I would look at anything by Bosa or Citimark. On the site below look for Discovery, Horizons, The Grande and The Legend as Bosa projects. Citimark has done M2i and Fahrenheit.

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS_Listings-24+0-Downtown

Don’t buy now. Rent for 6 months at a time in different projects, if you don’t mind moving.

Mr B gave some good advice.

Do you need a swimming pool? A gym?

One building I know well is The Grande.

– Superior amenities such secure access and operation of the elevator using a keychain wand.
– Concierge 24/7. You guests are required to sign in and the concierge will announce the visit.
– Next door to the train and trolley station.
– As close as you can get to the bayfront.
– Super location if they close Harbor Drive and build the bayfront park.
– Nice gym and nice pool.

downsides include:
– cheap laminate wood flooring.
– not the best quality cabinets
– northside view will be blocked by Bayside building
– southside view will be blocked by Navy complex redevelopment.
– Can the holiday Inn build higher and block the west ocean view in the future? Probably because the holiday Inn location is best. When the market booms again, the holiday Inn land will be worth a lot.
– noise from the train.
– low ceilings in individual units (not loft style).
– High HOA.
– Tandem vs. side by side parking (not sure if it’s the same for all units).

For a more basic building in terms of amenities, I like 350 Ash. The unit are airy with high (18ft?) ceiling so you can be more creative with you private unit. It’s close to Little Italy so you can walk there if you like those restaurants.

I’m not fond of the Little Italy restaurants so I would prefer to be closer to the embarcadero park on the bay.

I also suggest you go the CCDC office right outside Horton Plaza next to the Westin Hotel. They have a model of Downtown as well as information on all the buildings, existing and upcoming downtown.

http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/projects.home/category/residential

Jayeski definitely do not even consider buying downtown now. There is a REALLY great website that focuses 100% on downtown condos for a small fee. One of the posters here was posting about it and if you look back at previous posts you can find it. I will try to find the URL for you.

As Perry was saying the condo you will want will depend on the amenities you want. Discovery for instance has great amenities but you will pay close to 600 a month HOA for them. Also downtown has quite a variety of condos. There is the east side, there is Little Italy, there simply is ALOT to choose from.

Give it another 2 years and the same 2 bedroom condo you want will most likely be at least 20% cheaper then it is today. I have an escrow in Discovery that sold for over 600k 2 years ago and is in escrow today for 532 with a 7k credit to the buyers. My sellers are happy to get out with at about 6 figures when it is all said and done.

SD Realtor