Recent graduates and those just getting into the workforce may not be qualified to get an apartment in New York City, forcing them to find an apartment elsewhere or live with individuals they do not know.

Are you set up for success in 2016? Join 2,500 real estate industry leaders Aug. 4-7, 2015, at Inman Connect in San Francisco. Get Connected with the people and ideas that will inspire you and take your business to new heights. Register today and save $100 with code Readers.


It seems obvious that housing affordability and availability in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Boston and San Francisco make it challenging for recent graduates to find a place to live. Recent graduates and those just getting into the workforce may not be qualified to get an apartment in New York City, forcing them to find an apartment elsewhere or live with individuals they do not know.

Brad Hargreaves wants to solve this problem. The co-founder of General Assembly, an institute for entrepreneurs and individuals seeking a nontraditional education, decided to launch Common because he knew many students and young professionals were struggling to find safe and affordable housing.

Courtesy of Common

Courtesy of Common

Hargreaves announced July 16 that Common raised $7.35 million in Series A financing, led by Maveron in addition to Slow Ventures, Lowercase Capital and Dave McClure, plus a few individual investors. Maveron was founded by Dan Levitan and Howard Schultz of Starbucks.

[Tweet “Common takes the approach of micro-apartments to a community-centric level”]

With its first building slated to open in Brooklyn this fall, Common takes the approach of micro-apartments to a community-centric level. Common buildings (which could be described as glorified dorms for adults) offer individual rooms ranging between $1,000 and $2,000 in rent, with shared kitchen and common spaces.

Common is centered on two key defining factors: building a community and offering flexible options for its members. Weekly events, such as Friday night tapas and meet-and-greets for new members, help to keep the atmosphere welcoming and collaborative.

Additionally, Common has a minimum commitment of 30 days, and leases then are renewed on a month-to-month basis. This, Hargreaves said, is important for a lot of people who are coming to the city for a short-term project or internship.

The company is working with real estate investors and owners to master-lease entire vacant buildings for five to 15 years, then operate and manage them under the Common brand. And although the housing is not specifically for students, there is a large need for this type of housing among Common’s partners.

“The next area of focus for us as we get closer to launch is going to be building more bridges with people already existing in the communities that we’re moving into. So building relationships with local small businesses and residents,” Hargreaves said.

Email Kimberly Manning.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×