With the rise in housing prices and the skyrocketing cost of rent, young professionals are looking for new and less solitary ways to find housing in big cities. Especially in the age of digital nomads and remote work, coliving offers an affordable and convenient way for anyone to live in major urban hubs like New York and Los Angeles.
What is coliving?
You might already be familiar with a similar concept—coworking—where those in need of their own workspace share an office with other professionals. In that same way, coliving gives you the ability to find your own room in a shared, move-in-ready home—allowing you to foster a sense of community and save both time and money when looking for housing wherever you decide to plant your feet.
If you’re curious to learn more, here are 11 facts about coliving you’ll want to know.
What does coliving mean?
Coliving refers to an alternative form of living that allows you to share a home with other professionals. With coliving, you’ll live in an apartment that’s more attainable and more social than ever before, with the convenience of added amenities.
With Common, in particular, you can find coliving spaces across the country at an all-inclusive flat rate. Common coliving spaces usually include:
- A fully furnished private bedroom
- Fully furnished shared suites
- Basic household essentials
- In-suit or in-unit laundry
- Wi-fi
- Utilities
- Central heat and air conditioning
- Free weekly cleanings of shared spaces
Coliving at Common entails more than just a “room rental.” Rather, it’s an entire experience: a private room, large shared spaces, incredible amenities, access to community events, and discounts at notable national and local brands.
The people you’ll meet through coliving are diverse, but they often have one thing in common: they value comfort and convenience in a home. There is no one type of person that is right for coliving. We welcome all people to the Common community, from international students and young professionals to digital nomads, couples, and more.
Why should I consider coliving?
Coliving is a great option for those who want to move to a new city but don’t want to undergo the costly and stress-inducing process of regular apartment hunting. With coliving, you can attain the look and feel of a high-end apartment at a budget price. Not to mention, you get the added bonus of a social atmosphere and convenient amenities.
Wondering if coliving is right for you? Here are a few reasons why you should consider coliving:1
- You’re moving to a new city on a budget
- You’re a digital nomad and want to explore new areas
- You’re a young couple looking to settle into a new home and neighborhood
- You’re looking to socialize and build a community
- You want to live and work in a city and benefit from what the local community can offer
- You don’t want to deal with the hassle of moving furniture or splitting the bills with roommates
How does coliving compare to other housing options?
Compared to other options, coliving offers more affordability, community, and convenience.
Living at Common can save you up to $380 a month. Your rent will cost less than the average traditional studio and Craigslist room in that city, when adding up all the utilities, supplies, WiFi, and monthly costs.
In fact, Common spaces are often well under the average traditional apartment rent in the area. This means when you choose Common, you’ll not only be getting the amenities of a nice apartment, but you’ll also be able to afford it on a budget.
Common also goes above and beyond other apartment complexes to promote coliving’s community aspect. With The Connect by Common app, you’re empowered to engage and coordinate with your fellow community members in a way that’s easy and convenient.
When it comes to moving in and paying rent, you won’t have to struggle with the tedious work of setting up your living space or trying to split costs. With Common, you pay a single rate for your room, which you can move into in less than 30 minutes, thanks to Common’s keyless access and move-in guides from our Member Support Team.
What if I’m an introvert?
At Common, you’re always invited but never obliged to mingle with fellow residents. Everyone’s a little bit different—that’s what makes our Common community amazing. We respect members who value alone time and private space. You will always have your own quiet, private bedroom.
Being introverted doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy being around people. It means you like to choose when, how long, and at what event you want to hang out with others, and that’s completely reasonable.
When you live with suitemates at Common, it’s easy to hang out and do things you want to, when you want to. There will always be something going on, whether it’s a movie night with your suitemates or a wine tasting event put on by our Member Experience Team, so you can join and be social whenever you want.
What if I don’t get along with my roommates?
Common’s coliving suites and offerings are designed to mitigate the most frequent roommate issues, like splitting the bills and deciding whose turn it is to buy toilet paper. However, disagreements still happen. If your roommate’s behavior is in direct violation of their lease agreement, our member support team is there to help. Like any other property manager, we’re unable to solve interpersonal roommate conflicts, but can work with you to find a new room in your home, or a new home in your city.
Will I have any privacy?
