I feel like this could also be an /r/personalfinance post, but I'll post here.

We live in the bay area, and work at tech companies with very good salaries.  More accurately, he's been working at a company for several years, and I am starting very shortly (although I do have savings from internships).  My boyfriend is very into personal finance and saving with the aim to be financially dependent as soon as possible.  One of the goals is to buy a property as soon as you can.

Currently I am finishing school and we both live in a cheap neighborhood in the bay area and pay our halves of the rent.  We're both on the lease, and have been officially living together for over a year.  (Unofficially before that)

He has somewhat casually brought up that he is very close to being able to afford buying a condo (not in SF, but a commute-able distance), and ideally would not like to rent anymore after our lease is up later next year.  He has offered to charge me a very low rent (~$500/month) to cover fees like homeowner association fees and stuff like that.  Compared to the rents for a 1 bedroom or studio in this area (1.5-3k?), that is a good deal for me.

My boyfriend claims that financially it is a great deal for both of us.  It would be written into a lease.

But I really have no friends who have been in this situation.  Is it a strange arrangement?  Is it a good deal for me?  Is it fair to both of us?  The only perspective I've gotten so far as from my friends back home (very different area), who were kind of shocked by me moving into a place my bf owns and said that they thought he shouldn't "charge" me.

What do you think?

EDIT:  Looks like the consensus is that it isn't totally uncommon, that it is fair to charge me rent, and a good deal for me because it is the cheapest option.  But that I should make sure we're on the same page in the case of marriage or breakup (and add it to the lease).
user
My bf is planning on buying a condo and charging me a low rent. Do you think I should accept the offer?
assistant
I feel like this could also be an /r/personalfinance post, but I'll post here.

We live in the bay area, and work at tech companies with very good salaries.  More accurately, he's been working at a company for several years, and I am starting very shortly (although I do have savings from internships).  My boyfriend is very into personal finance and saving with the aim to be financially dependent as soon as possible.  One of the goals is to buy a property as soon as you can.

Currently I am finishing school and we both live in a cheap neighborhood in the bay area and pay our halves of the rent.  We're both on the lease, and have been officially living together for over a year.  (Unofficially before that)

He has somewhat casually brought up that he is very close to being able to afford buying a condo (not in SF, but a commute-able distance), and ideally would not like to rent anymore after our lease is up later next year.  He has offered to charge me a very low rent (~$500/month) to cover fees like homeowner association fees and stuff like that.  Compared to the rents for a 1 bedroom or studio in this area (1.5-3k?), that is a good deal for me.

My boyfriend claims that financially it is a great deal for both of us.  It would be written into a lease.

But I really have no friends who have been in this situation.  Is it a strange arrangement?  Is it a good deal for me?  Is it fair to both of us?  The only perspective I've gotten so far as from my friends back home (very different area), who were kind of shocked by me moving into a place my bf owns and said that they thought he shouldn't "charge" me.

What do you think?

EDIT:  Looks like the consensus is that it isn't totally uncommon, that it is fair to charge me rent, and a good deal for me because it is the cheapest option.  But that I should make sure we're on the same page in the case of marriage or breakup (and add it to the lease).
user
Boyfriend wants to buy a condo, I want to be financially dependent on him for years to come, but he's close to being able to afford
assistant