Cohousing Questions

(From Appendix of COHOUSING: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett, 1994)

• Who decides who lives there?
  Most cohousing communities do not screen new residents. If potential residents understand the nature of the community and their expectations for their own participation, they will be able to choose whether or not the community meets their needs.

• How much participation is required?
  Each community decides for itself. A minimum level typically includes cooking dinner in the common house once per month and participating on a work committee or two.

• What if I don't like someone in the group?
  It is not essential for everyone in a cohousing community to like each other. In fact, a variety of personalities adds interest to community life. Cohousing residents need only share a similar goal of making their lives more effecient and enjoyable through cooperating with their neighbors.

• Are cohousing homes more affordable than other types of housing?
  At this point, not typically. Land, construction, consultant, and financing costs are similar in any new development. Residents can save money by doing their own landscaping or taking on some development tasks. However, they may incur extra expenses owing to a more lengthy design and approvals process, a high level of customization, or any of numerous possible delays or setbacks. Without some type of outside subsidies, cohousing homes are usually comparably priced with other homes in the area.