Montecito

I JUST MOVED IN THIS WEEKEND & I GOTTA SAY THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE FROM BEGINNING TO END HAS BEEN VERY PLEASANT! WE ALL KNOW MOVING IS ALWAYS HARD & FOR MOST WE DONT LOOK FORWARD TO IT. STARTING WITH THE FRONT OFFICE WHO I PERSONALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH ARE JAIME & MIKE. JAIME WAS ON POINT WITH ALL OUR COMMUNICATION, MAKING IT VERY EASY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ON MY ARRIVAL YESTERDAY I WAS GREETED BY MIKE WHO WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO ALSO MAKE IT VERY EASY TO GET MOVED IN PAINLESSLY!!… THAT GUY IS THE BEST & HE DIDNT STOP THERE HE ALSO HELPED ME MOVE IN MY STUFF ALONG WITH A FEW MAINTENANCE GUYS GARY,JUAN & TERRY WHO I CANT SAY ENOUGH ARE AN INCREDIBLE BUNCH OF GUYS!! THESE MAINTENANCE GUYS ARE THE BACKBONE OF MONTECITO & I THINK AN APARTMENT COMMUNITY THAT HAS A GREAT STAFF IS THE FIRST SIGN OF AN AWESOME PLACE TO LIVE. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME... MONTECITO IS THE PLACE!!! THIS WAS THE BEST MOVE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.. THANK YOU JAIME, MIKE, GARY, JUAN & TERRY ???? GOD BLESS & TAKE CARE Read More

Great value for the area. It's a Lewis property so the leasing office staff rotate frequently and are for the most part are clueless. Luckily Gary, head of maintenance, has stuck around and is super helpful. He knows the residents by name and does his best to the job done right the first time.

4 units per building, recently remolded, and fairly quiet by apartment standards as you definitely hear blunt sounds but not everything your neighbor is doing. 2 bedroom models have the value (size for… price paid). Single car garages but none attached. The complex is on the smaller size (which is a big plus for similar Lewis communities that are like cookie cutter mazes) and a park is adjacent to complex on the south side. Decent sized pool but often crowded on weekends. Workout room is small with only cardio and lifting machines, no free weights, but open 24 hours.

Pros:
- Value for Size and Features
- Quiet
- Gary, Super helpful Maintenance Lead
- Location in Rancho (close to VG, shopping, schools, 210, 15, 10 highways)
- Adjacent Park
- Stacked W/D in unit
- Single car detached garages
- Pool, saunas, and gym

Cons:
- Clueless leasing staff, need to talk to the property manager for anything besides paying rent. Typical reception, "I'm like new here, to this community that is, and only here for like um only two weeks helping out by just sitting at this desk, smiling, and basically doing nothing unless you're a new renter, so you'll have to come back most likely at a time when you're at work to speak with the manager, I think her name is Julie, or Sarah, or Jennifer, definitely one of those . . . "
- Commute to LA /OC is pretty rough in rush hour (live and work local if you can!)
- Water and Sewer bill is shared by building, not per person or included with rent as there is only 1 meter per building
- Lewis loves to get their max rent increase every lease renewal no matter how long you've been a tenant or how down the market is
- Mailman rarely gets the mail in the right box so get to know your neighbors Read More

The best features of the montecito apartments has to be the walk in closets! What girl wouldn't want that. I also love the atmosphere. The complex tends to be pretty quiet an that is nice.

I have lived at Montecito apartments for over 3 years, and it has been a wonderful experience! Here are some of its great features: First of all, it is the prettiest apartment complex I’ve seen. I love the graceful architecture, consisting of white stucco buildings with lovely teal awnings. It’s like a little taste of Italy! All of this is nettled in a beautiful park-like setting that runs throughout the complex. Secondly, Montecito is very family-friendly and pet-friendly. There is a pleasant… “aliveness” to this place. I always enjoy watching children playing and seeing people walking their dogs. Many of the people I’ve met here are very friendly. The “community” feel of this complex is a major highlight for me. As part of the Lewis Apartment Communities, we enjoy free events every month, held at our complex as well as at other Lewis apartments nearby. Some of our recent events: A Breakfast Club with waffles and toppings, a Lunch Club with assorted sandwiches, a Bingo Night with 3 different kinds of pie, a Beach Trip with hot dogs and smores, a Baskin-Robins Night, a Hawaiian Luau, a Bunco Night, and a Movie Night. They are lots of fun, with free food, and it’s a great way to meet other residents! Other great features: Montecito is an extremely well-run property. All of the staff are friendly and helpful. The maintenance staff fulfills service requests quickly and efficiently. The grounds are well-kept. (I should mention that due to the drought we’ve been having in California, Montecito has been doing their part to reduce the amount of water used on the property. Because of this, the grounds are not as green as usual, but I respect Montecito for helping with the drought situation. They have signs posted throughout the complex stating, “Pardon the Appearance of Our Landscape,” noting their help with the drought in compliance with State regulations.) The complex is safe and quiet. The apartments were recently remodeled, with granite counter tops, wood cabinets, and other upgrades. They look beautiful inside, and the layout is well-designed to be both practical and attractive. There are washers and dryers in every unit, and each apartment comes with a garage. In other reviews I’ve read about Montecito, some have said that they loved living here so much that they hated to leave (for such reasons as buying a house). For me, it goes a step further: I wish these apartments were condos, because I would buy one—I would love to make this my long-term home! Read More