What is the Tiny House movement?
To put it simply, the Tiny House movement, or small house movement, is a real estate trend where people are choosing to live in smaller homes.
Some people want to downsize, others save money, and some desire to live a more mindful minimalist lifestyle. With mindfulness comes peace of mind, and if you’re in the market, peace of mind while shopping is huge.
Considering that roughly 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, it’s easy to see why some might find the cost alone of the lifestyle appealing.
How big is a Tiny House?
Since each state is different, as of 2019, there is no set definition to what defines a tiny house. However, there are some similarities across state lines. The average home is the US in 2,600 square feet. Meanwhile, a tiny house comparatively is 500 square feet.
It might sound cramped, but there are massive financial benefits. The Tiny Life suggests the savings alone is a major factor. Consider this – 81.7% of US homeowners have a mortgage. That’s 4 in 5 Americans. Meanwhile, only 22% of tiny house owners are still paying bills on their home.
While it may be small, there are big savings.
When did it start?
The Economist states in their article “Very Little House on the Prairie”, “With the depression hitting in 2008, the small house movement attracted more attention as it offered affordable, ecologically friendly housing.”
However, over the next few years, this evolved from from just a concept to save to a real portion of US population considering it as a realistic option. It makes one wonder, is the stress and time all worth it – just to keep up with the Joneses? Working all day, paired with some nights and weekends just to make ends meet, comes at a cost.
If you’re even thinking buying a home, and don’t want to spend a fortune, sacrificing square feet, isn’t the only option. In fact, many potential home buyers aren’t even asking – the secret question before home shopping.
What states allow Tiny Houses?
If you have a high interest in tiny houses, and live in one of these states, you’re in luck. The following states have the most flexible building codes and zoning regulations: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Texas.
