San Diego Neighborhood Spotlight: Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach is a true gem of Southern California. This residential beach city that flanks the Pacific Ocean and South San Diego Bay is nestled between miles of uncrowded shorelines, enormous surf and unparalleled open space and wetlands flush with natural life.
Imperial Beach is one of the last untouched shoreline towns in San DIego and is known as Classic Southern California.

Explore one of our favorite beach communities in San Diego in our latest video

About Imperial Beach

Founded in 1887 the city takes its name from Imperial County where workers, farmers and land owners came to the area seeking cooler weather during summer months and eventually calling it home.

Sometimes referred to as the “Most Southwesternly City in the U.S.” Imperial Beach is quickly becoming a hidden gem with plenty to see and do. It’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger neighboring areas. With a population just over 27,000, both tourists and locals enjoy a relaxed-pace of life and partake in a variety of activities which include swimming, surfing at the shoreline, nature walks and simply unwinding and make the most of the areas lovely sunsets.

With an authentic, indie vibe, Imperial Beach is undergoing the rising tide of new business. New businesses like the Coronado Brewing Company, Pier South Hotel, Sea 180 Coastal Tavern and Eco Bikeway are shaking things up in a good way for the community.

What this beach town lacks during normal days, it more than makes up for during the many special occasions and events (like the famous annual U.S. Open Sand Castle Competition and the Imperial Beach Surf-town Triathlon and Duathlon).

Imperial Beach Real Estate Market

Almost too good to be true, beachside real estate is a steal here. If you’ve been searching for a home for while, you may find areas like El Cajon, La Mesa, and Mission Valley a bit commercial–while suburban areas like Escondido and Valley Center are a bit too far North for most people. North/South Park are a bit overpriced for the amount of space, leaving Imperial Beach a great place to buy a home and start a family.

Imperial Beach market trends indicate an increase of $65,000 (14%) in median home sales over the past year. The average price per square foot for this same period fell to $378, down from $382. Homes in Imperial Beach range in price anywhere from $222k - $2.3m with an average median sales price of $538k as of 2017 as per Trulia.com.

Amenities in Imperial Beach

The Imperial Beach community is small and tight-knit. The beaches tend to be uncrowded and the area is currently upgrading, with a new library and other new community based locations.

This community offers a lot of small local businesses and restaurants, most of which are frequented by residents of Imperial Beach.

All schools in Imperial Beach are within walking distance which adds to the family friendly vibe of this beach-town.

Nearby areas include

Old Town
Coronado Beach
Downtown San Diego
Midtown
Rolling Hills Ranch, Chula Vista
Yosemite Dr, Chula Vista
Eastlake Woods, Chula Vista

Transportation

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) provides bus and paratransit services to the city from all through San Diego County.

MTS likewise gives service to San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field) from Imperial Beach.

Imperial Beach is one of five Port part urban communities making up the Port of San Diego, one of America's main 30 U.S. compartment dispatch ports.

Top Things To See & Do Nearby

Imperial Beach Pier
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Bayshore Bikeway
Mickie’s Bar and Grill
Day Trips to Tijuana, Mexico
Coronado Bridge
Silver Strand State Beach

Overall Impression

Imperial Beach is “Classic Southern California”; a beach-oriented community with a safe, small-town, family atmosphere, rich in natural and cultural resources. It’s the ideal place to own a home and raise a family.

Imperial Beach was rated a B+ for a liveability score as per niche.com which rated the area low in crime, and high in schooling, nightlife, family focus and diversity.

If you have any questions about the area or would like to learn more about any real estate opportunities here in Imperial Beach let us know! We're local San Diego real estate agents that can help you find your new San Diego home.