Paloma Del Mar Senior Apt

Pros

• The apartments are clean and roomy.
• Some patios or balconies overlook a beautiful courtyard.
• Grounds and hallways are very well kept up.
• The grounds are beautiful, calming, and peaceful.
• The inviting common area has lots of books.
• Different holidays are celebrated with potlucks.
• Management is very friendly and helpful.
• Maintenance requests are addressed promptly.
• Paloma Del Mar is described as one of the best communities the reviewer has lived in, with great management and neighbors.
• The first visit to Paloma Del Mar involved an immediate email of the application and polite office staff.

Cons

• The reviewer described the application process as not professional, shady, and biased.
• They criticized a three-year wait list, saying it wasted people's time and that phone calls were not returned.
• The current manager was said to be not up to the job, biased, permissive, with little control.
• There were reports of brawls, fights, threats, loud noise, and illegal activity, making the community not safe.
• The new owner was viewed as not caring and operating the property as a financial venture; management was described as extremely poor.
• Most problems were attributed to tenants themselves, with management unable to control or maintain all needs.
• The wait to list apartments was deemed excessive and unhelpful.

Review

Paloma Del Mar comes across in many ways as a place that can feel like a calm, welcoming retreat. Several reviewers highlight the apartments themselves as a strong plus: clean and roomy, with patios or balconies that overlook a beautiful courtyard. In the spring, a dove's gentle cooing is part of the atmosphere, and the grounds and hallways are described as well kept and peaceful. The property also features an inviting common area filled with books and a culture of sociable events, including potlucks for various holidays. Management is frequently praised for friendliness and helpfulness, and when maintenance is needed, responses are noted as prompt. The location in a safe, quiet part of Freedom further enhances the feeling that this could be a wonderful place to call home, with convenient proximity to Safeway, Big Lots, and Rite Aid Pharmacy.

Yet underneath those positive impressions there are persistent concerns voiced by others. One reviewer recounts a troubling experience with the waiting list process. According to that account, after regularly applying, updating information, and leaving messages, the person was told weeks later that their name had been taken off the waiting list and that they would need to reapply and start over. The reviewer suggested something "not professional, shady and biased" might be happening with the administration, implying a lack of transparency or fairness in the process. This single experience stands as a striking counterpoint to the widely praised front-end operations described elsewhere.

On the other hand, there is a distinctly favorable first impression of Paloma Del Mar's intake process. In one anecdote, dropping off an application was described as a very good experience: the staff sent an application via email immediately, and everyone in the office was polite. That reviewer stated they "couldn't have asked for a better experience," painting a picture of an efficient and courteous initial interaction that contrasts with the other story about the waiting list.

Beyond the application and maintenance dynamics, other residents offer glowing, almost reverent, appreciations of the community. One reviewer calls Paloma Del Mar "one of the best communities I have ever lived in," praising management, neighbors, and especially the grounds, which are described as park-like. This voice conveys a deep sense of belonging and satisfaction with the social fabric of the place, suggesting that when all the pieces align - good management, neighborly residents, and a pleasant environment - the community feels like a true home.

A wider theme that runs through several reflections is the importance of mood, civility, and kindness in shaping life at Paloma Del Mar. Some advise not to sweat the small stuff and remind readers that individuals contribute to the health of a community. The idea is that personal conduct and mutual respect can influence everyday living as much as any formal policy, and that a community thrives when members choose kindness.

There are also pragmatic critiques that underscore ongoing tensions. Another line of commentary questions why listings are open when there appears to be a multi-year wait list, alleging wasted time and unreturned phone calls. This sentiment sits alongside a more reflective, mixed assessment that, while the place is "mostly good," many problems are attributed to tenant behavior rather than staffing or management alone. One reviewer suggests that not all issues fall squarely on management: "most problems are caused or brought about by the tenants ourselves," and that managing a large community requires balancing many needs and wants that cannot always be perfectly controlled. There is also a personal admission that, after nearly five years, problems when they arise often stem from the reviewer's own inaction or the inaction of others.

The most pointed and alarming critique comes in a final, stark assessment of leadership and safety. This reviewer argues that the current manager is not up to the job of guiding a group as large as Paloma Del Mar, describing the manager as biased, permissive, and lacking in sufficient control. The account escalates into a troubling list: brawls, fights, threats, loud noise, and even references to illegals staying, parties, smoking, drinking, and fighting. The reviewer concludes that this is no longer a safe senior apartment community, contrasting the present state with the era when the first owner ran it, and characterizing the new owner as treating the property as a financial venture. The verdict, in strong terms, is that management is extremely poor.

Taken together, the reviews depict a place with genuine strengths and real potential: well-kept grounds, pleasant apartments, a tranquil setting, and a community-oriented atmosphere that can feel like home. At the same time, they reveal serious fragilities in administrative processes and governance, including contested waiting-list experiences, inconsistent communication, and concerns about safety and management effectiveness. For some residents, Paloma Del Mar embodies the best of what a senior living community can be - a calm, hospitable, and neighborly enclave. For others, it is a work in progress, where the atmosphere and sense of security depend heavily on individual experiences, interpersonal dynamics, and the current leadership at any given time.

Freedom, California is a peaceful and convenient location for senior living, with a variety of amenities in close proximity. The area offers easy access to healthcare facilities such as Monterey Bay Orthopaedic Clinic and Coastal Women's Health Care, as well as pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid. Residents can enjoy dining options at Wendy's, Beer Mule, and other restaurants nearby. For outdoor recreation, there are several parks like Seascape Park and Seacliff State Beach within a short driving distance. Additionally, cafes like Starbucks and Cat & Cloud Coffee provide spaces for socializing and relaxation. With the Birthing Center: Sutter Maternity Surgery Center located just a short drive away, seniors can feel confident in the availability of quality medical care in the area.

Physicians

• Nancy Jacobsen, MD (0.2 miles)
• Monterey Bay Orthopaedic Clinic (0.2 miles)
• Huerta ibarra, Jose Jose Huerta Ibarra, MD (0.7 miles)
• Accu Dental (0.7 miles)
• Coastal Women's Health Care (1.4 miles)
• Plazita Medical Clinic (1.6 miles)
• Tepper Jonathan MD PhD (1.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (0.7 miles)
• Beer Mule (0.8 miles)
• Sanderlings Restaurant (5.8 miles)
• The Hideout (7 miles)
• Mentone (7.5 miles)
• Parish Publick House (7.6 miles)
• Soul Salad (7.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.9 miles)
• Earthly Quintessentials: Natural Solutions & Alternative News (7.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (7.9 miles)
• Franks Pharmacy (8.1 miles)

Parks

• Seascape Park (5.8 miles)
• Polo Grounds Bicycle Park (6.5 miles)
• The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (7.6 miles)
• Seacliff State Beach (8.1 miles)
• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (9.4 miles)
• Uvas Canyon County Park (10.1 miles)
• Hecker Pass Park (10.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (7.5 miles)
• Cat & Cloud Coffee (7.5 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (7.9 miles)
• Verve Coffee Roasters (10.7 miles)
• Pretty Good Advice (10.7 miles)
• Point Market & Cafe (11.1 miles)
• Togo's (11.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Birthing Center: Sutter Maternity Surgery Center (11.8 miles)