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Could you live in a house smaller than a large closet?

Reblogger Jay Lloyd
Home Inspector with Cape Coral Florida

When I built homes the motto was the bigger the better, but this guy's motto seems to be "how small can you go" ...and I think he's on to something. We could use these small well constructed homes in SW Florida near the gulf and river. ...hey, it sure would offset the cost of the land :) Thanks to Chrissy Doremus of U.S. Inspect  Home Inspections for allowing me to reblog and share this cool idea. You can reach Chrissy at Office Phone: (888) 874-6773  Thanks Chrissy!

Original content by Chrissy Doremus ~ US Inspect ~

In the past, we've looked at the largest house in the world. What about the smallest?  How about eighty-nine square feet? It's not a rambling ranch for a family of five, but it is the home of Jay Shafer, an artist builder, who since childhood has dreamed of building this small house. And so he built the home he calls, "Tumbleweed" in Sebastol, CA. You can even take a tour of his wee-sized abode on YouTube.

Shafer also owns the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Since making his first tiny home he received a lot of interest from others and decided to start the company to design more XS homes and sell the plans. Interested individuals can schedule group or private tours of his home to learn more. The smallest home he offers in his catalog is actually smaller than his home, at just 65 square feet. So to be exact, THAT would be the world's smallest home. It's called the XS-House. Shafer, built his own XS-House and lived in it for one year before selling it to John Friedman and Kristin Shepherd.

Now I gotta say, while I love the idea of these homes and their green benefits, I get a little claustrophobic just looking at the tour video--so I'm not sure they are exactly a good fit for me. But they do look really cute and very cozy. Here are pictures of two other tiny homes in the Tumblweed catalog. Do you think you could live in one of these homes?

Loring Tumbleweed Small Home

 

Whidbey Tumblweed Small House

 

Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog

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Ted J. Macy
Top Agents Atlanta Metro - Milton, GA

I guess it would be cheaper to heat and furnish.  We all used to live with a lot less and we were probably happier and had more free time.

Sep 14, 2010 04:55 PM
Jay Lloyd
Cape Coral Florida - Cape Coral, FL
Allpro Home Inspection

Hi Ted, Yes, I think you're right. Seems like I have less and less free time. Jay

Sep 15, 2010 02:18 PM
Jason Channell
Diadem Property Inspections - Serving Southeast Michigan - Troy, MI
The House Sleuth

I hope that's a big discount on the property taxes.

Sep 15, 2010 04:34 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

I remember our first home was a little over 800 sq.ft. and we thought it was a castle. You can make do when you have to.

Less upkeep.

Sep 18, 2010 07:11 AM
Pam Dent
Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. - Charlottesville, VA
REALTORĀ® - Charlottesville Virginia Homes / Horse

As long as you didn't need to spend too much time at home it might work.

Sep 28, 2010 04:49 PM