Chula Vista

With panoramic mountain vistas adorning the backdrop to many of its spacious housing options, Bonita Long Canyon is one of the most picturesque areas in eastern Chula Vista. Much of the community is on elevated landscapes. Single-family homes sit back from sidewalk-lined streets and cul-de-sacs tucked away from busy main thoroughfares. “The landscape and the homes here fit well together and it feels very peaceful. Everybody knows everybody,” says Annel Vargas, a Chula Vista Realtor with Coldwell Banker West. “This is a community with a lot of longtime owners and people from the area who have established themselves and brought homes here.” Many homes have hints of Spanish-style architecture with red-tiled roofs, but there is still plenty of variety, including Craftsman homes with stone accents and ranch homes with low, gabled roofs and enclosed garages. “People really like the size of the lots and the floorplans in these homes. Most were built between the 1970s and 1990s and they just do not make houses like they did back then,” says Vargas. Homes often sit on spacious lots of land, with some stretching to over half an acre of land. House prices are consistent with neighboring communities, typically between $900,000 and $1.4 million. Another big draw for prospective residents is the neighborhood’s low crime rate; it scores a 2/10 of the CAP Index. Area public schools are minutes from the neighborhood, including Burton C. Tiffany Elementary School. The school has an A-minus rating from Niche and a 21-1 student-teacher ratio. Bonita Vista Middle has a B-plus rating and a 24-1 student-teacher ratio. Bonita Vista Senior High has an A rating and a 24-1 student-teacher ratio. The school has a storied history of providing a rigorous curriculum that involves Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes and prepares students for the next stage in life with technical and career-focused courses in sports medicine, design, visual arts and more. When it’s time for play, the expansive 10-acre Bonita Long Canyon Park is at the center of the community. The open spaces surrounding the park are perfect for playing fetch with Fido, and it’s not unusual to see a friendly soccer game being played. There are walking paths throughout the park. Parents can take their children here to burn off extra energy on the playground, which has a jungle gym that will keep them entertained for hours. Sweetwater Summit Regional Park is just two miles away. Spending several hours or days at this 500-acre park’s play areas, splash pad, exercise course and picnic areas is easy. Campers and anglers may choose to stay awhile to enjoy its 15 miles of hiking trails and fishing at Sweetwater Reservoir. Otay Ranch Town Center is a mile and a half from the neighborhood. The venue bills itself as an open-air shopping mall and lifestyle center. The center is home to dozens of merchants, including retailers, veterinarians, fitness centers, salons and a movie theater. In nearby Eastlake Village Marketplace, residents can pick up groceries at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts. A few miles to the west, a visit to the Bonita Centre shopping plaza might include picking up a dozen donuts at Bonita Donuts or ordering a smoothie bowl from Everbowl. After a day of shopping, Manna Heaven BBQ’s Korean BBQ dishes seasoned to each diner’s preference may be a good spot for dinner. The Third Avenue Village Association holds a farmers' market in nearby Chula Vista every Sunday. More than 60 area farmers and vendors proudly offer their freshest produce, baked goods, flowers and more. In May, head to San Diego’s Waterfront Park for the annual San Diego Crawfish Boil for an afternoon of hot and spicy Louisiana crawfish, refreshments and love music. For 50 years, Bonitafest has celebrated local heritage with various stage bands and choirs every September. Enjoy the music while taking in the arts and crafts on display and sampling the offerings from food vendors. The event benefits the local high school’s music department. Bonita Long Canyon is 6 miles east of downtown Chula Vista and 16 miles southeast of San Diego. The neighborhood is conveniently located near the 805 freeway and the South Bay Expressway for residents who commute. This is a car dependent area.

