Crestwood Apartments

I had just completed a 12-month lease here before moving out. It is a wonderful place to stay, and management, maintenance, and ground keepers are all wonderful at their jobs. Given that the property is owned by a larger company, unfortunately the pricing drove us away (however this is not a fault of the on site staff, and is more a circumstance from the existing housing market.) The units are wonderful, and very quiet. It is within walking distance to a couple of restaurants, a 7/11, and even the grocery store and CSUSM. The majority of people here seem to be working professionals, and you hear little of others except for when they're in the hallways. There are some kids on property, but there is no concern of them playing the parking lot. Everyone is courteous and respectful, there's no trash thrown about or pest issues. The only plight is the parking situation. This is no one's fault except for whoever designed the complex. They tried to pack 3 floors of units into a parking lot that could hold 2 max. There is no guest parking, so plan accordingly. I never had an issue with anyone parking in our designated spot. Maintenance takes care of repair issues quickly and effectively, and they communicate clearly when there is work taking place on the property (HVAC inspections, tree trims, etc.) If I were to still live in the area, I would highly consider Crest 850 again.

I lived at Crest 850 for 4+ years and just moved out. Pros: It's close to the 78, has a grocery store nearby, and has a couple great restaurants & a 7-11 right next door. The neighborhood is mostly quiet despite being right next to CSUSM, and the other residents are mostly respectful. It's an incredibly safe area, I would routinely leave my door unlocked when I was running a quick errand or going for a run. Speaking of running, there's a nice little .8-ish mile loop right in front of the complex, or you could go through the neighborhood across the street to find a nice little park to run at. Maintenance was typically pretty fast, but I know that there has been a couple management changes recently, so I can't say for certain how it is now. The nest thermostats are really nice. Cons: When I moved in I was paying around $1750 for my apartment in 2019, and now that same apartment is being listed for $2600. I know this is a comment on the larger SD real estate issue as a whole, but I could not imagine paying that much for what I had. The "gym" is a joke. Last time I tried to use it, the only operational piece of equipment was the stationary bike. The key fob that is supposed to let you in/out of the facilities via the side gates quit working like 4 times my first year and I never got it reactivated again. The process to get it reactivated is rather fast, but it's still a pain. You'll need to plan far in advance if you are having guests come over - street parking is abysmal and nearly impossible after 5pm, the parking lot next door threatens to tow any cars left there, and the 2 or 3 "free" spots are gobbled up at 6pm sharp. However, you can pay a fee to add another parking spot to your lease. There were a few times where I had bug problems, but nothing terribly major. Overall I enjoyed my time at Crest 850, and for a lower price I would recommend it for anyone. Pros: location, safety Cons: price, underwhelming amenities + parking