How is home ownership legally structured in cohousing communities?
Most cohousing communities in the U.S. are structured as condominiums or planned unit developments (PUDs). In the “lot development model,” residents jointly own the common property and facilities, and are the sole owners of the lot on which they build their single-family detached house. Sometimes residents in attached townhomes own just the land directly under their homes (the footprint), or perhaps the footprint plus a small back or front “private” yard.
Related pages: Legal Structures
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Land Ownership/Home Ownership
We have heard of a Legal Structure where the Land under the Buildings/Facilities is owned by the Residents Association (perhaps a Home Owner's Association) and the Building/House is owned by the Resident. The rationale explained was that Residents are sometimes concerned about the Value of the House and want to be able to pass the House on to their Children and/or Future Generations. Of course, then the Children might choose to Sell the House. Then the Question becomes who will buy the House, and will they be compatible with the existing Cohousing Community.
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