The Castle Park neighborhood in Chula Vista is about 2 miles from the bay, allowing locals to enjoy the sea breeze when leaving their homes. Many relocate here to enjoy an oceanside lifestyle and escape Northern California's higher cost of living. "Castle Park is a fast-growing neighborhood," says Robert Guerrero, a Realtor with Cfl Realty, who lives nearby. "They say, if they are building a Starbucks in an area, it's an up-and-coming neighborhood. And there are five or six that are nearby." The community contains 20th-century homes and a handful of local storefronts. Residences in Castle Park are primarily single-story houses from the 1950s and 1970s. However, buyers can find a handful of homes built after 2000. Modest ranches and minimal traditional dwellings share the same zip code as cozy bungalows under 1,500 square feet. Castle Park also has several multifamily units available. Ranch styles and bungalows typically sell between $700,000 and $900,000. Most homes that list above $850,000 are either two-story dwellings or residences with significant upgrades and renovations. While residents of Castle Park can enjoy nearby access to Downtown Chula Vista, there are grocery stores right in the community. Northgate Market is known for Mexican grocery items, such as a large selection of pan dulce. Seafood City Supermarket offers international produce, including Filipino products and grocery items in addition to seafood. La Moreliana, a traditional Mexican bakery, serves fresh bread and sweet treats. Next door, residents can order takeout at JL China House. Many residents make their way to Third Avenue in Downtown Chula Vista for citywide events, such as the Lemon Festival, which celebrates the city's history with the yellow fruit. On the north side of Castle Park is San Diego Country Club, a premier membership-based golf club that’s well-known around the region. The club moved to Chula Vista in 1920 and maintains an 18-hole course. The community has over ten schools, including charter and private options. Children can attend the Chula Vista Elementary School District and move on to Sweetwater Union High School District. Castle Park Elementary has a B grade from Niche, while Castle Park Middle earns a C-plus. Castle Park Senior High, which has a B grade, is seeing upgrades to the campus. “Castle Park High was granted several million dollars to build a new football stadium,” Guerrero says. Stephen W. Hawking Charter School opens its doors to students of all grade levels seeking a S.T.E.A.M. curriculum. Many parents opt to send their students to private schools. St. Pius X Catholic Church offers a faith-based education for students until the end of eighth grade. Castle Park has a handful of shared spaces to enjoy the outdoors. Loma Verde Park features ball diamonds that set the stage for South Bay Little League matches; the youth league has been a part of the neighborhood since 1958. The grounds also include the Loma Verde Community Center, which has a new aquatic center that opened in 2024 that includes a sprayground and a competitive lap pool. Los Niños Park is an open space among homes with a basketball court and sporting fields. Skaters can practice their skills at Eucalyptus Skateboard Park, which stays open after sunset. Castle Park's Interstate 805 and Third Avenue lead to major highways and the greater San Diego area. San Diego's M.T.S. bus stops are found along Palomar Street and Third Avenue. Castle Park is less than 5 miles from downtown Chula Vista and just over 10 miles from downtown San Diego. Residents can seek medical care at the nearby Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. “You have easy access to both freeways 5 and 805,” Guerrero says. “We are 2 miles from San Diego Bay and beaches. There's also the proximity to the Mexican Border. It’s 5 miles away. You can get the best of both worlds.”

Though only 5 miles south of San Diego’s city limits, Downtown Chula Vista has a vibrant and evolving identity of its own. The City of Chula Vista’s downtown core has seen a boom in the last 10 years, with businesses flocking to Third Avenue, where there had been limited activity before. According to Tim Parker, a longtime local and founder of Chula Vista Brewery, the street has changed dramatically, now attracting a younger crowd. “Most businesses closed by 5 o’clock,” Parker says. “When I came along, it kind of clicked for the city, ‘OK, this is what we can do for Third Avenue.’” Parker and his wife, Dali Parker, opened the craft brewery in 2017. It’s still the only Black-owned brewery in San Diego. Downtown Chula Vista is close enough to the San Diego Bay to receive occasional sea breezes, which make it one of the cooler places to live in the county. Residents can picnic or launch kayaks along the bay or head to beaches less than 10 miles away. Before Chula Vista Brewery, there were no craft breweries in South Bay San Diego, despite an enormous beer culture to the north. “I wanted to change the perception that people of color didn’t drink beer,” Parker says. “I knew I loved craft beer, I knew my friends liked beer, but we always had to travel 20 minutes. Now you’ve got every brewery in San Diego wanting to open up in South Bay.” Today, the street is lined with breweries, in addition to coffee shops, restaurants and longtime mom and pop shops. “I totally appreciate the new places coming in, but I don’t want to forget the locals that have held this place down,” Parker says. One nearby institution is La Concha Bakery, serving pan dulce and a wide array of sweet treats since 2002. “They’re still there, truly supporting the community. People need to support local places that are truly local.” In a dining scene rich with Mexican food, Tacos El Gordo manages to stand apart. The Tijuana-based chain opened in Chula Vista in 1998, and in 2018 opened a location on Broadway in Downtown Chula Vista. The no-frills eatery regularly sees lines out the door. The Downtown Chula Vista Association hosts many events throughout the year, including a Dia de los Muertos festival and the Taste of Third culinary event. The annual Lemon Festival is a colorful celebration of Chula Vista’s history as the once-lemon capital of the world. Locals taste lemon-themed bites at local Third Avenue businesses and compete in a lemon costume contest and cook-off. Though Third Avenue has grown, the neighborhood is predominantly residential with a quiet feel. Home prices are on the rise, though buyers will find greater affordability here than in many neighborhoods within San Diego’s city limits. On the lowest end, single-family homes in need of renovations can sell around $550,000. Much of the area’s construction dates back to the 1950s, and midcentury- and Spanish-style architecture is common. Most builds with two or three bedrooms start at $650,000, and updated homes with four- or five-bedrooms can climb up to $900,000. Buyers should expect small lots close to neighbors, though front and backyards are large enough for kids and canines to play. Condos range from $350,000 in small, 1980s complexes, to $650,000 for newer units. Condos with resort-style amenities sell up to $750,000, but they’re rare in this neighborhood. Younger children can attend Vista Square Elementary in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, which earns a B from Niche. The school site is shared with the Davila Day School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, operated by San Diego County. Seventh graders move to the Sweetwater Union High School District for Chula Vista Middle, then Chula Vista High, both within walking distance of many homes. The schools receive a B-minus and B, respectively. Parkland is concentrated near the downtown core of City Hall and Third Avenue. Memorial Park is the largest green space, with room for play and the Sunday farmers’ market. The park’s paved walking paths lead to an outdoor amphitheater where the city hosts summer movie nights and free concerts. Nearby Friendship Park is more shaded, and a peaceful place to breathe in the scent of Eucalyptus. Next door, the Civic Center Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library hosts events for all ages, from bilingual storytime to free tax assistance. The Chula Vista Center on Broadway is a walkable outdoor mall with clothing stores, chain restaurants and a movie theatre. Plaza Bonita, a larger indoor mall, is less than 3 miles away. Locals can stock groceries at Albertsons or Sprouts or Mexican grocery stores Carnival Supermarket and Garden Farms Market. Residents can access Interstates 5 and 805 to head north into San Diego or south toward the border. Buses run along many neighborhood streets. Both the E Street and H Street transit centers on the neighborhood’s westside have large parking lots for weekday commuters and weekend thrill-seekers. The trolley platforms become a sea of gold and brown on game days, with downtown and the Padres’ Petco Park a handful of stops away. Downtown Chula Vista is walkable, though neighborhood blocks are large and rarely shaded. Pedestrians should plan accordingly during the hottest months of the year.

