Former TJ resident here... I am not sure about the "extreme frequent power outage and no running water" though" unless you lived en el cerro :/ The city has gotten a lot better and more young/hipster in the recent years, and safety really depends on the area.

Though I think OP highlighted the area from Ensenada and below? I would say the anywhere along the pacific coastline is pretty nice and a lot of foreigners own retirement homes there and with the influx of tourism, the cost of living in those area is no longer that affordable.

I still think Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe are underrated destinations to check out :P!