La Jolla · Buyer guides · Condos

Comparing La Jolla condo buildings: a checklist

Short answer: Two condos can look alike and live very differently. The building’s HOA (homeowners association) papers tell you how it’s run, what it saves for repairs and whether owners owe extra. California law says sellers must hand over many of these papers. Read them for every building on your list.

I help buyers in La Jolla and around coastal San Diego compare condo buildings. I don’t rank buildings. Instead, I help you read each one’s papers the same way.

This checklist covers what to ask for and what to look for. It isn’t legal advice.

I’m Weston Clark, Founding Member of the Dickinson-Clark Team at Compass. I help condo buyers in coastal San Diego read the papers before they commit. You can talk about fees with Weston directly. This form does not give a commission quote.

Talk to Weston Jump to FAQ La Jolla condos

Related: La Jolla condos · Homeowners associations · Home inspections · Short-term rentals · Guides · Reserve study

What California law says

California Civil Code section 4525(a) says:

“The owner of a separate interest shall provide the following documents to a prospective purchaser of the separate interest, as soon as practicable before the transfer of title or the execution of a real property sales contract, as defined in Section 2985:”

In plain words, the seller has to give you a set of HOA papers before the sale is final. The list includes the rules, the budget and reserve papers, the dues and any extra charges, and more.

The rules

• The governing documents. These include the CC&Rs (the recorded rules for the property), bylaws and house rules.
• Rules on rentals, pets, parking, storage and remodeling.
• Any rule that limits renting out a unit. Section 4525 asks for a statement about this.

If you plan to rent it out, see my short-term rentals guide.

The money

• The current budget and what the regular dues pay for.
• The reserve papers. Reserves are money saved for big repairs, like roofs or elevators.
• Any special assessment (an extra charge beyond the regular dues), now or already approved for later.
• Any unpaid charges on the unit you’re buying.

The building itself

• Board minutes, which show what repairs the board is talking about. You can ask for them.
• Any inspection report the law requires for balconies and other raised decks, if the building has them.
• Insurance the HOA carries, and what it leaves to each owner.

A home inspection still matters for the unit itself. See my home inspection guide.

Compare buildings side by side

Make one list for each building and ask the same questions. Look at how the reserves compare with the repairs ahead, how often the rules change and how the board talks about problems.

See my HOA guide and my La Jolla condo guide for more.

General information only

This checklist explains the process. It isn’t legal advice. Ask an attorney about what the papers mean for you.

More on sandiego.homes

• La Jolla condos: buying a condo here
• HOA guide: how associations work
• Home inspections: a pro look at the unit
• Short-term rentals: renting out a unit
• Guides · La Jolla

Talk with Weston about condo buildings

Tell me which buildings you’re looking at. I’ll help you gather and read the papers for each one.

Or call (858) 997-8998 · weston@sandiego.homes · Search on Compass

Free tools: What is my home worth? · What would I take home? · Real estate words in plain English

Have another question? Quick answers to common questions

Sources

• California Civil Code § 4525
• sandiego.homes — La Jolla condos
• sandiego.homes — HOA guide
• sandiego.homes — Home inspections