Friends couldn’t afford apartments. Bought the building instead
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- Опубликовано: 19 фев 2022
- As a housekeeper, Johnny Sanphillippo couldn’t afford to buy an apartment in San Francisco, but then he heard one of his employers talking about wanting to sell his five-unit building. He also knew (from cleaning it) that all the tenants were moving out so he organized a group of friends to move in, and pool their resources to buy the multi-unit property collectively: in San Francisco, this is a TIC (tenancy in common); in New York, it’s a coop.
“There’s an economy of scale associated with buying a single structure compared to five separate small homes or five scattered condos,” he writes on his blog Granola Shotgun. “The cost per apartment is significantly lower when bought in bulk. Plus, a collective purchase with a group of friends meant dividing the down payment and monthly expenses into smaller more manageable portions.”
Unfortunately, no bank would give them a mortgage. “A property that has four or fewer apartments is treated the same as a single-family home for lending purposes. But five or more units require a commercial loan. So we created a pro forma and told the bank we were investors looking to be slumlords and this building would cash flow. They loved that idea! Because… that’s how the world works.”
They secured the commercial loan and began renting the apartments back to themselves. Each apartment’s share of that single monthly loan payment was $900. At the time, the average rent in the city was $1400.
The building’s former landlord, Michael Castleman, who was one of the 5 investors (he kept ownership of one of the units) explains that anyone with a group of friends they trust could make the same move. “It's called a Real Estate Development Partnership and you would approach a bank and say we're a Real Estate Development Partnership and you could see if you can get a mortgage. Then the Real Estate Investment Partnership leases units... you basically rent from your own organization."
One of the owners/tenants, Kevin, explains that "the key to buying a place with people is hopefully having a good group of people you bought with and just being flexible and understanding of people because you're living in tight quarters, you're relatively close to your neighbors so it's just finding a way to get along with them. You get like-minded people with like-minded goals and you find a way." The group did finally condominiumize after a 14-year wait.
Without necessarily defining it as such Johnny has achieved FIRE (financial independence, retire early). He started out saving money by renting a “little 9’ x 18’ (15 m²) garden shed behind an old Victorian in a questionable neighborhood” and owning a bike instead of a car. From there he invested where he could (i.e. outside of San Francisco) and finally found this collective ownership to get into the city.
Here’s his advice to others “who are pissed off about the high cost of housing and feel locked out:
1) Consider living below your means and doing without certain things in order to make saving for a house the bigger priority.*
2) If you can’t buy in the expensive location you really want, buy elsewhere. Then find a way for that property to generate income while you continue to be a renter yourself in the more expensive spot.
3) Work cooperatively with like-minded people to buy a share of a building collectively in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
4) Save and prepare for the next market correction. There’s ALWAYS another crash on the horizon - and that’s a good thing. You can’t time the market on the way up, but you know for certain when the crisis hits. Then scoop up a bargain.
5) You don’t need as much house as you’ve been led to believe. Instead of trading up for a larger fancier house with more debt as you age, consider living simply and buying additional homes for diversified income.
For more see Johnny's blog post “The Carpetbaggers Guide to Home Ownership”) www.granolashotgun.com/granol...
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/frie... 
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I love this man. He turned a building into a community & is slowly turning 2 buildings +1 into a village. What a fantastic person.
I could listen to him all day.
He has a skill that we need more of now than ever before in the history of this country. We need to build personal bridges and find connections with people in real life. What he has done with the building is amazing but what he has been doing with the community is astounding.
This is what a community used to look like. Thank you for sharing this story.
Yes this is what a real community is. People finding ways to get along. I fret sometimes because modern society can be so insular/independent, which facilitates loneliness which we know is equivalent to 5 pack years of smoking!
@@jmt2192 Or maybe there are just people that like loneliness and independence without 5 pack years of smoking.
Yes, at 62yrs old I still remember, what happened?! Oh, yes GREED happened. x:)
You belong in a commune or a religious cult compound where everything is owned by your godhead leader.
In civilized society, you have to stake your claim to your property and keep it staked, or lose it to squatters and adverse possession laws.
@@yourlogicalnightmare1014 okay mister frontier man!
