Maybe you’ve read about people moving into places called micro, mini, compact, or little houses. Or maybe you’ve found yourself binge-watching a show featuring people building and living in adorable little homes that seem too small to be real. And you’ve wondered — should I try swapping my regular house for a tiny home?
Here’s what you should consider before you choose to live in a super-small home and a rundown of how to get a tiny house.
Defining the Tiny House
A tiny house is just what you would imagine — it’s a full-time home that’s much, much smaller than the average house. In fact, the average tiny home is between 100 and 400 square feet, which is a massive difference from the 2,000+ square feet, on average, of a new American home.
Types of Tiny Houses
There are two main categories of tiny houses. The smallest versions are under 200 square feet. They’re usually mobile, either built on wheels or made to be easy to load onto a truck for relocation. The second, more traditional style is built on the land like a traditional home but with a footprint of under 1,000 square feet.
What’s in a Tiny House?
Tiny houses are little, but they’re still homes, so while design and features vary, virtually all have bathrooms and spaces for sleeping, cooking and eating, and relaxing.
Why People Want Tiny Houses
Tiny homes appeal to people in a surprisingly wide range of ages, lifestyles, income levels, and interest groups. People say these smaller homes appeal to them because:
- They’re a shortcut to homeownership. Many small homeowners are millennials burdened with student loan debt. They don’t want to wait until they can save the down payment on a larger mortgage to own their first homes.
- They help create financial freedom. Because tiny houses cost so much less to build and maintain, they allow their owners to spend money on other interests or to save for a larger financial nest egg.
- They have a smaller environmental footprint. Many tiny homeowners select them because the smaller buildings require less energy to maintain and they can be built using recycled materials, which reduces the impact they have on the environment.
- They encourage a more mobile lifestyle. Many tiny homes are built to move, meaning that owners can take their home with them when they relocate.
- They foster a minimalist lifestyle. Some tiny homeowners say the experience of reducing possessions creates a feeling of freedom that’s life-changing.
- They’re a fun puzzle to solve. Figuring out the storage they need to organize for life in a very small space is, as many tiny homeowners will tell you, a challenging problem that takes smarts and creativity to solve.
How to Find Out If a Tiny House Is Right for You
Moving from a traditional home to a tiny one is a big transition, so planning — and doing some research on how to get a tiny house — is essential. Start testing the water by renting a cabin or a tiny home for a vacation, just to see how it fits.
Be sure to bring the whole family — tiny homes are easiest to manage for singles and couples. If you’re bringing pets and/or children into the equation, understanding what each of them needs in terms of space is essential.
How to Get a Tiny House
Once you’ve tried a few tiny spaces on for size, it’s time to get serious about getting your own tiny home. If you’ve wondered how to get a tiny house, you have several options: You might choose to design and build the house yourself, purchase a tiny house kit to put together or buy a pre-built tiny home.
First, understand the rules for building the house you want. If you’re building on land you own, check into local housing codes for rules regarding the size and construction of tiny houses. For mobile options, be sure to understand and build to RV and mobile home codes. And if you’ll need a mortgage, talk to a few lenders so you fully understand the rules for financing a non-traditional home.
And then comes the fun part — finding a tiny house plan, builder, or manufacturer who can make your big dreams of a little home come true.
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