Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Home for sale in Swan's Market Cohousing, Oakland CA

[Virgil Huston (virgil.huston1955]

Hi Sharon,

My neighborhood is actually very nice. There is no co-housing efforts
anywhere around me that I know of. I call my neighborhood "the lowest
income level safe neighborhood." It is quite diverse, quiet, and close to
shopping, etc. I am happy here and love it. Except, I am very attracted to
more community orientation that co-housing offers or seems to. I have
followed this listserv a long time and, at my age, it just isn't going to
happen at this point for us. We will no longer consider moving, especially
to another city or state, unless it were to be closer to family, but even
that probably will not happen because a move would wipe us out financially
and the few places we would now consider moving are much more expensive
for housing. We could sell our house and maybe afford a small condo at
best, but probably not the condo fees because all of what we have is tied
up in our house equity (we own it free and clear). Due to limited fixed
income, the only reason we can afford to live somewhat comfortably is
because we have no mortgage, especially now with inflation the past year or
so as bad as the early 80s (and I remember that, LOL).

Just for more info about me, I would also be fine in the right type of
commune, which I think many co-housers might not be into simply because
there is less privacy and less autonomy as far as opting out of
working, etc. If I were single, I would still consider a commune. When I
first joined this listserv, I thought co-housing was actually a form of
commune. I also think that co-housing is also often similar to country club
gated community type living where those who want to can do things in the
club house and there are social activities, etc. All these things are fine
and it all depends on the individual as to their preferences. I mean, I
used to like golf.

But co-housing is just so expensive and essentially shuts out a ton of
folks. We see this in the diversity and affordability threads that are
constant here (and that is all good, but does give an idea of what I might
be getting myself into cost wise). I also am well aware of how expensive
all kinds of housing have become, including rentals. Hedge fund companies
are now buying mobile home parks and raising lot rents that force
poor people out and houses particularly in neighborhoods like mine are
being targeted big time by these companies. High end housing hasn't been
affected by this newest trend yet, but many people are being forced into
renting. I am in a position at this stage of my life of really not being
able to sell and then find somewhere else to live. I keep saying "myself,"
but this is happening everywhere and to lots of people. It isn't about
co-housing, this is part of a much larger trend that is also hurting
co-housing. High cost areas (like NY and CA, but also places like
Asheville, NC, and the Austin to San Antonio, TX, corridor, have been off
the chain a long time, but it is happening to lower cost of housing areas
like where I live, too. Asheville used to be low cost of living and is a
place I used to want to live. Same with Austin south to San Antonio.

Hope that made some sense and kind of shows where I am coming from. At this
point, I feel really lucky I have a house that I can afford to live in,
although taxes and inflation are hitting hard. I see no path to make a
change any longer. Part of that is my age and current station in life, but
part of it is how things are going in the country overall. I see no real
way to change it. My neighborhood has more and more rentals everyday. Most
of the owners I know are older retirees like me. The younger folks are
mostly renters for the most part. When I say my neighborhood is diverse, I
also mean in age. Older retirees like me and young families with kids.

So, while I consider myself lucky, I also consider myself stuck. I know
that was a ramble, but maybe it could be helpful to those in co-housing
considering how to attract more folks. I have no idea what the answers are
and I do enjoy reading this listserv. Problems with co-housing seem to be
part of all the wider trends impacting income inequality, cost of living,
and all the rest.

Take care,
Virgil

On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 12:00 AM Sharon Villines via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> > On Mar 8, 2023, at 11:43 PM, Virgil Huston <virgil.huston1955 [at] 
> > gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Even before the last few years, I had already figured out I was never
> going
> > to live in a co-housing community. All other considerations are dwarfed
> by
> > price. I own a house, but I love the community aspect that co-housing
> > potentially offers. I live in a decent lower tier neighborhood in a
> > Southern state, in a ranch house in a 1950s close-in suburb of a medium
> > sized city.
>
> Are there any groups seeking to rehab houses in this kind of neighborhood,
> slowly converting it to cohousing?
>
> It would take time waiting for houses to become available but as long as
> the houses are livable, people can rehab them to their own needs and even
> DIY things. All the homeowners could help each other. Convert the street to
> common space.
>
> Sharon
> ----
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> http://www.takomavillage.org
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> http://L.cohousing.org/info
>
>
>
>