Palm tree-lined streets, rolling hills and scenic water features welcome residents home to Eastlake. Built in the early 2000s, Eastlake became one of the first master-planned communities in east Chula Vista. There are several subdivisions, including Eastlake Trails, Eastlake Greens, Eastlake Woods and Eastlake Vistas. The community is close to downtown Chula Vista, but there are commercial amenities just minutes away, offering residents everything they need in one area. “Eastlake is a newer community that’s popular with families—there are lots of playgrounds, parks, golf courses and clubhouses within the community. They’ve also developed a large retail hub nearby, so residents never have to leave this area if they don’t want to,” award-winning top agent Melissa Goldstein Tucci says. Goldstein Tucci is a top one-percent agent with Coldwell Banker, servicing the entire greater San Diego area. Mediterranean-inspired homes give the community that SoCal flair, with features like arched entryways, stucco walls and tiled roofs. Many of these homes are two-story, but there are also ranches and larger estates. Homes here have tidy, palm-tree-lined front yards with fenced-in backyards that are perfect for hosting a cookout or taking a dip in the pool. Due to the community’s sunny environment, many homes feature solar panels to help with energy efficiency. Homes here typically cost between $985,000 to $1.5 million for a Mediterranean-inspired ranch or two-story home, while larger estates can cost between $1.8 million and $4 million. Buyers will also find some gated, luxury condominium communities costing between $630,000 and $700,000. “Homeowners here will have HOA fees and Mello-Roos tax, but it offers some incomparable amenities,” Goldstein Tucci says. East Lake’s earliest learners start at Burton C. Tiffany Elementary before filtering into East Lake Middle. Both institutions earned an A-minus grade on Niche. Students in grades nine through 12 then attend East Lake High School, which has an A grade on Niche. The school offers career and technical education pathways for students, with options like engineering, digital arts and healthcare services. “The schools are newer here and offer very strong academics and sports teams,” Goldstein Tucci says. The heart of the community is Eastlake Pond, a 21-acre lake behind the Eastlake Clubhouse. Residents can walk along the perimeter of the lake on a paved path or explore on a paddleboat while enjoying postcard views of ducks and pelicans enjoying the lake. Members of the clubhouse can also access the lakeside, beach-themed pool to cool off in the summer. Eastlake Community Association residents can reserve the clubhouse for personal and community events. Adjacent to Tiffany Elementary School is Tiffany Park, which has a large playground and walking paths that meander along rolling hills, with panoramic views of the area. Eastlake is also just 4 miles from Lower Otay Lake, a crystal blue reservoir surrounded by walking trails and hillside vistas. Visitors can access the trails at Otay Lakes County Park, which has a play area and picnic grounds. While Eastlake is primarily known for its gated suburban residences, there are several restaurants in the College Plaza shopping center, right off Otay Lakes Road. Panchos Authentic Mexican Grill is a great spot for shrimp tacos, while I-Sushi has a range of sushi and sashimi in a relaxing environment. On the other side of California State Route 125 are Eastlake Village Marketplace, Village Walk at Eastlake and Eastlake Village Center. These shopping centers have a mix of chain restaurants, big box stores and grocery stores like Sprouts Farmers Market. When residents are seeking more, they’re just 10 miles from the amenities of downtown Chula Vista and 20 miles from San Diego. The community offers residents easy access to nearby communities via Otay Lakes Road and the expressway. These roads connect to Interstate-5 and its offshoot 805. Residents can quickly commute to downtown Chula Vista, San Diego and the United States-Mexico border, which is only 10 miles away. For medical necessities, residents can take Otay Lakes Road to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. For travel outside the SoCal area, residents can utilize San Diego International Airport, located 25 miles from the community. With its easy access to the surrounding area, Eastlake offers residents convenience and suburban comfort.