By Genevieve Marsh
Buying a home for the first time can be risky. How do you know that the neighborhood is safe or friendly? What materials went into building your home? What hidden costs are waiting for you? Some people try to gain visibility by building their own homes, but this is often too expensive in urban areas. First-time home buyers are looking for a reliable and affordable home in an active community, close to work and other important amenities. But did you know with cohousing you can have the best of both worlds? This makes cohousing communities the ideal opportunity for first-time buyers.
Cohousing communities offer individuals and families affordable and intentional neighborhoods that fit their needs and values. Finding a space to put down roots and grow a family in a community with shared values can be difficult to find. Many first-time home buyers aren’t simply looking for a house, they seek connections and social interactions that make their home their favorite place to be. This is at the heart of cohousing projects. Residents find a community of like-minded individuals that often share activities like meals, gardening, celebrations, or child care. Making decisions together fosters a strong sense of belonging and community pride.
What makes cohousing more affordable? Sharing expenses associated with common spaces, amenities, gardens, workshops, and recreation areas allows for high-quality and intentional design that is actually affordable for residents. The costs associated with these are divided among the residents, reducing the financial burden on each individual. And it isn’t just financial responsibility that is shared, but time as well. Instead of each house maintaining its own garden, for example, the work can be divided and shared among the entire community. Cohousing communities are also able to benefit from bulk purchasing of building materials, services, insurance, and other necessities, so residents are able to receive quality amenities at affordable rates.
Cohousing encourages mutual support and collaboration among residents. This can extend to sharing skills and services, such as childcare, pet care, or home repairs, which can reduce stress, and save individuals money that they might otherwise spend on outsourcing such services. First-time home buyers have a say in designing their living environment, and can actively participate in shaping their community and their home. Designing shared spaces for families and children to interact and play builds a sense of community that is safe for parents and children.
But cohousing isn’t only for families, isolation and loneliness are common challenges for individuals. Cohousing can offer regular social interaction and a sense of belonging that alleviates stress through social connection for individuals buying a home for the first time on their own.
By joining a cohousing community early, you have a hand in the decision-making and design. Emphasizing which resources are important to you and your future neighbors, like tools, appliances, or even cars, reduces the need for each household to own its own set of items. Cohousing communities prioritize energy-efficient design and construction, incorporating features like shared heating systems, solar panels, or high-performance insulation. These energy-saving measures can lower utility bills for residents, making housing more affordable in the long run. These projects can also incorporate shared transportation options, or have access to public transportation options. Sustainable and eco-friendly practices are at the heart of cohousing design, aligning with the values and lifestyles of first-time home buyers.
A new cohousing project has started in Vancouver and is being designed with Charles Durrett, their development consultant. Charles has designed more cohousing communities than anyone else and his projects are considered extremely successful. Through engagement and participation in the design process, residents design their own units as well as common areas and facilities. This meaningful experience empowers the community to summarize the desired activities, priorities, and design criteria agreed upon by the resident group. You can work together and make every individual’s life easier, more convenient, more practical, more economical, and more fun by identifying mutual interests, common concerns, and shared values.
To learn more about the current cohousing project in the Vancouver area, check out https://www.facebook.com/eastvancohousing.