I think this is my favorite story of yours so far Kirsten. What an amazing human being he is. And what an incredible community he's built. And let's not forget what a wonderful thing the original landlord did for this group by not only working with them to help achieve this, but by generously discounting the sale price of the building. Says a lot about him as well. The whole story is really heartwarming.
Yes! This and the Portland apartment building.
and the co-op in LA! but the way this dude was able to finesse his way into a non-traditional property co-ownership with his friends? amazing journey
I agree wholeheartedly. Very inspiring to watch and something worth reflecting on.
The LL seems cool, but he didn't discount the price of this building! He aggregated the price of non-existent condos, and came up with a "discounted" figure based on that.
Yeah I really like this a lot and I love the apartments ... warm , cozy ...not cold , sterile decor like a science lab .
I've always thought that women who have to start all over (single moms, women leaving abusive partners who have no family support, etc.) ought to work together to help each other out and get ahead. This neighborhood model is an expansion of what I had in mind. This is brilliant!
I really admire this man. He is all about serving others and building communities.
or is he just sneakily taking advantage of them whilst pretending to be nice. He`s got his agenda of colonizing nearby space :-D Give him an inch and he will grab a mile....step by step.
@@Rodoriginal101 He's not doing all this for himself though, he is doing it for the benefit of everyone involved. He is a real leader in the best way possible. Near the end when he talked about coming to his dinners and you will make some great beneficial connections, that is what a community should be about. From this video, he seems like a great community leader.
@@nancyneyedly4587 I hope that he is genuine in his intentions. I just struggle with morality and ethics behind his "beg for forgiveness rather that permission". Would you accept that premise when somebody violates your body? who knows maybe you`d like it at the end? right? It is an extreme example, I know but I`m old enough to know that hell is paved with good intentions. I learned to value truth and honestly not a sneaky agendas and manipulations. Have a great day.
He actually is a Pioneer Man. He made a path where there wasn't one before.
@@Rodoriginal101 He obviously has lines he won't cross. His focus is on making use of every available space.
Johnny is a true inspiration to communal living and sustainability.
Exactly!!!
👍 Agreed not greed!
In a scary time- l can't tell you how reassuring and almost comforting l find your work. Thank you.
Me too!
Me Three ✌️
Four! 🙂
What a WONDERFUL human being!
He is what I refer to as “the bridge”. He connects people “sin interés” (without expecting anything in return).
He will always be rich with experiences and lots of connections to lots of interesting and varied people.
I aspire to be more like him.
My husband and I owned a TIC in San Francisco, also in the Mission District, back in 1987. We were young, did not have a lot of money, but pooled our money with two older couples who wanted to invest. We bought a 2-unit railroad building on 21st and Valencia, we converted it and added penthouse and basement apartments. It allowed us to own property in SF in our early thirties. Amazing!
Library lady it sounds like you sold the property ... ?
Awesome
@@gardensofthegods yes, sadly we did. We had a very bad tenant experience so we sold and bought a house in the Excelsior. Recall that the 1987 Loma Prieta earthquake decreased property values tremendously, they did not rebound until after the turn of the century. Of course we did not know they would rebound at the time we sold.
@@librarylady6mena368 I remember how spooky it was driving on to the new section of the Bay bridge with the earthquake damaged section underneath and then being stuck in traffic in either direction always gave me the creeps
It sounds like they just got in under the tech wire…. That building would cost millions of dollars today! As a San Franciscan I am touched that they made it work like that!
that's def true, right now millions. He got in at a good time
We could have a couch or a piano, couldn’t have both, so we went for the piano. Just ✨ICONIC✨
The best quote from this video and this channel: " if you need a job, an apartment, furniture, a boyfriend or a girlfriend, just come and sit at the table day and night".... That's REALLY how a social, analog network works!! You meet people and then they share what they have
It's not a small thing to be a glue to a diverse community. He's practically the peacekeeper; the sense of security and belonging he helps create is priceless. I envy him for this skill to basically get whatever he wants, by being of service to others, more than any monetary riches he could have obtained. A good network of friends and acquaintances is how you get ahead in life.
Wish we could have a proper look at all the apartments. They all look gorgeous. Especially the light wells. And what a lovely rooftop terrace he's made for the neighbourhood.
totally agree, and he's right about making sure u have like minded people. that makes a big difference, cuz even in workplace, people fake it all day, so not really seeing and dealing with what's real and true. Eventually that facade shows splinters. He's dead on about like minded individuals. All it takes is one A hole to screw everything up. He's amazing.
