Huntington Breakers

I came in to tour on a Saturday and they were slammed. Jesse helped me even though I didn’t have an appointment to tour. He was very charismatic, funny and personable. He really tried to help me find the best apartment for me. He was very patient with all my questions and didn’t seem annoyed at all. The property is literally right by the beach which is very convenient and it is close to Main Street. I would have leased there but it was a bit out of my price range and I didn’t have someone for a roommate or else I would have taken a 2 bedroom. I refer anyone to this place and ask for JESSE specifically. PS: they have a doggy bath spa which is soo awesome!

My 4 star rating is mainly for the leasing office. Specifically speaking, Jesse Garcia. He was so helpful and so kind and overall, just a pleasure to work with when it came to anything regarding my apartment. Maintenance: big shout out to Carlos and Walter! They were so awesome and fixed any issues I had.
Location of the breakers is great! You’re a walk away from the beach, what’s not to love about that? You’re also so close to downtown and there’s a Walmart grocery store a walk away too.
A few things to be mindful of when moving here… Rent is a little pricey. There really is not enough storage cabinets/​closets. Kitchen is very small. Walls/​ceilings are super thin. The atmosphere is very young so many neighbors like to party late. If you have a pet, the grass gets infested with fleas during the summer so make sure your pup is taking his regular dose of flea medicine or else your carpet will become infested! A lot of residents don’t pick up after their pets which makes the spreading of worms to your pet so much greater. Guest parking will become a hassle during the summer months. They don’t have resident events. They’re in the process of building a resort pool and they just opened up a brand new doggy park.
I got lucky with my neighbors, and I also didn’t have any issues with theft (as some residents have). However, I have heard some terror stories about some dreadful neighbors.
But overall a pleasant experience. Just tell Jesse what you’re looking for and he’ll hook you up. Thanks!

11 MONTHS OF HELL…
In all sincerity, I write this post in hopes to save someone the headache of being locked into a lease at this community. I will compare this apartment complex to a 15 year old Cadillac with a new paint job. It might still be a Cadillac and look nice, but it will continually break and disappoint. This place is anything but relaxing and peaceful.
My other half and I recently moved from this complex after 11 months. We chose it for the central location to our jobs and it was «new.» It had all the amenities. After moving in, the neighbors seemed cool. Then we started having occurrences; some continued until the day we left, and some the management/​maintenance were able to partially control.
The biggest disappointment of all was the amount of sand (green grime) in our water lines. Within two weeks of moving in, the kitchen faucet lost all water pressure. The filter was so clogged, there was almost zero water coming out of the faucet. For the remainder of our time, in order to clean dishes or fill a coffee pot, we would have to take the faucet apart and clean the filter several times. One night, I had to clean it out 6 times to finish washing dishes. The water problem was not just in the kitchen, it affected the shower as well. The shower lines got so clogged with sand, that water would only trickle from the shower head. In almost 3 months, we submitted more than 6 maintenance orders. I continually told the office and maintenance staff the lines had to be cleared, however, it wasn’t until almost 3 months of an inadequate shower and showering at the gym did the the lines get torn apart and repaired marginally. Two weeks later, the shower head exploded because it was clogged and the pressure backed up. HORRIBLE! The water line leading to the furnace also got clogged, leading to a water line rupture. The night before vacation I was welcomed by water dripping from the ceiling. Had we left for vacation, the ceiling would have collapsed.
The second largest disappointment was the lack of insulation/​sound barrier/​single pane windows. The walls are so thin, that when a person walks in the apartment next door, it literally sounds like they are in your apartment. Not a huge deal, but we were continually awakened by other people having sex. HORRIBLE! This was the loudest place I have ever lived. My college dorm was quieter. I could not work from home due to the neighbor dog continually barking. I am not anti-​dog by any means; however, when a dog barks for hours, its a little much. We were awakened nightly all summer (due to no a/​c so the windows had to be open) by drunk neighbors and their friends. Car alarms continually sounded as well and from people parking their motorcycles under the buildings and starting them before the sun came up when they went to work.
Other irritations this community brought included a massive amount of ants when it got warm, dog crap on the sidewalks, lack of storage inside the apartment (there is not enough cabinet space for dishes and food), and the parking spaces are extremely tight. If you have a larger vehicle, don’t think about parking in the garages.
These are only some of the challenges of living in this community. I began to hate living there and asked myself EVERYDAY when driving home, what is going to break today.
If you are looking for a place that has running water, that is peaceful and relaxing; this is not your place to live.

