Tiny Houses, Big Shifts

I am not a demographer nor social scientist but I like the study of demographics and their impact on economics.  As the wave of one generation sweeps through time their impact on supply and demand within markets and sub-markets is intriguing.  The baby boomers' consumption of healthcare is the simplest example.  But what happens when the demographic expectations don’t play out as history predicts.  Those in their twenties get married, buy a house and start a family…. Right?

Not exactly.  Similarly, have you seen the show Tiny Houses on HGTV?  I cringe to think about living in a space the size of my wife’s closet yet the national market for such a lifestyle seems to be growing.  The concept is seemingly driven by people who want to minimize material needs in return for greater freedom.  The shift away from bigger is better reflects a new perspective in the American experience.  If you haven’t seen the show (I think there are several), search it out, if only to watch the opening credits where the driving force behind the movement is laid out… simple living frees up time and money for life experiences.  The American Dream is changing, from things to experiences.  And while we may be in the early bell curve stages of this generational change it would be good to begin preparing.  What experiences and or lifestyle advantages are we providing in our communities and/or how do we adjust our marketing and/or our communications to appeal to this particular rising demographic tide?