What’s interesting is that, (i assume) he’s gay and as an older gay man with no kids, he’s created a mini family of his own.
A different kind of family ofc.
I think when people have kids sometimes they can become more insular, as there energy and focus shifts to doing the best for there children. Which is great in some ways but it has it’s downsides.
Every neighbourhood needs a guy like this!
Of course...join together, say you're going to be slumlords and - Voila! - the bank hands you over money! The murphy beds are crazy brilliant. I have only once ever seen a light well before - in an apartment building I was living in, in Montreal.
Yes just keep them repaired and fix stuff..!!
The are all over in San Francisco. Light well doesn't mean light good
@@MeMeDaVinci they are historical buildings ..like brown stones in NY..
@@bonnieprice9482 Your point being?
My heart is bursting w happiness watching this!!!!!!
He’s the guy who built a garage home in Hawaii as well. He’s got such a lovely, gentle soul. Thank you for expanding on his story. 😊
Kathryn Hood ... someone in an earlier thread said they think he sold that home in Hawaii .
@@gardensofthegods I did wonder, and it would make sense as his community is in San Francisco :)
wait a minute.. are you telling me this is the same guy, who bought a one building room in hawaii??? I watched something a while back about a housecleaner who didn't have savings, and bought his retirement home ahead time to be ready!!!!! he would go over and work on it when he could!!! omg. i remember this guy. He's the one who motivated me to start doing the same thing, early!!! so it's there for me later!!!! wtf... wow... hahahahaha. I've told a lot of people about what this guy on youtube did, with that home in hawaii, on his salary!!!! my gosh. I m happy for him,
I’ve often thought a group of friends buying a small hotel would be a good idea🐝🤗❤️
How about a mall! How cool would that be. Return most of the parking lot to fertile ground. Lots of indoor community events too.
@@ALCRAN2010 That would also work. I liked the hotel because there were already bed rooms with baths and you could knock out some walls and make each person a suite of rooms with a sitting area and small kitchenette, then you already have a big lobby to gather in, and a big kitchen and dining room to have most of your meals. Parking for several is already there and like you say, reuse the remainder of the parking for gardens.🐝❤️🤗
All these practically abandoned mini malls, hotels, buildings left vacant for more than a few years should be fined and if not used then repurposed for affordable housing, community resources, low income starter businesses etc.
@@petemavus2948 Why would you think they should be fined because either their business failed or their renters business failed and they couldn’t find new renters?
@@petemavus2948 I agree
I love this Sicilian American fellow, 🤗🤗🤗Johnny Sanphillippo, his story, your presentation of it all!
I love this story! This guy wanted something and didn't stop until he figured out how to attain it..... So encouraging , thank you.
What a nice story!
In San Francisco in these last decades none the less. Financially, this can be very very difficult. Well done :)
Being a community maven/hub in such a great resource!
Johnny is a gem! Brilliant home ownership scheme that banks understood as "slum" landlords and were then finally willing to lend! As crazy as that is...it worked! Bravo and wishing Johnny and all the owners the very, very best from NYC!
✨👏✨👏✨👏✨👏✨👏✨
Creative accounting at its finest
Solvent solution!
AMAZING. Take my hat off to this guy and his friends !!!!!
Loved this video. I live in San Francisco and have become saddened by its transformation, this showed me that the San Francisco I fell in love with decades ago is still alive.
Great that you made a video about about Johnny. He is inspiring. - Eric.
the little connections are everything. Johnny followed his natural gifts and what a beautiful result. Imagine the difference this would make in our cities to have more of this.
I remember the amazing job he did building a house in a garage in Hawaii.
This is a kind, caring and totally authentic man. Johnny serves as an example of unpretentious kindness and life success.
I am so happy to see him again, and this is a wonderful video. Keep up the great work.
Greetings from Australia. X.
I was part of a group that created this format for property ownership in San Francisco in 1981. We called it a TIC. It was the first TIC in San Francisco that we are aware of. It's a great format, but there are risks. I advise anyone who considers doing this to contact an attorney who specializes in it.
Chick , wow that is really cool . Maybe you could tell us more about it and what it was like back then .
Example how hard was it to convince the city to let you do that ... were you all friends and did it work out the way you had planned ?
