The tiny home movement has exploded in the last several years, with the move toward a more environmental and spatially conscious way of living. Ever since the major economic and housing crash in 2008, prospective homeowners are getting more creative and conservative with how they spend their money. They're also considering the side effects of having way too much house. Luckily for them, the tiny house market is more expansive and innovative than ever.
Tiny homes can be upscale. They can be minimal, and they can even be mobile. The square footage of a tiny home is often defined as between 400 and 1,000 square feet. However, anything under 1,000 can be considered a tiny house. The market for tiny homes has become competitive, with builders and homeowners alike using the fullest extent of their imaginations.
You might be asking if it's worth investing in a tiny home if you're looking to move, downsize, or bandwagon this architectural trend. Here's a list of pros and cons to help you decide if buying or designing a tiny home is the right move for you.
The Pros of the Tiny Home
Costs
A major pro of the tiny housing market is in the pricing. Not only are tiny homes cheaper to build and cost less in maintenance, but they are still an excellent investment opportunity. Tiny houses also emphasize design over space. Not only can they be more functional, but they can also be more tightly designed, without the extra costs of furnishing and decorating thousands of square feet.
Housing for the homeless
In addition to tiny homes being good for the environment, they're also being implemented into affordable housing for the homeless. While many homeless shelters are being shut down in major metropolises, with no end in sight in the fight against homelessness, governments and social reformists are looking for more feasible ways to house these people without exhausting funding. Enter tiny housing projects.
The Cons of the Tiny Home
It depends on where you live.
Although tiny homes can be mobile and can ideally fit almost anywhere, there are cons in terms of where you can actually feasibly and legally place or build a tiny home. For example, only certain states have zoning laws that adapt to the tiny home structure and zoning laws.
That means some states are more open to tiny home development than others. Some states that make it difficult for tiny home builders, according to "Tiny House Plans" include Alabama, Montana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Alaska, Maryland, and Delaware.
If you're living or planning to live in one of these states, a tiny home might not be the thing to invest in. If you're struggling to find the best home base, Dellrose Homes is a good place to start.
It's just too small!
Suffice to say, a tiny house just might be too tiny for you. Don't downgrade unless you're ready for a smaller way of life.
