Guide to Condos & Property Ownership

When you buy a condo, you’re buying more than four walls and a view. You’re buying a home plus a share of a building, along with the rules that come with it. Understanding exactly what you own, and for how long, is one of the smartest things you can do before buying in Downtown San Diego.

What do you actually own?

Condo ownership has two parts:

1. Your unit. In most California condos, you own the space inside your unit’s walls, floors and ceilings: the interior surfaces, fixtures, cabinets and appliances. The exact boundaries are set out in the building’s condominium plan and CC&Rs.
2. A share of the common areas. You also own an undivided interest, together with every other owner, in the parts of the building everyone uses: the land, lobby, hallways, elevators, roof, pool, gym and garage.

Some areas fall in between. Balconies, parking spaces and storage units are often “exclusive use common areas”: owned by everyone but reserved for you. The CC&Rs spell out who maintains them.

Who maintains what?

As a general rule, you maintain and insure your unit’s interior, and the homeowners association (HOA) maintains and insures the structure and common areas using the monthly dues. Plumbing, windows and balconies can go either way, so check your building’s CC&Rs, and see our guide to condo repair responsibilities.

How long can you own a condo?

For as long as you like. Most condos in Downtown San Diego are owned “fee simple,” meaning you own your unit outright with no end date, just like a house. You can sell it, rent it out under the building’s rules, or leave it to your heirs.

The practical limit is the building itself. Downtown’s condo towers are mostly concrete and were built from the 1980s onward. Meridian dates from 1985 and Savina from 2019. A well-run HOA keeps a building sound for decades by setting aside reserves for roofs, elevators and other major systems.

The documents that define your ownership

Before you buy, you’ll receive the association’s disclosure documents, which California law requires sellers to provide. The most important are:

• The CC&Rs: the rules on pets, renovations, rentals and use.
• The bylaws: how the HOA is run and how the board is elected.
• The budget and reserve study: whether the association has enough money set aside for future repairs.
• Meeting minutes: a preview of upcoming projects, disputes or special assessments.

Low reserves or a planned special assessment can add thousands of dollars to your costs, so these are worth reading carefully.

Your rights and obligations as an owner

As an owner, you vote on board elections and major decisions, and you can run for the board yourself. In return, you pay your share of the dues and follow the building’s rules. In Downtown San Diego, those rules always include a 30-day minimum on rentals, which California law allows associations to set.

Buying your first condo downtown?

The Neuman Team has helped buyers understand Downtown San Diego buildings since 1981, with more than 7,400 closed sales, and has been #1 in 92101 for homes sold since 2000. Explore our building guides, read our condo buying guide, or call (619) 595-7025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you own the land when you buy a condo?

Not on your own. You own your unit plus an undivided share, with the other owners, of the common areas, which includes the land the building sits on.

How long can you own a condo in California?

Indefinitely. Most condos are owned fee simple, with no end date. You can sell it, rent it out under the building’s rules, or pass it on to your heirs.

What documents should I read before buying a condo?

The CC&Rs, bylaws, the HOA budget and reserve study, and recent board meeting minutes. Together they show the rules, the association’s finances and any upcoming special assessments.