Holly Harper lives in a house with other families.
- I bought a four-unit house with another single mom to help us build equity and share costs.
- The division of labor and expenses saved us thousands of dollars last year.
- By pooling our possessions, we get access to more than our budgets would otherwise allow.
Homeownership has always been a priority for my financial stability. As a self-employed, single parent in an expensive city, I was able to become a post-divorce homeowner through cohousing. I found another single mom with the same needs as mine — space, comfort, a home — to live with. We are now three moms with five kids total living together.
The financial, social, and emotional benefits have been life-changing. Not only do I get to save money every month, but I get to live beyond my means by pooling our extra belongings and using them when needed.
My cohousing space is bigger and cheaper than my previous apartment
After my divorce, I rented for 18 months. My large one-bedroom apartment was 750 square feet, so I was able to make the bedroom into two "rooms" for my daughter and me to share. My rent, parking, and utilities were $2,550 a month.
At Siren House, the name we gave our new house, my utilities and equity-building mortgage payment total $1,875 a month. My apartment is 1,100 square feet, we have a half-acre lot with free parking, and I have a nearly 300-square-foot front porch that feeds my soul and offers a welcoming place to gather with family, friends, and neighbors.
I gave up the fancy gym, the rooftop pool, and the concierge service, but none of that matters as much now that I don't have to walk down three flights of stairs just to take the dog out to pee. I also saved $8,000 in rent in 2021 by moving to our shared house.
Sharing emergency repairs saved me $20,000 last year
New houses in Washington, DC, are rare. Most of the city's row houses and single-family homes are well over 50 years old.
Our house was built in 1927 and retains the wavy glass windows, tall ceilings, and original heart-pine floors that everyone adores.
But while the previous owner took excellent care of the property, and we did renovations and upgrades before we moved in, Siren House had some surprises up her sleeve.
The heating and hot-water system failed, the water main sprung a leak, a rotten window casement caused a bathroom ceiling to collapse, one kitchen drain rotted out, and we funded $10,000-plus in upgrades from replacing the front-door deadbolt to putting in a fence for the three dogs.
Our cohousing agreement requires us to contribute to the "emergency fund" monthly, so Siren House covered some of this without a dent in my monthly expenses. And for the emergency costs, we divided them relative to our percentage ownership of the property.
In all, I saved more than $20,000 last year on home repairs. All those costs would have been on my shoulders alone if I'd owned a single-family home.
Sharing our homes and pooling our personal belongings means we live like queens
The four grown-ups at Siren House have diverse hobbies, talents, and skills. Each of the five kids at Siren House has their own interests. Where our interests overlap, we pool resources.
Everyone has stuff they use two times a year — the sewing machine, the stand mixer, the jigsaw, the sleeping bags. And when storage space is limited, people sacrifice the things they use most infrequently. But now it feels like I have all the things, because we get to share everything.
But now it feels like I have all the things, because we get to share everything.
Jen is a CrossFit coach, and our home gym rivals any gym in the city. We have every piece of training equipment one could imagine, plus personal coaching.
Herrin is an artist, herbalist, and cyclist. I head upstairs when I need glue for my collages, the wine-bottle corker to seal a batch of fire cider, or a quick Peloton workout.
I am a DIY nut, decorator, and photographer. The door is open if you need to borrow my sewing machine, my prized cordless drill, or my professional-grade camera kit.
To round us out, Leandra is a tiny-house aficionado and minimalist. We call on her for the circular saw, the paint remover, and tips for helping us not become hoarders as we make our monthly deposits at the thrift store.
For our kids, Siren House is better than any children's museum, art studio, or playground. While they each have their bedrooms with loaded bookshelves and personal toys, they also have access to the community's open library of fun.
With our 15-foot trampoline, parkour slackline, bike, four scooters, two hammocks, sleds, stand-up paddleboards, camping gear, and inflatable pool during the summers, the outdoor activities are covered.
Culinary explorers can grab the cotton-candy maker, the waffle-cone maker, or the sorbet machine, or poke around in our pantries as they make plans to audition for "Nailed It."
Nurturers and gardeners get to play in our 300-square-foot vegetable garden, adopt one of our 100-plus houseplants to build a terrarium, or grab supplies to paint birdhouses.
We've unlocked the power of sharing, and our baseline expenses decreased, allowing us to experience abundance.
Now, when I want to buy something, I ask myself: Is this for me, or can this somehow be for us? Almost always, it's for us.
Holly Harper is the founder of Anagram Consulting, Blue Bike Communications, and Siren Foundry. She and the founders of Siren House are also the cofounders of Main Street Pearl.