How is it possible to be happy in a house that’s only 160 sq ft? Maybe if you had 400 sq ft, you’d find it more comfortable. Whatever the size, as long as it’s less than 600 sq ft, they’re tiny homes.
Tiny homes come in several varieties and sizes. At the higher end are small homes, up to 600 sq ft, constructed on permanent foundations. Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADU), as many are called, are usually found at the top price range and can be site-built or prefab.
A more common style is built on a storage trailer using conventional construction materials. It’s also possible to convert a shed or storage container into a tiny house by using the structure as the home’s shell. These homes are usually in the 120 – 300 sq ft range.
But no matter how your tiny home is built, you might encounter problems with it. Maybe you should think twice before buying or building a tiny home.
Tiny Homes Are a Fad, Not a Trend
The difference between a trend and a fad is staying power. Trends endure and evolve, whereas fads are met with wild enthusiasm for a short time, but then they fizzle.
The tiny-home movement might’ve sprung from the trend toward minimalism and experiential lifestyles, but many proponents dive in without considering the significant challenges inherent in living in a tiny space — suggesting that tiny homes are a fad, not a trend.
With that said, today’s need for affordable housing could help keep the tiny house a viable option for a roof over one’s head until you’re financially in better shape.
Tiny Homes Are Expensive
The small size of tiny homes doesn’t make them much cheaper to build — in fact, the typical tiny house costs more per square foot than larger houses do, in part because larger construction jobs make for more efficient use of resources.
Houses — Even Tiny Ones — Must Be Built to Code
Tiny homes built on foundations typically must meet the same code requirements as any other house, making them cost prohibitive. You might have to prepare the land for construction, pull permits, order inspections and pay to bring utility service to the site.
Many Tiny-Home Owners Aren’t Tiny-Home Dwellers
Owners of tiny homes don’t necessarily live in their houses full time. Often, these owners use their homes as vacation getaways or trade up for larger homes. The challenges that come with living in a tiny home aren’t so challenging if you’re only there for a few nights per year.
There’s No Space To Expand Your Family
A tiny home that works for individuals might not work for couples. And, what works for a couple might not accommodate a baby and the supplies that come along with having one. Even bringing a pet into the mix can overcrowd your tiny space.
Tiny Homes Limit Where You Can Live
While some cities have loosened zoning restrictions to accommodate tiny homes, most cities don’t allow tiny homes on wheels to be parked in residential yards or used as permanent residences without the appropriate permits. You’ll have to research local codes and ordinances before you make any decisions, or park your tiny home in an RV park or other designated areas.
It’s a Tough Lifestyle
Tiny living takes a lot of work. You’ll have to go grocery shopping more often, pick up mail from a post office box and do frequent small loads of laundry in a compact washing machine. You might also have to empty out a composting toilet, climb in and out of a sleeping loft and grapple with multifunction furniture that needs to be opened or closed — or folded and unfolded — every time you use it.
Tiny Living Isn’t Always Functional
Tiny living looks like a simple lifestyle at first glance, but it can actually be rather chaotic. Tiny houses often have low ceilings and tight transition spaces that require residents to constantly duck and squeeze as they navigate their surroundings, prepare meals, take showers and climb into bed. Even eating takeout becomes a chore when you lack adequate dining space.
The Cramped Space Wears On Your Mental Health
An overcrowded home has been linked to increased stress and anxiety in families, likely due to lack of privacy and disrupted sleep. Children might also find it difficult to locate a quiet place to read or complete schoolwork in such close quarters.
There’s a Limit to How Small You Can Go
Even if zoning laws allow you to build or park a tiny home, you’re not necessarily out of the woods. Those laws might also mandate the minimum size of the lot that your home sits on — typically 1,000 square feet — which could interfere with your dreams of tiny living.
A Tiny Home Might Not Be Legal in Your City
State and local governments have their own building codes for homes built on permanent foundations. Permanent tiny homes often don’t meet those standards, so you’ll need to check the tiny-house ordinances for the specific city you’re living in.
Tiny Homes Are a Bad Investment
A tiny home built on a trailer isn’t real estate, even if you own the land that it’s parked on. Tiny homes on wheels are personal property, and like other personal property — such as cars and RVs — they depreciate over time. Real estate, on the other hand, usually appreciates over time.
You Might Get Stuck With It
In the event that you want or need to sell your tiny home, finding a buyer won’t be easy. Tiny homeownership has more barriers to entry than traditional homeownership — there simply aren’t as many people willing to live in 400 or fewer square feet.
Financing Can Be Difficult
Unless your tiny home meets zoning and building code standards and is built on a permanent foundation, it won’t qualify for traditional mortgage financing. You’ll need alternative financing, such as an RV loan, a personal loan or a credit card, which can have higher interest rates and require a better credit score than a mortgage loan.
There Are Better Ways To Be a Minimalist
There’s a lot to be said for living simply within your means and rejecting materialism. You can adopt that lifestyle now by selling extra belongings, vowing not to buy any more unnecessary items or even downsizing to a smaller — but not tiny — home. You’ll have a chance to build equity in your property instead of investing thousands into a potential fad that won’t appreciate in value.
from an article in Yahoo Finance
Related Articles:
- Wisconsin Winter Could Prove Challenging For Tiny House Village
- Tiny House Developers Learning What “NIMBY” Means
- Tiny Houses And ADUs Changing The Post-COVID-19 Landscape
Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder. Email at [email protected]
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