Love my apartment at the Breakers! The entire staff at the leasing office is always friendly and super helpful. They remember you by name which is especially nice because when they see you around the courtyard and say hello it makes you feel at home.
My boyfriend and I live in a flat and all the amenities are brand new — washer/​dryer, dishwasher, oven, cabinets, etc. While I wish there was a little more storage space in the common area, the actual size of the living room, bathroom, and bedroom and bedroom closet are perfect.
We love to use the outdoor grills and hang by the pool on occasion. Cant wait to check out the new one!

Ryan is great! If you are looking for an amazing place to live and stuff that is always willing to help. This is a perfect place for u. They keep everything clean and treat u with respect!

After a long day of work, this is what I get to come home to-​the view off of my balcony. I am a proud resident of Huntington Beach, residing at Huntington Breakers… so it’s only fitting that the HB lighted letters are a focal point of my apartment home. The staff here is amazing, the grounds are pristine, neighbors are all friendly, and lots of dogs call The Breakers home as well. Top that all off by being a block from the sand… I feel like I won the lottery every day I come home.

I have lived here for a little over two years and have loved being a part of this community. Amazing location, folks that live here are extremely friendly and cordial. Management here is professional and there for you if you have any issues. It’s sad to say I might be moving further inland due to work. But if I could I’d stay here as long as I could. If you are looking for a apartment in HB this is it. Enjoy!

MOVE HERE. YOU WON’T BE SORRY
I’ve worked in the property management for several years. I’m pretty familiar with Landlord/​Tenant laws. I know what an apartment community has to provide. I know what a good community is supposed to look like, and unfortunately, am also familiar with what a residents life is like when the management company offers only what they have to. The Huntington Breakers team goes WAY beyond what they’re required to do to make living here a positive experience! I’ve only had one very minor issue, (nothing to do with the quality of the apartment) since moving in almost a year ago. I sent Ryan an email, and literally received a response within a minute. It was quickly taken care of, no questions asked. The Manager, Assistant Manager, the office staff, and maintenance have always been extremely efficiant, personable, and professional. The community is a 5 minute walk from the beach, soon to have 2 pools, a dog park, a dog grooming room complete with a blower, 2 workout rooms, 2 BEAUTIFUL bbq areas, and countless other amenities. Parking is GREAT, and the apartments themselves have all the comforts of home including stainless steel appliances, black granite countertops, and a washer & dryer. I’ve lived here on 2 different occasions, in 2 different apartments, and dont have a single complaint! Ive also referred a few people, (one of which is also in property management, and knows how bad some places can be) that are as happy as can be. Come on down to the beach. You’ll be glad you did.

The Breakers is fantastic. For starters, the location is unbeatable– 5 minute walk to the beach, Walmart Grocery Store next door along with some great restaurants and STARBUCKS. I can’t rave about this place enough. I know people complain about the construction, but I don’t see how this is a problem. Sure, it’s annoying but HELLO I am so glad they are taking steps to improve the complex. I only have a couple minor complaints including– the TVs in the gym don’t always work, the WiFi in the gym is so-​so and the lounge chairs by the pool are on the shaded side. As you can see, these are very minor. With that being said, let me go back to a pro: the grilling areas. The brand new grills are amazing and I use them almost every Sunday. The ambiance is relaxing and it’s perfect year-​round, but especially for football season!
Parking is fabulous, every resident is assigned a covered spot with a guest pass. I’ve never had an issue with parking in my 1+ years living here. I also LOVE how pet friendly the place is. Especially with the new dog grooming service on premise– so amazing, affordable and convenient. With your permission, they will come get your dog from your apartment (the leasing office will let them in and accompany them in the process). I work full time so for me this is super convenient. Not to mention they did an AWESOME job and offer affordable pet walking.
The management is great– extremely helpful and friendly. Also, maintenance is very fast and efficient thanks to our awesome staff there. Sure, there have been minor ant problems but it’s hot outside and ant season– you’re in SoCal what do you expect? After experiencing a problem last year, I called the leasing office and had my apartment sprayed that day (they come very weds) as preventative maintenance and have not had a problem at all… not to mention at no charge to me.
Lastly, I find the residents to be wonderful. It’s a great mix of people including young professionals, families, older — a wide variety. Everyone is extremely nice and friendly, always saying «hello.»
SUMMARY: awesome place, awesome staff, awesome location, awesome residents. It’s the place to be. Cheers!

