Tiny Houses
Have you thought about packing everything up and moving into a tiny place? Are you wondering what people see in tiny homes? Perhaps you are curious about the lifestyle, but unsure of what it means to live tiny. We talk about the development of these small homes and the benefits they offer below.
What are Tiny Houses?
The tiny house movement is a real thing. People are choosing to give up earthly possessions, or store them, to move into a smaller area. To get a Tiny classification, a home must be under 400 square feet. Why would people choose this lifestyle? Well, for starters, this way of living is a social change, not just switching addresses.
Some of these little homes are on wheels or made from shipping containers. Many people compare them to mobile homes because they are easy to tow behind a truck or move from one space to another. People use these spaces for many reasons including as an office space, room for the kids to have more space to play, and even as a place for guests to stay when they visit.
Why is the Tiny House Craze so Popular?
Moving into a tiny home means giving up the stress of clutter, wide spaces to clean, and living on a larger piece of land. People enjoy the feeling of being in control of their lifestyle. Tiny house owners often meet other people who live the same way and have begun forming social groups. There are even conventions where Tiny House owners gather to spend time learning about new technologies and ways to improve smaller spaces.
Advantages of Living in a Tiny House
There are many reasons why people would give up a 2,000 square-foot home to live in a house that is 20 percent of the size or smaller. Cutting energy costs is a huge perk of living in a tiny home. People like knowing they have a small space to heat and cool. Obviously, cleaning is faster when there is less square footage.
A tiny home offers people the chance to own a house for the first time. Even experienced homeowners enjoy saving money and knowing they can finance the house and pay it off much faster than a traditional house and lot. Tiny houses can cost as little as a few thousand dollars or as much as tens of thousands depending on the technologies the owner wants. Owners can recoup the cost in as little as two years. The furnishings and fixtures also figure into the cost of these homes.
Another benefit of these homes is people can afford a more rewarding lifestyle. For example, a tiny house on wheels lets people travel the country. Living in a traditional house does not afford this opportunity. When tiny home owners travel, they often meet other tiny owners and gather to visit popular destinations together. A group of people may talk on social media and choose a spot to meet where they can talk in person and enjoy the company of other like-minded individuals.
Things to Consider Before Making Your Purchase
While there are tons of reasons to go tiny, some disadvantages still exist. Tall people, or those who like to have room to move around, may not be as comfortable in tiny surroundings. Traveling all the time may not be as rewarding as having a stable place to call home for some owners.
Before making the decision to go tiny, it is a good idea to talk to people who already live in tiny houses. You can discuss the benefits. Plus, you get answers from someone who understands the good and bad things about living in a tiny house. You will also want to know whether you should go with a mobile version or a standalone property. Both versions offer benefits, but some people want the lifestyle and the small home.
Getting rid of many earthly possessions to “Go Tiny” can be uplifting. Some people refer to it as lifting a burden. There are many fewer things to move when you go on vacation or clean the house. Plus, tiny homes are much more inexpensive to maintain. Some people say they can cut utility costs to below a hundred dollars a month with a tiny house. Another perk is helping the environment.
People living in tiny houses have a much smaller footprint, use less energy, and often have less waste. These houses are available all over the world with Japan, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, France, and the United States offering a variety of options including two-story tiny homes. You can even find these places on docks near the water. The tiny movement is here to stay, offering square footage at premium prices.