Have you ever thought about getting rid of all that extra stuff that is continually sucking away your time and money? The small home trend is not only reducing the cost of maintaining a home, but is giving some serious personality — and environmental consciousness — to home-owning.
According to Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, a business out of California that has capitalized on the trend, one in five homeowners owe more on their mortgage than the actual value of their home. And with the decline of the economy, large estates are sucking even more time and money out of their owners. These statistics are a major reason some business and homeowners are embracing a minimalist style of living.
Small homes can range from 65 to 837 square feet, and can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $90,000. And while the size of these homes may restrict grandeur in design, they come in many different styles, including miniature Victorian, rustic ranch and farmhouses. Many of these homes are also energy efficient and extremely well insulated (another way to reduce the cost of living).
Businesses producing small homes are also in the practice of reducing waste. Brad Kittel, owner of Tiny Texas Houses, said he got tired of seeing so many building materials go to waste, so he decided to salvage what he could to use for building when he started his business. The majority of his houses are built with 99-percent “pure salvage” materials.
In addition to being cost efficient and naturally sound, these homes allow for more time spent with loved ones. To see how (and why) one homeowner built her small home in Gonzales, Texas, check out Texas-Style Tiny Houses.
Less is more
With the rise in popularity of small homes, businesses have sprung up to take care of the demand, as well. Here is a list of small-home builders with a specialty in creating these one-of-a-kind modest houses, as well as other small-home resources.
Businesses:
Additional Resources:
Books:
Little House On A Small Planet
500 Small Houses of the Twenties
Blogs: