Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: a strategy for affordability

[Brian Bartholomew (bb]

Ron Czecholinski <ron.czecholinski [at] gmail.com> writes:

> The model I am working on right now with a small house of 700-1000
> sq. ft and an auxiliary cottage of 300-500 sq.ft. could allow for an
> investment starting around $65,000 on a co-ownership arrangement -
> and sweat equity could possibly reduce that further. In addition, I
> am pretty sure I could find several other ways to help people find
> affordable alternative options - a group willing to be significantly
> involved in development and building, as well as to think outside
> the box and relocate if necessary to an area that has conducive code
> will have many options to choose from.

Marganne Meyer <marganne [at] macnexus.org> writes:

> I'd love to have a serious discussion about a cohousing model where
> the smaller, sustainable homes cost $40,000 and the buy-in for the
> rest of the project is $10,000. Yes, this is possible.

> Federal guidelines say people on disability can't afford to pay more
> than one-third their income for rent, which comes to around $450 a
> month.

A $60,000 mortgage for 20 years at 8 percent interest is $440/month.
Split the 1,500 sf above into a duplex of equal sizes, and get a
renter.  This estimate leaves things out and the numbers should be
worked more carefully, but it seems plausible to me.

Greg Nelson <ghn [at] pgt.com> writes:

> So in any case, there are *some* places where the zoning
> restrictions aren't the main cost obstacle.

Greg, will your jurisdiction permit a coho built like the above?


                                                        Brian