Listen all you artists, teachers, non-profit workers. I was at a very packed Writers with Drinks event last night. The people surrounding my table were all writers, editors, fact-checkers. Some of them chatted dismally about how little money they were making. One couple offered up the following idea which perked up my hearing. Minimum equity co-op housing. You get a home in a co-op for nothing, but you won’t reap the benefits of the home appreciating. They gave the example of a 1-bedroom home in Berkeley for $1600 flat. I almost leapt out of my seat. I wrote down what they were saying to remind myself to look it up later. To qualify, you have to make less than $50,000. In this day and age, with the recession, I’m sure there are many people out there who qualify who probably don’t even know this exists!
I just did some research. It looks like the specific language is “limited equity cooperative.” Check it out. There are opportunities all over Berkeley. Damn, I wish I qualified. But maybe there will be good karma coming my way for getting the message out!
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