They say you can't have a sense of community in a city, but look at this! You can tell Johnny is the glue that keeps it together, he is an amazing force, so admirable.
Hello Nancy how are you doing today how’s everything going?
Don't sell yourself short! Your skills are more valuable than many college degrees! You ARE a survivor.
This is what a “neighborhood watch” person should be like. Caring and kind.
Community linchpin - every Community needs one, don't forget to record the history...blessings and light to you all
I love the Mission District. There's a sense of strong community that you don't get with many areas in the city. Mom and pop shops thrive, the Latino community embraces you.
Hey this is this the same guy that bought a property in Hawaii and lived in a garage.....amazing out of the square thinker and doer. Awesome ideas and the whole community benefits. 👍
Every community needs a Johnny Sanphillippo. He is the glue.
Fantastic. The Kangaroo Paw is exceptional. I'm from Melbourne Australia and can't get my kangaroo paws to flourish like yours.
Thanks for the inspiration🤗
I value your channel so much.
The radical individualism that American culture has manufactured is so far removed from the communities that we naturally want to build and benefit from. We are humans. The only way we've ever risen above our capabilities as individuals is to join together for common goals, and we can best ensure that collective work by making sure everyone benefits from it.
Johnny is a neighborhood legend. Many years from now when he is no longer there his legacy will live on and folks will miss him. He has an amazing spirit and good intentions. I would be honored to have Johnny as a neighbor.
I loved the narrator, it is so true mutual benefit can accrue by simply being helpful/kind and building trust.
Seems like a great community they have built. I rented with friends for years, own a house now, but miss the friends.
I could watch a series with this gentleman and his friends indefinitely. What an absolute charmer
Hello jacinda how are you doing today how’s everything going?
Bright blessings your way Dear Cultural worker. This touches my heart .Sr.Clara
Love this story and all of the images of people sharing food and experiences together. Such a feeling of warmth and community. I believe skills and community are viable and powerful resources.
Brilliant! What an inspiring story. I like the way Johnny approached the bank. "We want to be slum landlords." Choosing wisely who gets to move in is an excellent idea. This cracked me up. I have read of similar small developments, the Pocket Neighborhoods in Washington State, by Ross Chapman, an old underused commercial building turned into mini studios in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, much desired by graduate students, those who would need to work in government for a few days a week and those who would rather have a small personal space than keep paying for hotel rooms and meals. I understand that town of Maria, Texas welcomes tiny houses. All of these develop community. As I am now semi-retired, I have often daydreamed with my friends; let's build some little houses on a piece of property. We can have our private space of course, but then we are still close by to help each other and to socialize. And I still love to cook for others!
Kristen, you put together some of the best stuff. Thanks!
Last night after work, I was trying to find this wonderful video and I am so glad that I did. Johnny's vision, his comments and his smart solutions to such common problems is inspiring. Lots of fun, too.
Hello Susan how are you doing today how’s everything going?
Johnny, and the other people who were profiled in this video are incredible. They help each other to live. The trust and care is plain to see. I admire all of them. Thank you, Kristen
This is the modern personification of Epicurean Garden. Epicurus did this back in ancient times with his friends and invited all his friends to stay with him, in order to understand happiness. They got labelled as orgy-loving hedonists but now most of the Epicurean Gardens are now Monasteries.
Isn't it funny when people are self governing and learn to work as a group without all the careerists, politics and job for lifers they will be demonized by the biggest mobs? LOL
Absolutely inspiring, the bees were the icing on the cake!
*I really like this story and I’m glad you made this video!!*
Yes ♥️
Beautiful mum, beautiful daughters.
Inspiring wonderful, touched my heart.🥺😢🙏🏿hope
That man seems to have a heart of gold
So wonderful. The human connection and the natural beauty.
What a heart warming story. Life with old values.
Years ago I saw a video where Kurt Vonnegut said, " In the future, everybody is going to need a gang." Mr Sanphillipo knows how to make his own gang. The apartment part of the video was wonderful, but the part where he made so many connections with other people was inspiring. I wish I had ten percent of his social connections.Thanks again for another wonderful video.😃😃👍👍
This guy is a genius and so loving and caring for his community… we need more people like him!!! I love this little utopia.
I agree to bad the bank wouldn't give him a loan though
Enchanting . Creative. Practical.
