Best of Times, Worst of Times for Cohousing

The old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times” is upon us. For the cohousing movement it is as Charlie Dickens would have said the “best and the worst of times.” The housing market is at its worst and the economy is not doing well. It is a hard time to think about housing as a solution to life’s challenges let alone a way to “save the world one neighborhood at a time.” It is times like this that small splinter movements like cohousing can get lost and buried.

But it is the best of times for cohousing in that our awareness of the need to sustain our culture and our planet are at a high point. The economic downturn is forcing a break with the American addiction to materialism and a rethinking of values. Global warming and high gas prices are having significant impacts on our society, although it still isn’t a fast enough impact for some of us.

With 20 years of American cohousing experience now under our collective belts, we have begun to understand the potential that cohousing has to make a difference in people’s lives and contribute to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of our American society.

Sure, there is still a lot to figure out and it takes commitment, time, work and, heaven forbid, meetings to do that. But, we now have evidence that small proactive neighborhoods do make a difference. We also can show that they increase in value as they mature; environmental and social value as well as economic value.

A study by a California appraiser documents the significant increase in the real estate values of homes in cohousing communities in comparison to other homes in similar locations. However, the advantages of living in a cohousing neighborhood during troubled times go beyond real estate value and a more economic lifestyle. Shared experiences through neighborhood community generate social satisfaction and a feeling of purpose and hope for a troubled world. Living in a collaborative environment with neighbors empowers individuals and creates a “social synergy” that enables greater benefit for all. This synergy has the ability to positively influence the larger society.

In spite of the scary economic challenges of today this might just be the very best time to move into a cohousing neighborhood. Homes are available, both new and used, and prices will never be lower. Both CoHousing Partners and Wonderland are offering units in newly built communities in Fresno, CA, and Lyons, CO, that can be moved into under a lease to own program.

We have come a long way in understanding and perfecting the processes that lead to the successful development of these unique neighborhood communities. We have begun to perfect a seniors focused version of the cohousing neighborhood that has a huge market potential, and it is selling well in spite of the very tough current market conditions, Silver Sage in Boulder is sold out and The Lodge in Grass Valley, CA, is nearly 70 percent presold prior to its construction start this fall. Now is the best of times to expand and further the cohousing movement, but it will require the effort and commitment of those who truly understand cohousing: those who live in or work on these special neighborhood communities.