I pretty much love the place. There were somethings assured to have been completed to me by now, but I’m patient. I’ve heard however for those apartments not renovated the Essex corporation will try to raise the rent so drastically that you’re essentially forced to leave after your year lease is up. If true, a pity because some of these people are actually the tenants you want to live in a complex such as these. Professional, respectful and clean tenants who will provide long revenue to not only where they currently reside but all other Essex property. I love the, staff who are not only professional but who’ve made mine and Charles (my dog) stay here so memorable. I pray that this is not true as I’m hoping to extend my lease for a minimum of another year because the staff, location and conveniences are incredible. I truly hope that I can continue providing great reviews and further recommending Essex/​Huntington Breakers at the time my year end in December, as I have been.

In my opinion, this community is an awful place to live. Less like an apartment complex and more like a frat house. Although there are nice amenities like a pool (which is never heated), workout area, outdoor grills and a community room, the management here does nothing about the constant partying of its tenants. People over-​intoxicated, belligerent, and yelling apt all hours of the night with no consequences for their actions. The property has overnight security on site, but they are hardly ever seen and are afraid to confront unruly tenants when notified of a problem.
My girlfriend lives here and I come to visit her and stay occasionally, but in my opinion her moving to this location was a major mistake. If we would have known of the problems here, she never would have moved here. Most of the residents are quiet and respectful, but there are some that do not care about how their actions affect others. The worst part is that the property management company, Essex, does nothing to control the situation. I am fearful for her safety and well being while I am not here. If you are looking for a safe and comfortable place to live, this community is not for you.

I’m astonished at how many people are complaining about the construction. Would they rather it just sit stagnant, and never imorove??? C’mon people!!! I notice nobody mentioned that a big portion of the construction was to install WASHERS AND DRYERS INSIDE THE APARTMENTS!
I myself work in this industry. I have worked at several communities for several different Property Management companies. Huntington Breakers is BY FAR one of the best!!! I actually live here because I was told about it by another resident that happened to work at my last apartment community. I mentioned to her one day that I wished I could live closer to the beach, but couldn’t afford it. She said, «Go tour Huntington Breakers in Huntington Beach.» She said they were everything I could possibly want, for not much more than the slums I lived in; in Anaheim. The staff is so friendly, and extremely knowledgeable!!! The kitchens have beautiful, stainless steel, top of the line appliances. I’ve not seen a single roach, or any mold. (Coming where I just came from… this is HUGE) The community amenities are second to none!!! To top this off, it’s a 5 minute walk to the beach. Thank you Essex!!! Your employees are AMAZING, and your properties are beautifully maintained!