Common Ground and Cause.
Success!
This group of people seem like they're an extended family, which is awesome!
Johnny has done some amazing things. Is it possible to get an update on if his garage-home in Hawaii is still his and/or if it still exists - considering the volcanic eruptions on Big Isle of Hawaii, since he built that house? Keep up all the good works and service to your community, Johnny Sanphillippo. Thank you Kirsten for reconnecting and continuing his story.
I wondered if that was him. I loved his ideas about building in Hawaii. I still have something that I keep in mind when planning the building of my home that he used. I'm going to tell them that I'm going to build the garage first and then build the garage and nothing else. That was a genius idea on his part.
I believe in a previous video it was said that he has since sold that home.
I loved his first story and truly adore this one, thank you!
Thank you! I wondered if this was same man.
I wasn't connecting the two! Awesome, I really liked THAT! The garage home, and this is amazing what was accomplished.
This is so beautiful. Almost made me cry. We're so deprived of community in our modern western world.
This gentleman is absolutely brilliant, incredible ways of thinking outside the box and creating an amazing set of spaces
This is so beautiful! There are still a lot of people in San Francisco with this kind of heart for community and kindness. San Francisco is a very special place. Art, music, deep rich community and so much SOUL! That’s why so many gay people and other good hearted marginalized people flock there. Because all people with hope, dreams and kindness are accepted in the San Francisco culture. …Sadly in recent years, throughout much of the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, there has been an insurgence of corporate greed moving in and pushing good people like this out. The people featured in this video are examples of heroic love and community holding onto the heartbeat and soul of the Bay Area! That is when community becomes alive and friends become family! Wow, so beautiful! {I grew up in this area and I feel forever blessed for it! Lots of change; but art, soul, beauty and love reign forever true.} Thank you for this amazing display of humanity! Sending love to you all~
He’s so right that if people pool their resources, they end up with more than they could get individually. Why is this so hard for so many Americans to understand?
Man, I wish you were my neighbor what a beautiful soul you have. God bless you and your neighbors!
Hello Mary how are you doing today how’s everything going?
The creativity is off the chart - this is an ecosystem of friendship for good living
I am impressed by their finding a way to survive and thrive in such an overpriced environment.
Hello Pamela how are you doing today how’s everything going?
Interestingly enough I heard an episode of without fail about the guy responsible for bringing affordable broadband to almost all schools around the US and he was essentially saying the same as he. He was saying he is taking a fourth of his working time just talking to people and listening to their problems. The help he offers isn't bound to anything (not even to the expectation that they'll return the favor), but through doing that, he always finds that he gets enough back that the whole equation makes sense
Of course
U reap what u sow
Becuz
God rains on the just n unjust
So even heathen are affected by Natural Law
Tesla had a proposed way that electricity could be free for all but was a threat to the powers that be at the time already doing insider trading to stop that from happening.
“And if you need anything, it’s a house”😆
Great video!
My takeaway from this story is that we need to get rid of our current government and all of the imposed regulations that are making our lives miserable. We can then form new entities that are more people-friendly, which serve We the people. Hats off to the ingenuity of these homeowners and the work-around they were able to accomplish! Thanks for sharing.
I don’t disagree with you but the mass of rules and regulations help keep greedy psychopaths from ruining other peoples lives.
@@dougmartin7129 Doug Martin , true , but sometimes those greedy psychopaths are also in the government .
Regulations=Democratic policies
@@dougmartin7129 Newsflash: those sociopaths have been paying political parties campaigns and the careers of many to write those laws that are convenient for them...Not the people...
It’s all about looking through your treasure chest and sharing.
I would be extremely grateful if someone like Johnny wanted to garden an area. He is an inspiration.
Hello Patricia how are you doing today how’s everything going?
Sounds like they've created a lovely community built on friendship and respect. Sweet!
And Acceptance of what you can't change and what you can ❤️
I hope to have friends where we can do this.
I ❤️ this.
I was first inspired by the show up in nor cal . . .
This episode . . .
Tenacity and perseverance
And inspirational. . .
Unity.
Many thanks.
This guy is absolutely fabulous in the best way. Creative, and industrious. He is constantly talking about getting along with others in order to achieve the best possible outcome. A lesson most of us needs to follow. Thank you, as always, for this great housing solution.
