When tiny living makes
sense
By Luis Gile
The Small House
Movement advocates living simply. It may be associated with
environmentally friendly housing (a modern concept) but in reality it's a
return to housing as it was many many years ago. Early pioneer homes were
nothing more than an eat-in kitchen and a sleeping loft. These homes
could house large families in less than 500 sf. Over the years, trends
towards personal space, individual privacy, advents in construction technology,
and the increasing affluence of Americans has ballooned the average US one
family home from 1200 sf in the 1970's to 1800 sf in 2012.
Having lived in
spaces that were well under 1,000 sf and in an apartment that was no more than
500 sf, I can tell you that living in quarters within that range is very
viable. You'll have very little storage space, but you dont need to make
huge lifestyle changes to adapt to living in 500sf spaces.
That said, the most extreme examples of tiny house living are what we see on HGTV. Living in spaces that are well below 500 sf are both challenging and life changing. Living in a space that small is not for everyone, but there are some cases where an extreme tiny house could be viable.
That said, the most extreme examples of tiny house living are what we see on HGTV. Living in spaces that are well below 500 sf are both challenging and life changing. Living in a space that small is not for everyone, but there are some cases where an extreme tiny house could be viable.
Here are my top
6 reasons for considering a tiny house.
Number One: You want mobility
If you or your spouse has a job that causes you to move around a lot and you don't feel like you're in a position to plant roots in any one place, a tiny house might be right for you. Of course the type of tiny house that you'd be considering would be more like a trailer or a mobile home, but the concept is still the same. There are certain considerations in designing a home like this because the movement and vibration from the roadway places unique stresses on the interiors of the home, but in the end it is very practical and very possible for one to live in a tiny house that is also portable.
If you or your spouse has a job that causes you to move around a lot and you don't feel like you're in a position to plant roots in any one place, a tiny house might be right for you. Of course the type of tiny house that you'd be considering would be more like a trailer or a mobile home, but the concept is still the same. There are certain considerations in designing a home like this because the movement and vibration from the roadway places unique stresses on the interiors of the home, but in the end it is very practical and very possible for one to live in a tiny house that is also portable.
Number Two: You want to save money
If you are on a tight budget or you are looking to save the majority of your income for the future, tiny house living is an extremely affordable way to live. If you are willing to live in a very modest way with very few amenities, you can have a custom tiny house built for very little money. For the price of the down-payment on a conventional home, you could have your own tiny house allowing you to save the majority of your income for other things.
If you are on a tight budget or you are looking to save the majority of your income for the future, tiny house living is an extremely affordable way to live. If you are willing to live in a very modest way with very few amenities, you can have a custom tiny house built for very little money. For the price of the down-payment on a conventional home, you could have your own tiny house allowing you to save the majority of your income for other things.
Number Three: You don't have too much "STUFF"
If you are the type of person that has few possessions and don't expect to accumulate a lot of things tiny house living may be a very viable option for you. One of the biggest challenges in tiny house living is that you have very little space for storage. A family of 4 or an individual that has a lot of stuff will find tiny house living to be absolutely impractical. This may sound improbable in our consumerist society, but a lot of people find living with fewer things to be very liberating. The key is to have a few really good quality items with multiple uses and not accumulate a lot of unnecessary things.
If you are the type of person that has few possessions and don't expect to accumulate a lot of things tiny house living may be a very viable option for you. One of the biggest challenges in tiny house living is that you have very little space for storage. A family of 4 or an individual that has a lot of stuff will find tiny house living to be absolutely impractical. This may sound improbable in our consumerist society, but a lot of people find living with fewer things to be very liberating. The key is to have a few really good quality items with multiple uses and not accumulate a lot of unnecessary things.
Number Four: Save on Taxes
One of the great advantages about living in a tiny house is that depending on how you build the house and where you build the house, you may be able to avoid real estate taxes. Mobile homes or temporary housing is treated differently in the real estate tax code than a conventional home. In fact some jurisdictions are catching up with this and realizing that they are losing out on property real estate taxes from people who have chosen to live in a tiny home. Houses without foundations or houses that are mobile are excluded from real estate taxes in some jurisdictions. If you are interested in avoiding real estate taxes, a tiny house may be right for you. Just make sure to check with a local tax professional before you commission your home.
Number Five: You need Guest housing
If you need temporary housing or you need a guest house, a tiny house may be the perfect option for you. As previously mentioned, tiny houses are more economical to build, but besides that they are also more economical to maintain than a conventional house. In addition, certain jurisdictions may prevent building a conventional sized house as a guest house, but a tiny house may be permissible. Your tiny guest house could also serve as a space for extended family or as quarters for service people such as a live-in Nanny.
If you need temporary housing or you need a guest house, a tiny house may be the perfect option for you. As previously mentioned, tiny houses are more economical to build, but besides that they are also more economical to maintain than a conventional house. In addition, certain jurisdictions may prevent building a conventional sized house as a guest house, but a tiny house may be permissible. Your tiny guest house could also serve as a space for extended family or as quarters for service people such as a live-in Nanny.
Number Six: Green Living
Green living is also a major trend in construction today. If you are concerned for the environment, you can reduce your carbon footprint with a tiny house. You will have to do without a lot of modern conveniences, but if you're willing to make lifestyle adjustments, you may find tiny house living very gratifying. Tiny houses need very little energy to run themselves and water consumption could be less as well.
Green living is also a major trend in construction today. If you are concerned for the environment, you can reduce your carbon footprint with a tiny house. You will have to do without a lot of modern conveniences, but if you're willing to make lifestyle adjustments, you may find tiny house living very gratifying. Tiny houses need very little energy to run themselves and water consumption could be less as well.
Tiny House
living is not for everyone. It requires a lot of compromises, but this
alternative to conventional housing may help you meet other goals. Before
you take the leap into a tiny house situation, try closing off portions of your
home and experience what life would be like with less space. Make sure
you are comfortable with the compromises before you take any additional steps.
Are you considering a tiny house or are you
already in a tiny house? If so, what are (were) your reasons for making
this change?