I moved into the Huntington Breakers on March of 2014 and lived there until April of 2015. Overall, I had a very good experience living at the apartment. Let me break it down for you Pro /​Con style:
PROS:
There are quite a few.
LOCATION — First off, the apartment is less than a block away from the beach. And the beach is right at the beginning of the fire pits so you can roast marshmellows or hang out well after the sun has gone down. There’s basketball, volleyball nets, concession stands, etc. Just a sensational spot. These pits lead you to the pier downtown where all the action is. I would often take my bike out and ride down there or past and enjoy the wide, sandy beaches. It was also within a bike ride of two separate dog beaches for someone who has pets like me.
It’s also within walking distance of a shopping center next door that has every type of restaurant you can imagine, as well as a Wal Mart Grocery Store and Big Lots. My favorite spot is breakfast at Caldo Café.
PET FRIENDLY — It’s a real community of dog owners that is a great way to meet others. There are «pet pads» that are basically fake grass areas dogs are encouraged to use. Doggie bags are provided. They also have a dedicated pet shower room which is really cool! My dogs hated the dryer so I never used it, but it is convenient especially for those with bigger dogs. They used to have a mini pet park that was there but was infested with fleas and dirty under old management. At the time I left there were still working on the new one. More to come on the construction.
MANAGEMENT — Fortunately, I arrived shortly before the new management came in. Julie and Jenny are outstanding representatives of the complex. They are genuine and friendly. Jenny is a true dog lover who brought over treats for my puppy at Christmas time and would always have one handy when I stopped by the office. Any issues I had were always resolved quickly. They even made an exception for me to stay an extra month after my lease came up before I left on a trip. As someone who’s dealt with horrific management, they are a real pleasure.
AMENITIES — When I first moved in, I was made aware that the property was going through a renovation project. I was led to believe that it would be finished within 3 months of my move in date. It ended up being around 9. That said, once finished, it was a great improvement. The gym and cardio rooms are modern and clean. The gym could use some more weights and less stretch exercises IMO, but it’s convenient and does the trick none the less.
The barbeque is the real star of the show. Gas grills with stovetops are in two different areas. The pool and hot tub are convenient and nice to have. They are also building an olympic pool supposedly to be finished by July 2015, although I’ll never see it.
RESIDENTS — I met some really great people who I will be life long friends with. The overall vibe of the place is cool and that comes with a wide variety of people that live there. There are families, singles, couples, young/​middle aged, etc. I did have one nightmare neighbor that was evicted. Probably should have screened him better. Overall, expect some partying and fun times, but hardly anything ever that is unbearable.
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CONS:
SECURITY — This isn’t necessarily a shot at the security guards themselves, as one of the guys is really cool and does his job right. There was one security guard who apparently was caught looking into my friends room (a big russian girl). I think she got fired?
The actual problem is there are no cameras anywhere. Because this is such a great location, you have homeless, drug addicts, and other sketchy types roaming through the apartment on occasion. While it is secure, anyone can get through the gate as it opens while a resident comes or goes in their vehicle. I put my bicycle in my apartment because of thefts, and because of the salt in the air that will rust your bike out. I never felt unsafe, but cameras would certainly deter and perhaps catch those who try to do bad stuff.
CONSTRUCTION — By the time you read this, most of the construction will be done. And since 85% of it was done by the time I left, I can say that it is a vast improvement and looks good. However, it took the company nearly 6 – 12 months LONGER than the original forecasted completion date. And since I work from home, it was very loud most days. It got to the point where management offered free memberships to a local gym.
RECYCLING — There is none. Perhaps my biggest gripe.
Overall, I highly recommend this place. If I could give it 4.5 stars I would. Almost a 5! Thank you Huntington Breakers on a rad year!

I have lived at the Huntington Breakers for almost 4 years. I’ve lived in a studio and now a remodeled one bedroom. My husband and I couldn’t be more happy with our apartment location and the staff. The staff of Julie, Jenny, Jesse, and Ryan are the best that have been here since I moved in. They go out of their way on a daily basis to say hello or to make the residents as happy as can be. It’s a great place for dogs, big or small. The dog spa is a great amenity that is used daily by residents. They do an amazing job here!