Absolutely brilliant. I just have to admire the outlook that aims to get to grips with the housing affordability problem. Where there is a will there is a way!
Agreed !!!
The housing affordability problem could be fixeed, but nobody wants to do it. There are too many greedy fingers in the pie all looking for their cut.
@@eattherich9215 and no political will.
@@agnespm4181 the times they are a changing..
And more of this cooperation between renters will happen..!!
Simply beautiful.
Fantastic! I believe these are the kinds of cultural changes we need to make here in the US, particularly in these large expensive cities on the west and east coasts. We have to learn to live and work together to help one another rather than isolate and have an every man for himself ethos. Love what these folks have done!
You mentioned learning to live together yet, you also support people like this changing the culture. Uh, San Francisco used to have a diversified culture before these transplants came.
Sneat, not everyone can lean on old familiar ways. If you can adapt and let go of what was and instead recreate what was best about it, you strengthen the foundation for what's needed today. " Nature abhors a vacuum " and it's true for every facet of life. People are like seeds, whether " transplants" or carried on the wind. Where there is opportunity, fertile ground, an inch of space, a slither of light they try to thrive. These people seem to be content, yet adaptable and open to life. ✌️
@@petemavus2948 What? Are you even from San Francisco? Are you a native? Those "old familiar ways" are what give a city character. These transplants have come in and completely destroyed the fabric of the City. They only socialize with people who look like them. Us true San Francisco natives have seen the soul of the City leave. That's one of the major reasons tourism has gone down over the years. I guess you'd be okay with the old ways changing in France and Italy! Transplants should adapt to the culture not gentrify.
There will Always be people who don't pull their weight!
@@sneat2028 are you a native American?
How wonderful! Certainly showing the importance of ingenuity and building community! It’s bringing back the old fashioned neighborhood where everyone knows most everyone else and helps jointly with life. I admire the videographer and her subjects. Beautiful!
Hello Lucy how are you doing today how’s everything going?
This is uplifting and wonderful on many levels.
Community. The heart and soul of any neighborhood. It takes a village to raise a child. Child can be a community.
Wise man with open mindedness
Wow! How i miss my days in the city. Cheers to a great story.
The value of maintaining good relationships, it will take work just like the way the property was acquired
Those Murphy beds are genius!
What a cool guy, everyone needs a friend like him.
He sounds like a real mensch. Thanks for showcasing his story!
I can't stop Smiling. Love to you all.
Such an inspiring concept. Shows that beautiful conditions can be achieved without a lot of money. Selfless service to others is where it's at. Congratulations, Johnny. And thanks so much for finding and sharing this story.
He and his friends couldn't do this if they were 20 years younger in SF. It just wouldn't be possible financially.
Can't BUT respect it AND like it. I salute you sir.
Wow I love that. Garden and Gathering space made into a beautiful Oasis. Wow I wish I lived in that building! 😆 I just want to add Kristen I've watched many different alternative lifestyle housing types of vlogs.Stumbled and subscribed to yours I guess about 2 years ago? And I've been meaning to tell you.YOUR'S is the VERY BEST alternative lifestyle housing Channel that I have seen. I look so forward to your videos😘
👍 Agree
Hello sue how are you doing today how’s everything going?
What a bright person! He built a beautiful place to be!
Such a soothing capture of a group of people living and enjoying each other. Love the CITY!
This video made me smile. What a wonderful way to live! Neighbors helping neighbors.
He is so cool, he created a safe space to foster community and connection! So so awesome.
What a fantastic person, created a real community, and the idea of buying the building between all of them is brilliant.
What a beautiful story! Humanity still exists. 😍
I love the clean green lightwells. In NYC in the 80s, people used to just fill them with garbage. You painted over your window and covered it up and prayed the mold smell wouldn't come into your apartment. I bet most of those lightwells are cleared out by now with gentrification along with general population's rise in real estate wisdom.
Hello Erika how are you doing today how’s everything going?
This is beautiful! What an awesome Human!
I love this. You own your own apartment and have a close group of friends that are like an extended family.
Living a life of luxury is like a dream for some people and for others it's constant reality, the key is having financial stability and strength but the question is how to
Most intelligent words I've heard
This is a fantastic alternative to usually rurally based communities and a good solution for people who wish to live this way.