According to a recent survey, 53% of adults said they'd consider the possibility of buying a tiny home. The typical tiny house ranges in size from 100-400 square feet, compared to the 2,600 square feet of the average American home.
But is the tiny house movement still popular? Some people claim it's failing, others say go tiny or go home. Read on to find out who is winning this argument.
The Pro's of the Tiny House Movement
Wondering about the merits of tiny house living? Here are our reasons to go tiny or go home.
You'll Save Money
The money you'll save with a tiny home is one of its major selling points. Did you know the average price of a tiny home is just $23,000? When you consider the average standard-sized house is ten times that price, that's an amazing bargain.
So you'll typically be able to pay off the cost of your tiny home in a few years. Especially considering how cheap utilities are: one tiny homeowner reported that they only had to pay $15 a month. And these savings stack up: 89% of these tiny homeowners had less credit card debt than average. 65% had no debt at all.
You Can Easily Move Anywhere
One of the best things about a tiny house is that they're typically mobile enough that they can be hitched to a trailer and brought anywhere. These homes are ideal for individuals with highly flexible lifestyles. If you primarily work from home or if you're retired, these houses can make moving around easy and fun.
Why spend a ton of money to be stuck in one city for the rest of your life? With a tiny home, you can travel the world while bringing the comfort of your house with you.
The Con's of the Tiny House Movement
Wondering about the drawbacks? Here are some of the drawbacks to the tiny house movement.
There's a Few Legal Hurdles
Finding a location to park your tiny home can, unfortunately, be difficult. For example, tiny homes are not allowed in a traditional RV park.
Zoning laws are another problem. In many places, there are minimal lot size requirements. While your home doesn't have to fill the entire lot, it means you have to pay for a lot more land than you're going to use, which is pretty expensive.
Luckily, some of these zoning laws are evolving to accommodate tiny homes. For example, regulations on ceiling and staircase specifications are being relaxed for these homes. So there is a chance in the near future that these problems will become less of an issue.
Heating/Cooling Can Be Difficult
Sure, a tiny home saves on utilities, but the thin walls can sometimes have difficulties keeping your home insulated. This means you'll likely need to add in a fan in the summer, or a heater in the winter. The problem is that these can take up a lot of your tiny space and be energy intensive.
Luckily, if you're looking for an energy and space efficient heater for your tiny home, TinyHouseHugeIdeas.com has a list of 10 comparable options ranging in price, size, and efficiency. With so many new products out there being created for tiny homes every year, most of these issues will likely be solved within a few years' time
Go Tiny or Go Home
We believe that the winner here is clear: go tiny or go home. With the huge amount of savings you'll have with a tiny home, as well as the amazing portability of that home, and the fact that problems with tiny houses are being solved better with each passing year, a tiny choice is a great lifestyle choice for anyone. And remember, home is more than a house: home is where you feel like you belong.
