Ask HN: Any interest in co-living?

6 points by shiny 8 years ago | 2 comments

As a web developer, I need very little space to live.

Further, I don’t like paying rent, so my options are to take out a mortgage to buy a large house or a pricey condo with an HOA.

In the interest of achieving freedom from rent and/or a mortgage, I propose joining together with like-minded individuals to buy a large house outright, with enough land to build more small dwelling units (like those tiny homes, minus the kitchen & bathroom).

Each person would have their own room and/or tiny house, but share bathrooms, a kitchen, and probably even a working space.

So like a much better dorm, with people that you choose to live with, and that you own.

For example, a $700,000 house divided between 20 people is only $35k each. In certain parts of the country, that can get you a large house with ample land.

This is analogous to how Tynan bought and developed an island with friends: http://tynan.com/island … except we’ll have immediate access to the benefits of civilization.

There are multiple upsides & downsides to this approach, which I don’t have the character count to list. However, the most critical component is to rigorously vet each member, as it takes just one bad actor to make our lives difficult.

Location-wise, I’d prefer to be on the west coast of the US (or maybe Hawaii…) - I’m not steadfast on this however! I'd also like to be near a city center, but far enough away to bring down the cost of land and give us more freedom to develop it.

I realize this all sounds a bit harebrained, but thought I’d at least put it out there.

About me: I’m a 31 year old male web developer (shocking, I know), from California, but currently based in Austin.

Timeline is also flexible. I've been thinking about this for awhile, but just want to gauge interest in such a plan.

If you’re interested at all, please get in touch through the email in my profile.

Regardless, any thoughts or feedback on this plan is greatly appreciated.

hindsightbias 8 years ago |

It would seem to be a concept that "if you build it, they will come." But herding a dozen-somethings is just impractical.

Having been to a couple of legacy Intentional Living (former communes) communities - it's all very complicated. Everyone has to be on a near-same wavelength or they don't work. Turnover is high.

I'm helping a relative slowly develop a property north of the bay. It's a recreational project now, but if there were structures there, people are already lining up. Thing is, taking raw land and getting permitted infrastructure to handle a dozen people is probably ~$150-200K on the cheap side. He wants to experiment, all sorts of alternative ideas (i.e. take forever), but he's letting me build a tiny timber frame.

His idea is a "Benevolent Dictator" model. It would be more like a campground with internet. You would rent, or trade labor by invite. Most people would probably live in a city (what you see in most Intentional Living communities now) but have their country "chata."

DrScump 8 years ago |

  a $700,000 house divided between 20 people

... may well violate local ordinances/zoning. Check before buying.