Teeny Tiny Houses - Have You Heard About Them Yet?

The term "downsizing" has become very common these days and will continue to be an important market niche for real estate agents.  Gone are the days of over indulgent McMansions built on quarter acre lots when bigger and more expensive was perceived as social climbing.

Today sanity reigns supreme and home buyers have their feet planted on terra firma.  People are more concerned with "right sized" homes, often measuring between 1500-2000 square feet.  These are homes that are more eco-friendly with Energy Star appliances and HVAC systems and they feature floor plans that shed unnecessary and infrequently used spaces.

On the very fringe of this downsizing movement is the teeny tiny house market.  Have you heard about these tiny homes that boast from 100-150 square feet?  If you haven't you will be very soon.  Living small is a trend that may just have found its time in modern history.  These little houses can usually run off of public utilities and use every cubic inch of space to the max.  Believe it or not, you can pack a viable kitchen, living/dining area, bathroom and upstairs loft into a space less than 100 square feet.

The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is a leader in this market segment.  They claim business has grown significantly since the housing crisis began. They specialize in selling blueprints, which cost $400 to $1,000.  They also teach eight workshops a year around the country that attract thousands of curious participants.

Since the housing crisis and recession began, interest in tiny homes has grown dramatically among the youngest of would be homeowners as well as retiring Baby Boomers. "People's reasons for living small vary a lot, but there seems to be a common thread of sustainability," Jay Shafer, owner of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company said. "A lot of people don't want to use many more resources or put out more emissions than they have to."

Now these little homes won't be for everybody but are heaven sent for those creative types that desire to live simple, inexpensive lives with a tiny carbon footprint.