Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Separate financing of common house and individual units?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Oct 13, 2015, at 10:11 AM, Raines Cohen <rc3-coho-L [at] raines.com> wrote:
> 
> (here's the reply I sent Mike when he sent this question (before posting to
> Cohousing-L) directly to Coho/US via the cohousing.org website, where I
> answer questions. -- Raines)
> 
> Hi Mike. Thanks for writing to Coho/US.
> 
> Most communities treat the common house as the condominium clubhouse and
> plan for it and build it in to the cost of the homes. This is standard
> across the country, and a best practice for cohousing -- as raising funds
> afterwards and getting people into the habit of using it is much harder if
> it is not ready for use when the first members move in.

We also included the dining room tables and chairs, the living room furniture, 
dishes, cutlery, and large pans in the budget. This allowed people to include 
it in their mortgage amount because the common elements are purchased at the 
same time as the unit.

We quickly had other things donated — toys, exercise equipment, other 
furniture, etc.- when people began moving in.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org