So let me start by saying I read a lot of the reviews on here before I decided to write this one. I think it’s clear what this specific community has to offer and some of these lower rated reviews are biased.
I moved out here late 2009 from Ohio and I couldn’t have been any luckier that my gf at the time lived here. From day 1 I was blown away by what this place has to offer. I moved into my own apartment early 2010 and I’m unfortunately finally about to leave due to a relocation to San Diego. I’ve gotten to know all of the awesome staff, weird to call them staff since most are more like friends at this point, along with some of the other long term tenants and it’s obvious why people stay so long.
To the people who have complained about construction… Don’t you want a property manager putting money back into your home making it better? Sorry there aren’t little elves that come do work at night silently. In all seriousness they have consistently strived to make this place better year over year and I’ve even seen plenty of resident feedback/​requests be implemented!
To those who commented on price. Econ 101. Supply vs. demand. There aren’t a surplus of complexes this close to the beach with all the amenities that this place provides. My only complaint for the longest time was a lack of washer/​dryer in unit but they even have added those to select units! You pay for what you get and you get a great deal at the breakers.
One thing I saw in other reviews were tons of positive comments on the staff here. From Julie, Jenny, Ryan, and Jesse in the office… To Carlos, Romero, Walther, and all the other supporting crews (sorry I know I’m leaving a ton of names out that have helped me over the years) the professionalism and friendliness is consistent throughout. Not a day goes by that I don’t leave for work or on the way in get a friendly smile/​wave or conversation from someone here. Not to mention all the previous people who helped make this community so amazing… Ashley, Cynthia, Praveena, Simon, Bill, and Zia (again sorry of those I am not thinking of this exact moment!!).
I hope that to those reading reviews for this place doing their due diligence on their next home come across my review. I’m one of the last people to take time out of my day to give praise unless it is truly warranted. With that being said I felt like sharing my experience with this property over the last 5 years and honestly I am pretty bummed it’s coming to an end.
If you’ve read all of this and are looking for a place to rent hurry up and pick up the phone and schedule a walk through for this place so you can not only see but feel what I’m trying to articulate. Thanks so much to the Huntington Breakers staff and community it has truly been a wonderful ride over the last 5 years. You guys are all phenomenal!
Nick

LOVEEEEEE living here!!! It is so beautiful, pet friendly, and the staff is amazing! Jennifer Loe is the best she is always attentive to my needs and she always goes above and beyond to make sure i am happy. On top of that she never forgets my dogs names and always gives them attention. I have talked with other people in the community and they say she never forgets a dogs name! She’s awesome ! I would recommend this place to any of my friends or family it is super clean and i love calling this my home !

Found this complex and was excited because of its location and how nice the units were. It wasn’t until I moved in when I began disliking this complex.
I have had multiple problems with my unit. Washer/​dryer going out. Water leak that had the Ceiling, wall, and carpet replaced. Floor in the kitchen came up. Termite problem. Ant problem. You name it we had it. Not to mention the parking is absolutely horrendous in this complex. For the price I pay in rent (enough for a decent mortgage) I shouldn’t have to walk a half mile from where I parked to go home. The folks in the leasing office don’t really seem to care to much. We’re just another number to them and more $$.
Also have a friend who lives on the other side of the complex and has had his bike stolen not once but twice. I would say about almost half the residents here don’t care to much for their neighbors. I’ve had neighbors partying until 5am and the so called «security» doesn’t do a thing. I would NOT recommend moving or even consider living here. Not worth the hassle nor the ridiculous price in rent.

I have a lot of places and this one is the best. I will give them 5 stars when the construction is done. They are trying to make this place even nicer!!! Close to the Beach, Restaurants, Yummy Food, a dive bar (some people are into that) and a grocery store! Enough said!

Excellent spot. A great place for newcomers. Moved here from Ohio with my boyfriend 1.5yrs ago, and have made most of our new friend group from the apartment complex. You cannot beat the location, a quick walk to the beach, right next to a 24hr grocery store (Walmart Market) some great restaurants right next door too (Mama’s, Caldo, Sea Legs) and other great spots (froyo, Pilates and yoga studios, hip barber shop, cupcakes, and a dive bar).
Rent is reasonably priced, SUPER pet friendly, lots of animal lovers! The recent renovations have greatly improved the overall aesthetics.
The staff is wonderful, the maintenance staff is the best, super pleasant, and the leasing office gives out treats to all the pups regularly :)
We first moved into a renovated studio, it was a great space with a spacious closet. However, certain buildings in the complex «the tree houses» we call them directly face one another are a little annoying to move in and out of and do not offer the best privacy, also given all studios are on the first floor our studio directly facing another building didn’t get enough natural lighting. We moved into a one bedroom town home facing a grassy courtyard, which gets ample lighting and is near all of the great amenities (pool, clubhouse, grill).
Overall really pleased with our experience here and have referred several people. Feel free to use me as a referral, I won’t mind the money off rent ;)

Improvements have been made, and hopefully they continue to step their game up. Thank you Julie and Jenny.