Would you buy a tiny house in Texas? Here are a few (adorable) reasons why tiny homes are on the rise.
“Tiny homes” may be small (like, “under 400 square feet” small), but the hype and culture surrounding them is anything but. It seems everyone (including us) is obsessed with their minimalist aesthetic, their emphasis on simple living, and their through-the-roof levels of cuteness.
Though these wee little structures only make up less than 1% of real estate transactions in the country, they’ve generated everything from viral lists (“Cutest Tiny Houses in Every State”) to reality shows (Tiny House Nation, Tiny House Hunters).
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Image Courtesy of the Hill Country Tiny Houses Facebook Page
So...what is considered a tiny house?
Believe it or not, these pocket-sized dwellings have a rather strict system of classification. To be considered a “tiny home” by the American Tiny House Association, square footage can be no higher than 400...and as low as 70! The next category up is a “small house”: anything between 400 and 1,000 square feet. To put this size in perspective, the size of the average American house is 2,700 square feet (2009)!
How likely are you to buy into this extreme form of downsizing? Here are a few reasons why so many folks are obsessed with the #TinyHouseMovement.
1. Environmentally friendly
One of the most cited reasons people “go tiny” is their desire to create a more sustainable lifestyle. These micro-houses have been proven to be energy efficient for numerous reasons. Because they are so small, tiny houses require much less energy consumption overall: heating, cooling, and lighting a small space is always easier than keeping up with a sprawling layout. Tiny houses with solar panels have an even smaller carbon footprint!
2. Simplicity
It’s no secret that homes in the United States have been growing. Between the years of 1978 to 2013, the average size of a single-family home grew from 1,780 square feet to 2,662...despite a decrease in the average size of an American family. So, though families have shrunk by about one person, home size has grown by almost 50%. The Tiny House Movement has been cited as a sort of small-scale rebellion against excess.
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Image Courtesy of the Hill Country Tiny Houses Facebook Page
3. Decreased Maintenance
Maybe one of the most obvious benefits of a tiny house? Reduced upkeep! If your home is only 400 square feet (maximum), there’s only so much clutter you can accumulate (without going insane). Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping will take a fraction of the time. Repairs will also be on a reduced-scale, ensuring they stay smaller in cost as well...i.e. repairing a tiny roof is much less of a hassle than its larger counterpart!
4. Mobility
Many owners of tiny homes often cite “self-sufficiency” as one of their biggest reasons for going tiny. The result? In the tiny home community, the popularity of tiny homes on wheels has been growing rapidly. Though often compared to glorified RVs, these tiny houses are more like traditional homes on wheels. The owner then has the freedom to move residency at any time. Because many of these homeowners also live debt-free without a mortgage, they’re less tied down to the traditional neighborhood or way of life.
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Image Courtesy of the Hill Country Tiny Houses Facebook Page
5. Multi-functional
Many love the idea of a tiny house, but don’t really want to restrict their total living space to 400 square feet. Many families around the country are finding additional uses for these petite dwellings! They can serve as an add-on, mother-in-law suite, guest house, home office, studio, rental property, and so much more. Several cities, including Portland and Seattle, have even used tiny house neighborhoods to combat homelessness.
6. Low Cost
Reason would dictate that a smaller house would mean smaller cost….but just how much more cost-effective is a tiny house? Whereas the average cost of a standard home is upwards of $270k, the average tiny home costs less than a tenth of that (about $23k). Due to this reduced cost, most tiny homeowners are mortgage-free (68%). The reduced price also means that insurance and taxes are significantly lower as well.
Are you as fascinated with tiny homes as we are? Are you looking to simplify your lifestyle? Though these micro-houses are only available in small numbers around the country (with few to none in San Antonio), we have our fair share of adorable residences on the San Antonio real estate market. Here are a few of the Alamo City’s tiniest homes!
1. 5014 Casa Verde: 897 Square Feet ($149,900)
At just under 900 square feet, 5014 Casa Verde fits perfectly into the “small house” category. Totally remodeled and reimagined, this home is perfect for downsizers or new homeowners!
2. 303 W Lubbock: 732 Square Feet (SOLD)
Smack dab in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, this charming one-story home (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom) features an open living concept, laminate floors throughout, a breakfast bar with granite counter tops, and more!
3. 1414 Capitol Ave: 528 Square Feet (SOLD)
By far the smallest little dwelling on our list, 1414 Capitol Ave is also located in the historic Beacon Hills neighborhood! Completely renovated, this adorable home now boasts granite countertops, tile floors, a tankless water heater, central air conditioning, and more.
Thinking about buying or selling? Talk to a lender about your mortgage possibilities (and a KW agent to see what’s out there). Or if you just want to store up your knowledge of the home buying process for the future, download a FREE copy of our exclusive Buyer’s Guide (created specifically for the SA-area buyer)!
Note: This blog was originally published in 2016 and has been updated to reflect current info.
