When you buy a house in cohousing, you are taking a roll of the dice.  Like any housing, the prices could go up or down.  You also are gambling that this community will be the cohousing you dreamed of.  Of course, that takes work and compromises and can be possible.

I know one person who would have been great to have in our community. Ultimately they decided not to take the gamble. They didn’t want to give their life savings to this house at this cohousing at this time. For various reasons.

Another person bought in but was tired of paying two mortgages when they moved out. After a year, they finally got to be free. They stayed a year in cohousing, moved out for a year, then, the house sold.  They were adventurous and wanted to try out community but it made them see, they prefer quiet and alone.  It had nothing to do with the other people.  

I’m a girl who can’t say no. When I hear something, I just jump in.  I plunged full in. Bought a house. Signed up right away. I should have been more cautious.  I wish I knew the pitfalls that could be possible.  I’m lucky that I don’t gamble with money, I would be broke especially after having worked as a waitress in a casino’s restaurant.

I took a gamble and it didn’t work out for me, socially. I hope to recoup my financial losses.  Since I planned to live there forever, I customized the house and spent a lot on construction.  I had no idea that real problems can come to those attracted to cohousing. Now I know some communities have had physical fights, illegal activities, domestic violence, child physical and sexual abuse, etc. I was naive. I also thought we’d be a place where we could handle small and big problems.  Some cohousing places do. Look for the ones with waiting lists (besides just their location). Rent for a year first.

Cohousing is a lot like looking for a college. I visited a few. One that looked great on paper, didn’t feel so great when I got there. I made the right decision. College was transformative and great. I was hoping I’d find that again at cohousing.  Others choose the wrong college and it is easy to transfer (okay, maybe not all your credits transfer) but cohousing is a big gamble. You put your money in a house. You move your stuff. And if you have kids, moving is hard for them.

Don’t just roll the dice, check under the hood first.