More Tiny Houses

More Tiny Houses - John Eric Real Estate

Have you noticed that almost every show on many of the popular home improvement television networks is all focusing on tiny living? What are tiny houses? Why is there a tiny house movement?

Tiny living is a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in. The typical American home is around 2,600 square feet, whereas the typical small or tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. Tiny houses come in all shapes, sizes, and forms and they offer simple living in a smaller, more efficient space.

All ages of people are joining this movement for many reasons, but the most popular include environmental concerns, financial security, and the desire for more time and freedom. Currently, 1/3 to 1/2 of most Americans income is dedicated to their housing costs. For most, this means working 15 years or more over your lifetime to pay it off.

On the other hand, the tiny house movement is also taking notes from the mega-mansion with upscale amenities. Thanks to the millennials and baby boomers these homes are also being elevated beyond their sawdust toilet roots, with companies offering scaled-down versions of luxury features. Many of these cutting edge homes are equipped with quality woods, granite countertops, sound systems and LED lights to name just a few. One company is even marketing a tiny hot tub.

But, how realistic is this living? Even as many younger owners swear they will live in their homes forever, there is still a question as to how long? It seems as though the vast majority of tiny home dwellers have now opted to use them as weekend or summer home getaways. I’m not certain what path the movement is taking but it certainly doesn’t have any sign of slowing down.

David Brown
Mulberry Seed Design