Beyond Affordability: How Collaborative Living is the Only Path Forward
I get it - “the affordable housing crisis” is a convenient story, but it’s a narrative that lets commerce off the hook while pinning blame on consumers; as a life-long entrepreneur I find it lazy.
The real issue isn’t the price tag; it’s the lack of acceptable, affordable options in the first place, and that lack extends far beyond housing; to food, health, education, energy. We keep buying everything "à la carte," expecting volume pricing on solo purchases.
That’s not how economies of scale work. We've gotten lazy; we expect to pay full retail for fragmented essentials, and we wonder why our living costs keep climbing.
But consumers are waking up; when they shop at Costco or co-ops, it’s not just discounted paper towels; they’re buying trust networks: childcare, pet care, elder support, wellness, education, even power and water.
That’s the pattern we’re seeing emerge, and where these collective models take root and scale, they disrupt legacy systems entirely.
Evidence in the Wild
Co-living as a growing market:
The global co-living market was $7.8 billion in 2024 and is forecast to double by 2030, fueled by rising living costs and preference shifts.
Shared housing drives down rent:
A study in New Zealand found adding just one roommate could slash total rent by 17.3%.
Community-led affordable housing:
In Leeds, the Lilac co-housing model blends equity-sharing, shared meals, tools, cars, and care; cutting living costs while boosting quality of life.
Economies of scale in services:
Infrastructure (eg: energy, water, parks) becomes more affordable per household as communities scale.
Better health in retirement villages:
Residents of community-based retirement villages are 41% happier, 20% less likely to be hospitalized, and drive savings of nearly $1 billion in aged care costs.
Intergenerational home-sharing on the rise:
Platforms like Nesterly pair students with seniors (addressing housing, loneliness, and cost) all at once.
TerraCores: Delivering Real, Affordable Community
That’s what we do at Terra Global Developments; we build affordable, zero-energy homes as part of cooperative communities, blending veterans, elders, families, and disabled residents.
Through coordinated ownership, shared infrastructure (solar, water, Wi-Fi), and on-site amenities, we harness economies of scale; not just in cost, but in care, resilience, and longevity.
This is not a utopian dream; TerraCores are where common sense meets real estate meets shared values. It’s how affordable should feel.
Supporting Sources Recap:
Global co-living market growth projections
Rent reductions through co-living arrangements
Leeds’ Lilac co-housing success story
Infrastructure economies of scale research
Health & cost benefits in retirement communities
