While financing does determine who can afford to live in a particular development, it makes little difference in the actual functioning of cohousing. Cohousing refers to an idea about how people can live together, rather than any particular financing or ownership type. The priorities of cohousing developments are as varied as the residents themselves. In addition to seeking a sense of community, some groups emphasize ecological concerns, such as solar and wind energy, recycling, and organic community gardens. In other developments, residents place less priority on community projects and spend more time on individual interests such as local theater groups, classes, or political organizations.
Priorities often change over the years, reflecting the desires of the residents.
It is a huge task for a group of people, inexperienced in both collective decision making and the building industry, to take on a project of this complexity. Most residents have little knowledge of financing, design and construction issues for housing development. Luckily, in dealing with these issues today, we can benefit from two decades of cohousing experience. The process is different for every cohousing community. In some cases, the group forms with the intention of developing a specific site.