Home renovation: quick road to profits, or a disaster-in-waiting? If you have experience or advice, please come inside.. [more inside]
posted by five fresh fish on Jul 23, 2004 - 18 answers

My wife and I (childless) and our single-mother friend (three children) are thinking of pooling our resources and sharing either two homes on a single large property, or a custom single home for two family units, with some shared living areas (using a design compatible with selling the home as a bed & breakfast inn, and turning a very, very nice profit on the deal).

Has anyone ever taken part in an alternative living arrangement? Co-parented with another family? Shared a property investment with a friend and survived to tell the tale? Merged two families? Developed rules and understandings that made it a success in the end? Can friends stay friends when money and living space and "self" space enter the picture? Shared resources?

With your working-knowledge advice and guidelines, perhaps we'll be able to build up the confidence in the idea to take the risk, co-invest and co-parent, and make it possible for the kids to become super-successes as adults, and help each other profit to early retirement. Whatcha got for me? [more inside]
posted by five fresh fish on Jan 2, 2004 - 18 answers