{"id":369447,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:27","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/what-is-a-common-interest-community.html"},"modified":"2023-07-28T11:23:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T16:23:12","slug":"what-is-a-common-interest-community","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/what-is-a-common-interest-community.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Common-Interest Community?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is a Common-Interest Community?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Olivia Wathne, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Common-interest communities include condominiums<\/a>, co-ops, retirement communities, and timeshares.<\/a> Common-interest communities are also known as common-interest developments or CIDs. CIDs are comprised of individually owned units with an undivided interest in common areas. A subdivision developer creates a CID by recording a subdivision plat and a set of legal governing documents. In a CID, every owner has a form of ownership with exclusive rights to certain parts of the real property. But owners are often limited in what they can do to their own condominium units.<\/p>\r\n

Unit developments are governed by a community association’s board of directors. The board is made up of individual unit owners. The board’s job is to follow and enforce the community’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, and CC&Rs (covenants, convictions, and restrictions). If the community is big enough, there may even be a master association. A master association governs separate sub-associations within the community.<\/p>\r\n

One of the advantages of living in a CID is the ability to enjoy certain common elements. These elements can include a tennis court or swimming pool. To maintain these common-interest amenities, residents pay a monthly common expenses assessment fee. This fee usually includes real estate taxes and insurance premiums.<\/p>\r\n

For more articles and resources related to common-interest developments, see FindLaw’s Owning a Home<\/a> section.<\/p>\r\n

Homeowners Associations<\/h2>\r\n

CIDs are managed by homeowners associations (HOAs<\/a>) or condominium associations. HOAs and condominiums associations serve the same purpose. The main difference between the two is the type of property they represent. Both HOAs and condominium associations make decisions about monthly dues, maintenance priorities, and other considerations affecting the community as a whole.<\/p>\r\n

There are many ways in which HOA rules may regulate<\/a> a common-interest community:<\/p>\r\n