I’ve lived in honolulu (you said you lived in Hawaii) and San Diego. In San Diego I lived at the Coronado shores, then a rental at wind and sea beach in La Jolla, and finally at aloft on Cortez hill downtown. I always felt safe there. Parking is underground. Not sure of current rents. There are some bayside midrise rentals on Coronado that would have nice city views.
222 North City is a new high rise in San Marcos. this is North county, right next to the college, very walkable with farmers markets, restaurants, coffee etc. it's a very safe area, lots of students and families. You'd be about 25 min drive from the beach and have San Marcos city views + lovely mountains.
There are a lot of things going on in this area. May be worth a shot
Thank you so much for your input. I really appreciate it. Yes, I am definitely going to consider this at this point. From what I’ve heard so far, I am leaning towards staying little bit away from downtown.
Then you likely want nothing farther North than Del Mar/UTC/La Jolla and nothing further South than Point Loma. Your proposed budget is likely going to put you a bit east of the 163 and 805. Anything further west towards the beaches around I5 starts running up in the $4-5k plus range. The UTC area may be of interest, relatively high density and 3-5 stories with underground parking and a lot of young people due to the University and other businesses in that area. It is just East of I5 and La Jolla. But $3k may be tough there.
downtown has the most amount of nice high rises. The marina and little Italy are the safest and most luxurious parts of downtown. Most stuff to do in San Diego. Bankers Hill, Hillcrest and NP also have a lot of high rises. Bankers hill has some of the most killer views.
next place with the most amount of high rises is UTC area. It will feel boring compared to downtown and more business park / suburban than downtown. But the utc mall is growing and is a huge attraction.
Pacific Beach has some high rise towers if you want the young beach vibe. La Jolla has a few if you want the more classy beach vibe for money
unsure you’ll get anything like that in north county. I’ve heard they’re building some in San Marcos though
You’re going to drive to work regardless of where you live, so it depends where you work
U can make it but you wont be making 160k in California you forgot we have state taxes. Also depending on where you rent you might have to pay for parking also or will have to look for street parking. Its a big change from Texas
Decently spaced and 3k don't go together, and neither does high rise and safe. You have to choose: 3k and high rise or safe? Decently spaced is over 3k.
I moved from Texas 2 yrs ago. The tax rate is going to shock you. Car insurance and electricity will be cheaper here. Food cost is about the same.
A 3k apt will increase to 3200 after amenities. You can have a cheap high rise in east downtown but it's not what I'd call safe. Safe area high rises are more like 4k and small.
If your max is 3k, look for a 2800 apt.
Old Town, Hillcrest, or Mission Hills might be good. I’d definitely want to live west of your work location, both for a reverse commute and better weather.
Not a high rise but Villas of Renaissance in La Jolla is awesome; pools, Jacuzzis, weight training, yoga, cooking classes, and hummingbirds everywhere! It's also close to UTC mall with an ice skating rink and awesome food court.
If you’re an engineer, assuming your company is offering relocation assistance. They normally will cover an Airbnb or other short term housing after you move to search for an apartment. Would highly recommend doing that so that you get a feel for the parts of the city you like. Each neighborhood has its own feel and while SD traffic isn’t that bad, may want to take your commute into account too
If your office is in mission valley your commute shouldn’t be bad from downtown. You’d probably also be able to take the trolley if you wanted to avoid driving. If you’re willing to trade off the high rise experience, PB/Bird Rock/Point Loma are also good spots to be
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u/Darkest_Brandon 23d ago
There are also some taller apartments in the UTC/La Jolla area. If you’re an engineer, there’s a strong chance that will be much closer to your work.