Join the Cooperative

Become a founding member.

Charter membership is limited to the first 24 households. Submit your interest below — it takes about 10 minutes, costs nothing, and you'll hear back from a member of the founding board within a week.

The Process

From interest list to keys in four steps.

1

~10 minutes

Submit interest

Fill out the short form below. There's no fee and no commitment at this stage.

2

Within 1 week

Tour a home

Walk through a comparable unit and ask anything about cooperative living.

3

30-minute chat

Meet the board

A short, friendly conversation with the founding board — the same neighbors you'd be joining.

4

Fall 2026

Move in & vote

Welcome home. Your share comes with a key, a mailbox, and a vote at the next member meeting.

Founding Member Benefits

Charter perks you'll only get once.

Save

10% off share buy-in

Founding members receive a 10% discount on the initial share price — applied at signing.

First Pick

Choice of home

Charter members select their unit before the cooperative opens to the general waitlist.

Shape

A seat at the founding table

Help write the bylaws, set the first annual budget, and shape the cooperative's first decade.

Interest Form

Tell us about your household.

This isn't an application contract — it's how we get to know you and start the conversation. You'll hear back from a founding board member within one week of submitting.

Prefer to talk first? Email info@oldtowncoop.org or call (555) 123-4567.

FAQ

Everything you might be wondering.

What does it cost to become a member?

Founding members purchase a share in the cooperative. The share price and monthly carrying charge depend on the home you choose, and the full numbers are walked through during the application conversation — so you can make a real decision with real numbers. Founding members receive a 10% discount on the initial share buy-in.

How is a cooperative different from renting?

As a member, you own a share in the cooperative that owns the buildings — not a lease. You get the right to occupy your home, a vote in how the cooperative is run, and predictable carrying charges set annually by the members themselves. There's no landlord raising your rent because the market moved.

How is it different from buying a condo?

Cooperatives don't require a traditional mortgage on each unit — buy-in costs are lower and the financial structure is built around long-term stability rather than resale appreciation. The tradeoff is that shares are governed by the cooperative's bylaws, including rules about transfer and resale.

What's included in the monthly carrying charge?

The carrying charge covers shared expenses: property taxes, building maintenance, common-area utilities, insurance, and the cooperative's operating budget. Members vote annually on the budget. In-unit utilities (electric, internet) are typically separate.

Can I sell my share if I move?

Yes. Members can transfer or sell their share according to the cooperative's bylaws. The process is designed to keep the community stable and member-owned over time — incoming members go through the same application conversation, so the cooperative stays the cooperative.

Who decides who gets a charter spot?

The founding board, with input from current applicants. We look for households who'll genuinely engage with cooperative life — not a credit score or a tax bracket. The interest form is the start of that conversation, not a points-based screen.

What if all 24 charter spots fill up?

We'll keep a waitlist. As founding members eventually move on, their shares become available, and waitlist members get the first opportunity to purchase. Founding-member discount benefits don't carry to later cycles.

When can I actually move in?

First move-ins begin in Fall 2026. The exact date for your home depends on where it falls in the renovation schedule, which is confirmed once your application is accepted.