(this is now live at http://www.mosaic-commons.org/involved )
In order to join the community and purchase a unit, we need you to get to know the group and agree to support our previous decisions. New households put 5% down and sign a purchase and sale agreement.
Here are the steps you should take:
- Look over our website, www.mosaic-commons.org . You can read about our vision, who we are, how we work, and see the designs for our site, our common house, and our homes. You can also read about what living at Mosaic Commons will be like.
- Come to an Introductory Meeting & Site Tour, held every Sunday . We'll review general information about cohousing, and talk in detail about our group, what we are working on right now, and what our schedule between now and move-in looks like.
- Start attending General Meetings, held on the first and third Sundays of the month from 3:30-6:30 in Marlboro, and workshops as they come up. You are welcome to come to some or all of the General Meeting immediately following your Introductory Meeting. Childcare is provided, and there is a potluck dinner following the meeting. Contact us if you are joining from long distance!
- At your first General Meeting, you'll be assigned a Mentor to be your point person for any questions you might have, and to help you get to know the people in the group. You'll also be added to our internal email list, and be given a website login. From the beginning, you're welcome to participate in the discussions as much as you feel comfortable. It's also fine to sit back and listen!
- With the help of your mentor, get to know as many people as reasonable. Learn about the diversity, culture, and informal history about Mosaic, and ask any questions you think of.
- Read and make sure you understand our active previous decisions and documents. Your mentor can help with this. You'll need to agree to support these in order to join us and purchase a unit. If you're new to cohousing, read more about it! The cohousing.org website is a great place to start, and we have books for loan or for sale.
- Tell your mentor you would like to be an Equity member, and then announce it to the group at general meeting, or by email. This begins our Equity Membership Process . A Target Acceptance Date will be set.
- If there are any concerns about your membership you will be notified as soon as possible & our Community Support team will help work them out.
- With the finance Team, arrange payment of 5% of your household's unit cost before the Target Acceptance Date, show them pre-qualification for a mortgage, and sign the Purchase & Sale Agreement & Operating Agreement.
- Celebrate!
If you have questions about this process, please email us at info@mosaic-commons.org , or contact Steph by phone at 508-453-0446.
We also have the option to join the group as an Associate, for people who qualify for the 40b lottery or for those who would like to participate but aren't yet ready to make the financial commitment.
To become an Associate you should do everything above, but instead of letting us know you want to purchase a unit, let us know at that point that you want to become an Associate.
Associates are actively involved in the process of building our community, and participate in consensus decision making but without a blocking card. Associates do not get seniority towards a particular unit or unit type.
Associates who qualify for 40b pay $20 monthly per household. All other Associates contribute an initial $50 and then monthly dues of $30 for the first, $20 for the second, and $15 for each additional participant from the household.
