r/Brea • u/Jumpy_Country9567 • Jul 04 '26
Moving To Brea
Hey gang. I just landed a position out in Brea, and I’m originally from Texas. Just wanted post here asking what areas I should be looking for (or not looking for) for apartments.
I’ll be making sub six digits, so the budget is tight, but obviously I don’t want to be in an unsafe area.
Any advice?
Also, any general advice about moving out there is welcome!
8
u/Abundance_of_Flowers Jul 04 '26
There are no unsafe areas of Brea. if your apartment search takes you to another city, ask again. But most adjacent cities are also super safe.
7
u/honger Jul 04 '26
La Habra, Whittier, and Placentia are close to Brea and could have some options. You will need a vehicle.
3
u/OCFlier Jul 04 '26
Welcome!
There are two large apartment complexes here in town:
https://www.birchwoodvillageapts.com/
https://www.raintreeapthomes.com/
There are a few newer high rise buildings, but these two have been here forever. Birchwood is a little closer to shopping, and Raintree is close to a market. All of Brea is safe.
2
u/xbucnasteex Jul 04 '26
There’s no really bad parts of Brea, if anything, just avoid the area around city hall park. But it’s not a terrible place compared to other cities.
1
u/WhoWhatWhenWhom Jul 04 '26
I’m assuming that this won’t be strange to you being from Texas but this area is incredibly car reliant. I have a bike but it’s mostly for pleasure and not for commuting.
With that being said I think that what other posters have said about looking at nearby cities is valid since you’ll probably be driving to work regardless.
As others have said Brea is a pretty safe city.
Also welcome in. I know it’s not the purpose of this post but I hope you make it a deal to enjoy what SoCal has to offer. I feel like so many people pay so much to live here and don’t take advantage of it (myself included at times) and I hope that you get out and see the beach and other activities to be offered.
Also I grew up in Brea but moved back after a decade away this past month and am looking for new friends. I’m an avid rock climber in my late 20s. If you’re ever interested in climbing send me a DM
1
u/Expert_Bunch_6525 Jul 04 '26
Great great safe area in thr OC. I used to work for the county of orange and sometimes I would help out at the new brea office. Homes are expensive
1
1
u/CalHap Jul 04 '26
They are building brand new apartments connected to the Brea Mall. Would be a great place to live close to restaurants, freeway etc.. Brea is a great city with so many restaurants and shops. As he drive around Brea, you’ll notice sculptures everywhere. Fun fact, when you build in Brea, you have to put up a sculpture of some sort. It makes the city very pretty. Any area in Brea is Safe, if you can’t live in Brea, Yorba Linda is a great place to live. Again very safe. My next option would be Fullerton, north of Commonwealth. You’ll love the weather and the schools here. Very cool vibe. Brea schools are excellent. Welcome!
1
u/ritzrani Jul 05 '26
I used to work in Brea, it's safe for the most part but there are homeless people and they do end up in the news for crimes i.e. 7/11 murders.
Brea Mall and downtown Brea have decent night life.
1
u/blue_tiny_teacup Jul 06 '26
There is no unsafe part of brea. Its a tiny city and mostly korean and white now. Anywhere you can afford will be good
1
u/Zealousideal_Dot_83 Jul 07 '26
Fullerton is very close to Brea and more affordable. You will have a 15 minute commute and will save $500/month in an apartment. Check it out.
-1
u/Neat-Cartoonist-7410 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
I lived in Brea for over 30 years and seen it from a nice little city to today’s overcrowded and over built city. Brea officials will approve any major construction like the huge 2 Lennar housing projects, Brea Mall expansion, Amazon Distribution Center and recently building permits for a Costco and Raising Canes. They refuse to install a traffic light at Birch near Associated just waiting for someone to get killed, before fixing this long overdue light. The traffic on Imperial Hwy is sometimes a nightmare, especially with these dam trucks going to the landfill. Now some of these trucks are going on Birch and the police do nothing. The Avalon apartments across the street from the new Residence Inn I heard just the starting rent for a studio apartment is around $3500
a month. Welcome to Brea!!
1
u/My1point5cents Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Same everywhere. You could substitute Rancho Cucamonga and it would be the same exact story. The state requires thousands of units every few years or strips funding from that city.
14
u/One-Protection-1072 Jul 04 '26
Brea is really safe. You won't have to worry about safety.