Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Home prices - cohousing vs non-cohousing

[Jane O'Brien (janeobrien]

> and then figure out the benefit of common amenities

This element to me seems very tricky at best.  Within the last month I
was in negotiations to buy a cohousing unit that was priced high compared to
similar units in the same area (according to my real estate agent). Figuring
out the real value of the amenities is difficult.  Someone advising the
seller told me cohousing had no equal:  "it's like country club living," and
his valuation of the Common House and other amenities seemed astronomical to
me.  Another member of the same community laughed at this description and
said "cohousing is a community based on shared work, and more time is spent
CLEANING the Common House than using it as a country club!" The reality is
probably somewhere inbetween.  I do think establishing the "market value" of
the amenities offered by cohousing is difficult to establish.

Jane O'Brien
janeobrien [at] earthlink.net