Ocean View Hills

Seekers of residential comfort, open spaces, outdoor music and all-ages fun will always find something to enjoy about living in the Ocean Crest — known by locals as Ocean View Hills. Bordering Otay Mesa and Otay Ranch, not far from the immense Otay Open Space Preserve, Ocean Crest offers a range of home styles on well-planned streets. Its many perks include two community parks, and immediate proximity to the spectacular Sesame Place waterpark.

A prevalence of large homes with similar layouts creates an established and harmonious atmosphere. Yards are well-tended and sidewalks are often thoughtfully landscaped. And while newer homes here offer modern indoor features, residents also love that long stretches of nature trails await just steps from home. Most of the western edge is bordered by a well-equipped plaza that trims the 805. Everything you need from essentials to entertainment is all within Ocean Crest, as well as quick freeway access to the rest of San Diego.

In addition to its retail and recreational assets, Laura Gonzalez, Realtor with Real Broker says, “The location is excellent for families who want to travel for less using the Tijuana International Airport instead of the San Diego International Airport. The Border Crossing Station is so close and accessible where you can hop on the CBX Express to catch your flight from the Tijuana airport. Not only is the airport lounge amazing, but flights to Central and South America are often half the cost of those leaving the San Diego airport. And there’s a private pedestrian guide bridge that takes you directly into TJ.”

Most homes are two-story here, incorporating a blend of stucco and siding exteriors. Newer single-family homes in gated communities feature elegant Spanish villa styling and lovely mansions sport elevated porticos with archways or rooftop solar panels. Attached homes built in 2021 feature modern angles, while stunning tri-level town houses in the gated Playa del Sol community include resort-worthy amenities. Pricing can range from $550,000 to $650,000 for newly built tri-level units in Playa del Sol to $850,000 for 2,200-square-foot single-family Spanish-style homes built in 2003, to $1.2 million for 2,800-square-foot mansions with a pool and cabana built in 2005.

Gonzalez adds, “Not only do you have all the conveniences you can think of here, the neighborhood still feels private and exclusive. The HOA does an amazing job of keeping everything feeling like a little paradise-oasis type of community. It’s so tranquil and clean and pristine. Plus, you can walk to some really great schools.” Public-school students from kindergarten through sixth grade may attend Ocean View Hills Elementary School before heading on to Vista Del Mar or San Ysidro middle schools for seventh and eighth grade. Ninth through 12th graders may then move on to San Ysidro High which earns a B grade from Niche. Several charter and private faith-based schools offer K-12 options.

Between the elementary and middle schools, friends and families meet at Ocean Crest’s new Cesar Solis Community Park, named after the San Diego Police Department’s highest-ranking Filipino-American Assistant Police chief who retired in 2014. The 15-acre park includes southern San Diego’s first skate park, picnic and playground areas, and athletic fields. Next to the Otay Mesa Open Space, the 5-acre Ocean View Hills Park offers sunny and shaded picnic areas, a full basketball court and a beach-theme playground.

Date nights and family outings are always a cinch because you have so many options. Make it a movie night at the AMC Palm Promenade 24 in the Palm Promenade shopping mall. You can also cozy up in Pho Cali here with a steaming bowl of authentic Vietnamese soup. In the same retail plaza, locals grocery shop and stock up at Walmart or take care of DIY, patio and décor projects at Home Depot. Nearby you can pack your picnic basket and enjoy concerts under the stars at the 20,000-seat North Island Credit Union Amphitheater, adjacent to the fun-filled 17-acre Sesame Place San Diego. The new theme park features nearly 20 Sesame Street-themed rides including a family-friendly rollercoaster, as well as a 500,000-gallon wave pool.

From its central location between ranchland and the surf, to its many conveniences and attractions, serene Ocean Crest is a San Diego treasure.

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

Stephen Cammell

Video By

Matthew Link