Tiny houses are growing in popularity as people not only learn more about them but also seek to experience a simpler life. After all, in the US, 68% of tiny home owners have no mortgage compared to only 23% of traditional home owners. Although the trade off in size is very noticeable, for many it comes down to what they are willing to trade off.
The average American home is about 2600 square feet, while tiny homes can range between 100 – 400 square feet. Tiny houses can be built completely off the grid with a couple of modifications, but typically they require the use of propane to help heat them in the colder months. This comes at a cost of between $5 and $10 a month for heating. When building, one also has the choice of hooking up to city water or putting in a rainwater collection unit with a filtration system.
Tiny homes can cost anywhere between $8,000 and $30,000 depending on how big you make them and what sorts of amenities you add. While typically tiny houses are designed for a simple, basics-only lifestyle, it doesn’t mean you can’t make them as luxurious as you like.
Tiny homes can be built almost anywhere and usually do not require a permit to be built. Especially if they remain on a trailer or wheels. They can make for a perfect getaway home or even travel home if moving from state to state or country to country.
In Madison, Wisconsin, a group of people created a little tiny home community for the homeless. A potential solution for not just the homeless but temporary housing and travellers.
A More Luxurious Model
Chris Heininge is the creator of this 280 square foot tiny house. In his younger years Chris spent a lot of time living in Japan where he learned the art of living in a tiny yet beautiful and simplistic way.
He built this more luxurious tiny home with what seem to be flavours from his past. A person living in a home like this would have many of the modern amenities they would normally be used to but in a smaller fashion.
What are your thoughts on tiny homes? Would you switch up your lifestyle to live in one? Perhaps if one a little larger with some extensions to allow for family living could be possible?
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