Not many would instinctively consider co-living the ultimate goal for their home life. The thought alone could send some into flash-backs of college dorm days or send a chilled shudder up their spine at the thought of roommates bringing random, sketchy guys home. Worst yet, the PTSD of someone throwing an all-night rager in the backyard, mere feet from your window. On top of that, the American “dream” has always been to own your own home, it has been hounded down our throats for ages. The white picket fence, a garage with a car, a good job —things we have been taught to desire. 

But what if you crave community while adapting to a new environment, or are recovering from an unsafe experience and don’t feel safe living alone? What if I told you news outlets like The New York Times are saying co-living may be the wave of the future? Better yet, let me give you eight reasons that may make you want to sell your home and partake in this new thought on habitation. There is one co-living community in Greenville, South Carolina that has me dreaming of long-term co-living options, and if I wasn’t married and hoping for a child, would strongly consider for my next move. 

The home is called Serenity and is owned by Janice Rivera. Professionally, she is an interior designer and stager with a license in real estate: She knows homes, and she knows design. Personally, Janice’s world is filled with happiness, giggles, a whole lot of pink, and even more feminine energy. She is the epitome of a girls girl. As a pro-female stylist, she doesn’t just create beautiful homes, she creates beautiful experiences for the ladies around her with a heart for community and a passion for women empowerment. From the pink aura that follows her around to The Pink Society Elite Women of Influence she began awhile back —hosting tea parties, pool parties, skincare parties, and all aspect of femininity is in her blood. 

However, channeling her love for women into a co-living environment didn’t just happen. For Janice, the word “co-living” wasn’t even familiar, but as things meant for us always have a way of doing, it crossed her path one fateful day. As a real estate agent, she always looks at beautiful homes in beautiful neighborhoods. As her search for the perfect women’s home casually continued, Serenity popped up in her database and it was as if the cosmos were meant to align. She knew co-living for women was meant for this magical home. With its many bedrooms, strangely separated layout, ranch-like design, a home like this was built for it.

She was sold, the house was sold, and the dream became a reality. Renovations began immediately and new floors, new paint, new windows, new doors, and endless amounts of “new” took place. Even now, the renovations are still in progress, slow and steady. This beautiful white community home is only 15 minutes drive from downtown Greenville, half a mile from the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and the high trees and lush landscape make it feel like a secret neighborhood far outside the hustle and bustle. Neighbor knows neighbor, moms walk with strollers and dads with their dogs, inside and outside the home a drama free, positive community. 

It didn’t take long before Janice’s requests for tenants was met with demand. Many women, perhaps subconsciously or without knowing why, were open to the idea of co-living in an environment like this, an environment that is “different” than our nightmares of dorm room life. In fact, if you do even just a little bit of research, hundreds of reputable sources could sway even the biggest skeptic in favor of co-living for a number of reasons. Here are 8: 

1. Affordability: naturally this is a key pull. Sharing expenses always reduces the cost of living. Being a tenant who calls Serenity home means you pay one fee. Thats it. One. And it covers everything: rent, utilities, internet, trash, etc. On average, residents across the US save 20-30% more in co-living environments, saving anywhere from $1000-$2000 per month. 
   
2. Community: another big one. Many women who flock to co-living spaces like Serenity are post-divorce, newly moved, working professionals, or merely seeking a safe space to thrive, build friendships, and feel peace. In fact, we know how dangerous loneliness can be on our physical health, but co-living reports a 50% drop in loneliness within the first six months. 
   
3. Convenience: flexibility is a lot higher in spaces like this. Serenity offers 6 month leases and will work with people on their timeline. Leases can be based on the tenants current situation; one benefit of renting from a real human and not a big-box company. The ease of not worrying about utilities is huge, and some of the rooms and in some living spaces can even be furnished. Extra ease on top of ease. 
   
4. Environmental Sustainability: Sharing resources and energy reduces waste and consumption. Serenity even has a specific section, perfectly organized on their kitchen counter that is “free game” for any lady who needs a cup of tea, wants to try something new, or share something they perhaps grabbed a few too many of. Super fun fact, some co-living models have achieved two-thirds lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to average households. 
   
5. Mental Health: 8 out of 10 studies show that that co-living communities impact mental health positively, reducing stress, and increasing quality of life. For Janice, her goal for every tenant is that they find peace, quiet, safety, and relaxation. She has gone above and beyond to create a clean space with private patios on some rooms, private entrees on others, and has big goals of adding a second laundry room, second refrigerator, and increase peace, privacy, and convenience for everyone to impact mental health.  
   
6. Networking: as a woman in business myself, this is so enticing! We all know when we start something new, the first people we want to share it with are those closest to us. In Serenity, there are 8 rooms, which means you automatically gain 8 new friends who know you and can help you succeed at whatever adventure life takes you on. 
   
7. Shared Responsibilities: gone are the days of doing all the vacuuming, all the garden weeding, all the cooking, all the cleaning. In co-living spaces, the household management is much easier to tackle. Everyone keeps their own space clean, some empty the dishwasher while others load it, some vacuum while others dust. The load is light when many hands help. It’s especially helpful that Janice has the home’s community spaces professionally cleaned twice a month.
   
8. Support During Hard Times: mental health, yes, but the impact on physical health is huge in co-living spaces. Many of the tenants at Serenity differ vastly in age. One may be a traveling nurse in her 20s or 30s while the other may be a retired school teacher in her 60s or 70s. Each has physical needs at different times. How nice it must be to have someone collect your mail if you’re too sick to leave the room, or if you break your wrist and cant open the door, to have someone always there to help open it. 

Over the past 10 years co-living has seen a significant growth in popularity. Because of the reasons above, it has emerged from a niche concept to a more established urban living trend. Serenity is proof of its success in the South Carolina region, though she is also new, with 8 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and 3,500sq ft, they are currently looking for a few new tenants to join the family! 

Who is NOT allowed to live at Serenity homes? Well, seeing as the whole goal is to create a quiet, safe, relaxed space, obviously no children or dogs. Pups can be a lot of work and a child doesn’t quite grasp the concept of quiet hours. Also, strange men. It is a women’s living space, which means any man who enters needs to simply “check in” first. This regulation is in place to keep the space feminine, happy, peaceful, and most importantly: safe. 

However, Cats are allowed, guests are allowed, especially everyone’s children who aren’t living with them, any female who needs a living space is welcomed, and there are big things to come for those who find Serenity. Janice plans to host yoga classes, tea parties, cookouts, movie nights, have specialists in different fields come to the home and even create a community garden space for her residents. The backyard is already a fairytale haven with multiple lounge locations, a beautiful bridge built over the creek that runs quietly underneath the home, a fire pit and lots and lots of flowers, but more outdoor sanctuaries will be arriving soon. There is no end to what she has planned. 

So now is a good time to ask: is co-living right for you? Gone are the bad dreams of roommates with no common-courtesy, or homes that are left to wallow in their dirt and filth as dishes pile in the sink. We can say hello to the days of blush pink blankets, bright white kitchens, and serene reading nooks at Serenity Co-Living home. 

For a deeper look inside the home, check out my reel here. For more details on booking, reach out to Janice directly on Facebook or on her instagram. She is eager to meet you.