Well, “Small IS Beautiful”, for one thing. Plus many persons find themselves considering downsizing for a variety of reasons.

• COST is the primary reason for new home buyers to consider going “tiny” as housing prices skyrocket.

 

• Empty-nesters may not want to heat and clean those extra rooms that are no longer being used, as the costs to maintain excessive space can be expensive.

 

• Eco-minded adults realize that large spaces have a larger footprint on the land and are usually less sustainable than smaller ones, certainly in terms of utility costs, mortgage payments and environmental impact.

• Less energy consumption is achieved, so that a small wind or solar system might provide all the energy you need off-grid. In a forest, a tiny wood stove might serve you better, as different locales require different solutions. Small needs simply require less consumption, less carbon loss.

 

• A Tiny Home on wheels is like the shell of a turtle, providing relative security and familiarity, as well as carrying your important possessions with you wherever you can drive, giving you greater mobility.

 

• You can be part of a popular movement, experimenting with potential solutions to the housing crisis and furthering ecological models of living.

• Freedom is BIG! A small or NO mortgage is very appealing, especially when living on little. If your home is paid off, you can travel, let go of a job, or surrender to restless urges, without fear of losing your home.

• You may want to Build-It-Yourself, using your handyman or woman skills and artistic creativity, with all the personal satisfaction that generates.  Lumber is cheap but heavy, so a Tiny House built of wood will require a heavy duty truck to pull it.

If time or ability is lacking for construction, you can buy Tiny Home Plans, Kits, or just the Shell (frame only – an excellent choice when you want a lightweight Tiny Home with a pre-cast metal frame or tightly insulated SIPS as walls).

You can also buy a walk-in-ready home you can furnish with your own choice of appliances and devices, finishing the job with your own unique touches and ideas. OR buy a “TINY” with everything Pre-installed!

 

• Versatility.  A Tiny Home can provide an outdoor studio or office, or extra rental space, whether AirBnB, a local student, a single Mom, a couple, a lone retiree, or friends visiting for the Holidays). Having space for the kids during or after college, a Tiny Home allows more privacy and personal independence as well as a healthy separation.  If “on wheels”, your “Tiny” can take the family camping or adventure traveling when the spirit hits. Or it can facilitate a family member taking a new job in a different part of the country, housing-in-tow, when such an offer exacts a quick move.

 

APPROXIMATE REALISTIC COSTS:

Buying NEW will cost you $60,000 and upward. If you build it yourself, you may be able to pull off the basics for ~$20,000, depending on the fixtures and finishes, but be prepared for over-runs on these approximations. USED Tiny Homes will vary extensively by price and condition.

Here are some helpful online references:

1. Thewaywardhome.com is about mobile living, whether in a tiny home, a van, a camper, or an RV.
2. Ecohome.net is about how to build or renovate sustainably to save money and energy
3. Tinyhomeconnection.com has fully finished Tiny Homes for sale ($60K to $75K) with various models and floorplans, as well as providing Primary dwelling units (PDU), Accessory dwellings units (ADU), and Carriage Houses, plus Modular Pods (built off-site and delivered) as a private Office, a She-Shed or Man-Cave, or a guest sleeping room in the backyard. (Location: Arvada, CO)