Housing costs have skyrocketed over the past couple of years, be it rent or mortgage. Many families had to adjust and reassess their cost of living to pay for their houses. After all, it’s never easy to put a roof on your head.
But what options do people have? For families, renting seems the most logical step to save from costs if they cannot afford the mortgage. Other families also considered sharing one home.
Those who live on their own have quite a few choices. They can always share a bedroom with a friend and split the bills, but it could still cost a lot. But in California, there might be one option left to cut the cost further.
Introducing, The Pods
Right in the Bay Area in Palo Alto, California, came an idea to share a home with fourteen individuals. Yes, you got that right. Fourteen!
Christina Lennox co-founded Brownstone Shared Housing, where they introduced the concept of people living in a shared home but sleeping in individual pods.
“Our pods are actually eight feet tall, so it gives enough room for like bigger people and like also some wiggle room, so they’re not like the Japanese capsules. They’re a bit larger,” Christina told ABC News.
Christina and fellow found James Stallworth saw this as an excellent solution for the rising need for affordable housing.
They initially planned to do this in New York, but they brushed the idea aside due to state restrictions. However, Palo Alto was more lenient and didn’t set a maximum number of renters in one house. With that in mind, plus a cooperative landlord, they saw their plans come to life.
What it’s like living in a pod
This single-family house could cost around $8,000 per month. That’s a steep price for one person (or even four friends living together)! But living in this pod only costs $800 a month.
Residents get to share the common areas such as the living room, kitchen, and study area, among others.
Each pod has its own lighting, temperature-controlled fan, a fold-down desk, and home hangers for their bags and clothes.
Great option for a great start
The idea of sharing one house with thirteen other individuals may not be that appealing to other people. But this is an excellent option for those who are still starting in their careers.
People who are still starting their first jobs may find living in a shared living space more enticing than renting an apartment. Paying less for a place to live could mean higher savings.
Another reason why people chose to live in these pods because they spent much of their time at work than they do at home. They only come home to eat, shower, and sleep, and the pod could provide them with a comfortable place to sleep while having enough privacy.
If you dreamed of having your own place one day, this could be a good place to start. You can always move out to a bigger home once you have enough savings.
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