What is Cohousing?
Cohousing
/KOH-how-zing/
Quick Definition: Definition: Cohousing is a residential community model that combines private homes with extensive shared facilities and cooperative community life. Residents own or rent individual homes but share common spaces like kitchens, dining areas, gardens, and recreational facilities while participating in community decision-making and activities.
Private Homes, Shared Community Life
Cohousing represents a middle ground between traditional neighborhoods and intentional communities, offering residents the privacy of individual homes combined with the benefits of shared resources and strong community connections. This model originated in Denmark in the 1960s and has since spread worldwide, appealing to people who want more community interaction than typical suburban living provides while maintaining personal space and autonomy.
The cohousing concept is often misunderstood as communal living where residents share housing, but it actually emphasizes individual ownership of private homes supplemented by extensive common facilities. This structure allows residents to choose their level of community participation while benefiting from shared resources, cooperative decision-making, and meaningful relationships with neighbors who share similar values about community living.
Why Cohousing Matters for Bajío Buyers
Mexico's Bajío region's cultural emphasis on community and family relationships makes it an ideal setting for cohousing development. International buyers seeking authentic community connections while maintaining privacy and independence find cohousing an attractive alternative to traditional developments or fully intentional communities.
Key Features of Cohousing Communities
Cohousing vs. Other Community Types
Understanding how cohousing differs from similar community models helps clarify its unique characteristics:
Traditional Neighborhood:
- Individual homes with minimal shared facilities
- Limited community interaction beyond casual encounters
- Independent decision-making with minimal coordination
- Private ownership with standard homeowner association governance
- Neighbors may have little in common beyond geography
Cohousing Community:
- Private homes plus extensive shared facilities and common house
- Intentional community interaction through shared meals and activities
- Cooperative decision-making and consensus-based governance
- Private ownership combined with shared community resources
- Residents choose community based on shared values about cooperative living
Intentional Community:
- May include shared housing or individual homes depending on structure
- High level of community integration and shared decision-making
- Strong emphasis on shared values, beliefs, or lifestyle choices
- Various ownership models from individual to cooperative to communal
- Deeper commitment to community vision and collective living
Types of Cohousing
Cohousing communities can be organized around different themes and demographics:
Senior Cohousing:
- Designed for residents 50+ or 55+ seeking community in later life
- Accessibility features and age-appropriate common facilities
- Focus on mutual support, shared activities, and aging in place
- Often includes healthcare coordination and transportation assistance
Multi-Generational Cohousing:
- Welcomes residents of all ages from young families to seniors
- Child-friendly facilities and programming alongside adult amenities
- Emphasis on intergenerational relationships and learning
- Shared childcare and family support systems
Themed Cohousing:
- Organized around specific interests like sustainability, arts, or wellness
- Common facilities support the community's shared focus area
- May include specialized workshops, studios, or activity spaces
- Attracts residents with common passions or lifestyle priorities
The Common House: Heart of Cohousing
The common house serves as the central facility that distinguishes cohousing from traditional neighborhoods:
Essential Facilities:
Community Activities:
Cohousing Development in Mexico's Bajío
The Bajío region's cultural values and international community make it attractive for cohousing development:
Bajío Region Advantages:
- Mexican cultural emphasis on family and community relationships
- Growing international population seeking authentic community connections
- Favorable climate supporting year-round outdoor community activities
- Traditional architectural styles easily adapted for cohousing design
- Local artisan communities supporting cooperative and community values
- Affordable land prices making community development economically feasible
Emerging Cohousing Concepts:
Several developers in the Bajío region are exploring cohousing-inspired communities that blend Mexican cultural traditions with international cohousing principles. These projects typically feature individual casitas or homes arranged around central courtyards and common facilities, incorporating traditional Mexican community gathering spaces with modern cohousing amenities.
Benefits and Challenges of Cohousing
Cohousing offers unique advantages while requiring certain commitments from residents:
Advantages of Community Living:
- Strong social connections and reduced isolation
- Shared resources reducing individual costs and environmental impact
- Mutual support during life challenges and transitions
- Rich social life with regular community activities and celebrations
- Shared decision-making developing leadership and cooperation skills
- Multi-generational relationships and learning opportunities
Considerations and Commitments:
- Time commitment for community meetings and consensus decision-making
- Need to navigate different personalities and resolve community conflicts
- Shared responsibility for common facility maintenance and operations
- Potential privacy limitations due to close community connections
- Financial obligations beyond individual home costs
- Learning curve for cooperative living and community governance
Is Cohousing Right for You?
- Desire for community connection balanced with personal privacy
- Willingness to participate in consensus decision-making processes
- Interest in sharing resources and facilities with neighbors
- Appreciation for intergenerational relationships and diverse community
- Commitment to community cooperation and mutual support
- Flexibility and communication skills for community living
Frequently Asked Questions
No, cohousing emphasizes choice and voluntary participation. While community involvement is encouraged and beneficial, residents can choose their level of engagement based on personal preferences, schedule, and life circumstances. The key is finding a balance between community participation and personal autonomy.
Most cohousing communities use consensus-based decision making, where residents work together to reach agreements that everyone can support. This process takes more time than majority rule but ensures that all voices are heard and community decisions have broad support.
Costs vary by community but typically include monthly common house fees ($100-300), shared meal programs ($50-150 per person monthly), and special assessments for major improvements. These costs support common facilities, activities, and professional management if applicable.
Rental policies vary by community, but many cohousing communities allow rentals with tenant approval processes ensuring renters understand and support community values. Some communities prioritize sales to owner-occupants to maintain community stability and participation.
Related Terms
Intentional Community
Broader category of values-based residential communities
Common House
Central shared facility in cohousing communities
Consensus Decision Making
Democratic process commonly used in cohousing governance
Cooperative Living
Housing arrangement emphasizing shared resources and mutual support
Multi-Generational Community
Residential development welcoming residents of all ages
Shared Facilities
Common amenities and spaces in community developments
Interested in Cooperative Community Living?
Explore cohousing opportunities and community-focused developments in Mexico's Bajío region. Our team can help you find residential communities that balance private living with meaningful community connections and shared resources.