Cohousing-L Mailing List: Fw: Re: Buying a coho unit and renting for a few years...

[Patty F Gourley (pattymara]

> Have any of you had experiences (good or bad) with folks who bought
into co-housing, but didn't live there until later?  
 
> We want to hear your thoughts on the "plusses and minuses" of the
concept--both for the community, and for us.  

At Tierra Nueva Cohousing, on the Central California coast, we sold three
homes to absentee landlords.      The first was bought by a local woman
for her elderly aunt, who passed away before construction was completed. 
The owner attended meetings and participated fully, and has had several
renters who are integrating nicely into our group.  The second buyers
were our friends and "process mentors"  who had worked with our group for
the entire 8 years of development.   They were not ready to leave their
gorgeous beach home with wraparound ocean view but wanted to buy a unit
for later and rent it in the short run.  Because of their respect for
process and consensus decision-making they requested from the group that
we develop a renters' policy before they bought their unit.  (text of the
policy is at the end of this post).  It was based on this policy being in
place (and some nervousness toward the end that we wouldn't sell all the
units)  that we decided to sell a third unit to another absentee owner, 
a single woman who lived out of town and planned to move when she retired
from her currant job.  She bought her unit by telephone almost, having
visited briefly once to see the available houses, and met no one in the
community, and had no experience with cohousing or consensus decision
making. 

Can you catch the drift here?  Long story short:  the first two sales  to
absentee owners have been successful , the third was a disaster.  So it
can go either way.    

The "plusses and minuses" of the concept are illustrated perfectly by the
different owners we've experienced.  Plus:  absentee owners who establish
and nourish connections with the community, and respect consensus
decision-making, will have a better chance of choosing appropriate
renters, who will contribute to community life.  Ours found a wonderful
couple who have integrated smoothly into our community family,
participating in meals, work days, socials and friendships. Minus: 
absentee owners who are unfamiliar with the community and have no sense
of consensus or group life might not be able to find renters who are good
matches for the community.  Because our second ab. owner lived 4 hours
away, she was rarely here to get to know us, was too busy to find a
renter herself, hired a local real estate agent to do it, who failed to
find anyone.  The unit was empty for nearly six months.  Finally she
asked community members to find renters...and after about 2 weeks, one
renter was found.  Since she couldn't afford the entire rent she found
another roommate, who turned out to be so creepy (in my opinion) that we
had to have a community meeting devoted to spelling our appropriate and
inappropriate behavior of adults towards children.  Neither of these two
renters seemed to integrate smoothly into community life, for different
reasons, and both have since moved.  The owner decided to sell her unit
recently and it was bought by the wonderful renters.  We are all
breathing a huge sigh of relief. 

I believe that renters can offer a tangible gift to any community, if
they are energetic and familiar with the rigors of community life.  I
believe that all groups should create some kind of renters policy, but be
warned that it doesn't guarantee success.   

If you establish ties with your community of choice, and work diligently
to nourish those connections, with regular visits and contributions of
time on community work projects (never-ending, these projects will always
need strong backs and hearty energy), you will create the bonds that be
useful to everyone involved.  If the group chooses to offer decision
making powers to renters, as we do, then your renters will have the
opportunity to become integral members, so choose them very carefully,
with clear boundaries about when you plan to "move-in".  Stay very
connected to the community, spending all your vacations and holidays
there if possible.   This may require a commitment of time that you may
not be prepared to make.  It is necessary.  You can't just breeze in
after 3 or 4 years and expect to have a ready made extended family if you
haven't made the effort regularly along the way.   Especially if your
renters have become beloved community members.  Hopefully you won't
displace them, and they will find a place within the community to move
when you do make your move.  

Good luck in finding a good match, both in communities, and in renters.  

coheartedly,
Patty Mara Gourley, Tierra Nueva, cen. CA coast

Renters Policy:  Tierra Nueva Cohousing homes may be purchased by owners
who do not live on site.  Corporate decisions (matters pertaining to
finances) are made by members of the corporation (owners of units). 
Renters will participate in the making of decisions regarding day-to-day
community life.

Off-site owners are welcome to share in the community's activities and
enjoy common facilities when they come to visit.  

Selection of cohousing renters will be at the discretion of the owners. 
Owners are encouraged to select renters who are well informed about the
special rights and responsibilities of community life.  New renters will
be sponsored by a cohousing member (if the owner is living out of the
area) in order to integrate them into the rhythms of our community life. 


It is the responsibility of the owners to pay the monthly homeowners
association fees.

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