Although, tiny homes aren’t the most talked about subject, it has become a popular trend when it comes to simple living. In this blog, I will be explaining what exactly a tiny house is, how it enables simple living, and the pros/cons.
What is a tiny house? The average square feet to a typical house here in the U.S. are 2,500 whereas a tiny house ranges between 100-400 square feet. A tiny home can either be rented or owned, can have wheels for travel or set as a foundation. It can be parked on its own lot or on land. Some tiny homes are designed and built from the owner while other tiny homes are purchased or built from a tiny house builder. Tiny houses come in all forms, shapes, and sizes, but the purpose of having a tiny home is to enable simple living in a small space that is efficient.
Owning a home may seem intimidating because it is such a small space and tiny homes aren’t for everyone. Most of the U.S do prefer bigger homes, but tiny homes can be the perfect size for minimalists. Having a tiny home gives the owners a sense of freedom which leads to the pros. A huge pro of owning a tiny home is you save so much more money instead of spending it on a mortgage.
Tiny homes are paid off quickly and if you are renting, the rent is extremely low. Saving more money leaves more room for travelling and adventures. We work hard to provide for the cost of living, the home we are living in along with the stuff we purchase to fill it with. Not having to be so concerned about financial hardships can lift a big weight off your shoulders leaving you with a sense of happiness.
When purchasing a home here in America, the average cost is between 200-300k in addition to the cost of the down payment, interest, maintenance, home loan if you have one, major repairs/ improvements, insurance, and taxes that add up each year. The cost of owning a tiny home is between 25-100k and the cost of up-keep is very low. Although, you may have to pay for land/lot rental and insurance, the total cost is still a huge different from purchasing your home. Another pro is not paying a lot of bills. The electricity, plumbing, and internet is the same as if you were using an RV.
Yes, all this seems very overwhelming and tiny homes aren’t for everyone especially if you have a family like me, but tiny homes don’t have to fall under the 100-400 square feet category. I have 2 girls and although I am claustrophobic with tight spaces, I prefer to have a small single-family home because that means less clutter, less stuff, and more coziness. I personally would be overwhelmed with a huge amount of space, not knowing what to fill it.
Tiny homes enable simple living because the smaller the space, the more multi-purpose products being used, less furniture and living an eco-friendly lifestyle. It has room for the things you need instead of the things you don’t. With smaller space, there’s less time for cleaning. Less time cleaning means more time to do whatever you want to do and more time with your loved ones.
I’m sure some of you are curious as to if a tiny home can endure certain weather conditions and the answer is yes... if the weather condition does not go passed a category 3. These homes are generally built with light, but durable materials that can withstand rainfall and winds. Even though it can withstand various weather conditions, it is important to practice precautionary measures to ensure your safety when those conditions do become a bit more severe.
Now to the cons. It can be very tricky and hard to owning a tiny home or trying to figure out where to place your tiny home due to laws and regulations. In certain states, tiny homes are illegal and believe these types of homes don’t have the minimum square footage to be considered a residence. Because of this, registering your home or getting a permit will make it more difficult. However, there is a bright side. Most states do classify tiny homes as recreational vehicles, so they are able to park on campsites and/or RV sites for a fee.
Another con to owning a tiny home is if you are planning on selling it. A tiny home’s price depreciates, and most people do lose money on their home when they sell it unless it is incredibly unique and very well maintained.
There will always be pros and cons to everything, but when it comes to tiny homes, the pros outweigh the cons significantly. More freedom, time, and adventure with less clutter and financial concern. If you want to see how it feels to live in a tiny home, there are tiny homes available as an Airbnb. If you are wanting to transition into living a simple, eco-friendly lifestyle, having a tiny home is something to highly considering or thinking about it, start your research along with reading on the laws and regulations for your state. Designing your home is when all the fun and excitement beings.
May you all have a wonderful day.