Absolutely. All of our apartments contain a private, fully-furnished bedroom just for you. You’ll be able to unwind and rest easy at the end of a long day in your own private space beyond the common areas. Some of our homes even have a private bathroom, allowing you even more privacy during your stay.
Ultimately, our homes are designed with a “know your neighbor” mentality. This means you’ll be able to host a potluck with your roommates, crash on the couch, or catch a movie, but still enjoy time to yourself without interruptions when you’d rather be left alone. How and when you choose to join the Common community is entirely up to you.
How are the coliving spaces designed vs. traditional apartments?
Most multi-bedroom apartments don’t consider a shared living space when handling multiple roommates. The kitchens are often cramped, and the bedroom sizes are often cut into multiple rooms, leaving little space for privacy.
Common’s coliving homes are designed with community living in mind, with shared spaces specifically crafted to be more comfortable.
What exactly are the differences between a coliving space and a traditional rental?
- Bathrooms aren’t shared with more than three people
- Large fridges can fit everyone’s groceries
- Our kitchens are spacious enough that you can cook at the same time as your roommate
- The living room has plenty of seating
- Our furniture and appliances are built to last
- Our bedrooms can comfortably fit a full-sized bed and nightstand, while still offering an ample amount of closet space
The bottom line is you don’t have to worry about intruding on someone while sharing the common area in any of our coliving spaces.
What are the perks of living at Common?
On top of getting a beautiful coliving space and high-quality amenities, weekends at Common consist of an exciting list of curated activities around the city. Some of our favorite community events from the past have been group CrossFit, wine and paint night, musicals, distillery tours, and ramen-making classes. Common members can also organize their own events, like Super Bowl parties, and get funding for food, drinks, and other party essentials.
Members also receive a wide variety of discounts from national heavy-hitters like Talkspace and Classpass, to local favorites like Bevy in Chicago and Thistle in San Francisco. Categories include:
- Home services
- Shopping
- Experiences
- Food and drinks
- Health and wellness
This way, you can take advantage of everything your city has to offer without breaking the bank.
What are some of the cities available with Common?
Common has apartments across the country—from the east coast to the west coast, you’ll be able to find a home in a neighborhood that’s right for you.
Here’s a brief rundown of some of the cities available with Common:
- New York City – From Harlem to Williamsburg, you’ll find coliving spaces in neighborhoods across the big apple. Fully-furnished private bedrooms start as low as $1,096 at Common Clark in Harlem.
- Chicago – Common offers Chicago living made better, with attainable coliving homes that can help make your Chicago dream come true. At LINEA by Common, in the Downtown Loop, you’ll have access to a game room, lounge, rooftop deck, and wellness studio.
- Los Angeles – You can find the perfect coliving spaces in areas like Hollywood, Venice Beach, and Marina del Rey. Plus, at Common Edenhausin in Hollywood, you’ll have access to onsite parking and bike storage, so you don’t have to worry about LA parking. Coliving can be the perfect way to jump into your LA life and start making valuable connections.
- Washington, DC – Whether you want to be based near Capitol Hill or Columbia Heights, Common offers fully-furnished apartments, shared kitchens, and coworking spaces throughout Washington, DC. Our apartments in Columbia Heights start as low as $833 a month.
- San Francisco – With Common, living in the beautiful, vibrant city of San Francisco is more attainable than ever. Explore wonderful coliving spaces like Common Jefferson in Oakland or Common City Gardens in SoMa. Regardless of where you choose, San Francisco living just got a little easier.
If you want to explore our available cities further, check out our blog, which has in-depth neighborhood tips and moving guides for each city.
How do I apply?
It’s easy! All you have to do is fill out a short survey, and one of our team members will reach out with home matches in the locations you’re looking in.
Then you take a tour, either virtually or in-person, with one of our Leasing Specialists. If you love the home, you can fill out the application right then and there. We run a quick credit and background check, and BOOM. You’ll be moving into your Common home within a week.
Take a tour today. Check out our Instagram and Facebook page for up-to-date information about our homes, members, and cities.
Sources:
- Forbes. Home Networks—Is Co-Living The New Co-Working? https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevorclawson/2021/05/23/home-networksis-co-living-the-new-co-working/?sh=7e5743917944