Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Owning units in cohousing communities as tenants

[tom shea (sheamuson]

I have been researching how to start up a cohousing community and share this 
concern of high prices.  I think the general consensus out there is that living 
in cohousing can reduce day to day cost of living expenses.  But I cannot move 
on from the fact that if a person can afford a $200,000+ home as well as 
monthly dues associated with the particular community than that person may not 
need assistance with day to day expenses.  I realize this is a very broad 
generalization and every persons situation is different and needs to be 
respected.  My underlying questions are: 
Can a cohousing community be constructed and structured such that the purchase 
price for say a 2 or 3 bedroom home is under $200,000 while including some 
principles of green design?  
 
Can people without the means to purchase expensive homes be included in the 
community without using HUD $?  
 
Does anyone have experience structuring parts of a community for people who 
posses unique skills (farmers for example) to move in first as a renter (to 
units built by the financier) then paying for the unit overtime with "sweat 
equity" with the goal of becoming a full owner at some point?
 
Thanks
 
Tom Shea
Green Haven (to be built in VT)
802-917-1525
 
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:54:36 -0800
From: "carrol crawford" <ananda.silver [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Owning units in cohousing communities as tenants
    in    common.
Hi Joani,
I think your idea is great!  I'm one of those people who don't have the
resources to buy a unit.  I would love to make it more affordable to co-buy
a house with someone of co-housing mentality.  How would I make that
possilbe?  Your're right I think there should be a section for advertising
such opportunities.
Peace,
Ananda
On 1/10/08, Joani Blank <joani [at] swansway.com> wrote:
>
> As the person who responds to voicemail calls made to the Cohousing
> Association, as often as once or twice a month I hear from an
> individual or a couple who really wants to live in cohousing, but
> simply cannot afford to purchase a unit in any community (and at the
> same time has too many resources to qualify for one of the few very
> subsidized units available).
>
> If it appears that this is not happening or not happening much, I'm
> wondering if I should suggest that that Cohousing Association's
> website's Market Place Classified make available an ad category
> called something like.  "Seeking potential Co-owners" to help folks
> find others who might like to purchase a unit with them as Tenants in
> Common.
>
> Does this seem feasible or am I overlooking some obvious reason why
> it's not a good idea?
>
> Joani
>
> Joani Blank
> Swan's Market Cohousing, Oakland CA
> land line : 510-834-7399 (preferred)
> cell: 510-387-1315
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:01:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Lia Olson <liajo [at] sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Owning units in cohousing communities as tenants
    in    common.
To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Message-ID: <828533.51545.qm [at] web82811.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I, too, am someone who wants to live in cohousing but can't manage to buy a
unit on my own.  Since there seems to be others in the same situation, having a
marketplace classified to help potential co-owners find one another is a great
idea.

Lia


      
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