Tiny Houses

“Bigger is better” seems to be the motto people are living by today. This outlook can be, and often is, applied to food portions, vehicles, and perhaps most commonly, houses. Home buyers tend to be concerned with square footage, spare rooms, and the number of bathrooms a potential home may have. While it is important to have enough room in your home for the things you require, it may not be necessary to buy as big as you can afford. In fact, tiny homes are gaining popularity as people are deciding to pursue minimalistic and affordable lifestyles! What is a tiny home? A tiny home averages at approximately 186 square feet in size and can range from anywhere between 100 to 400 square feet. Tiny houses are often mobile, meaning that they are built on wheels so that the owner can move locations when desired. Tiny houses can also be fixed in a permanent location if mobility doesn’t suit your lifestyle. Try thinking quality over quantity when deciding on the size of your new home, as there are many benefits associated with living in a tiny house.

Living in a tiny house reduces your environmental impact. For starters, the amount of materials required to build a tiny house is significantly less than the amount needed for an averaged sized home. This means that there will also be less construction waste sent to the landfill! Additionally, by reducing the size of your home, you can direct your money towards sustainable building features that you might have otherwise sacrificed for more square footage. This may look like installing solar panels and sustainably sourced wood and construction materials. These green features may also help you reduce your resource consumption. Tiny homes often feature a rainwater harvesting system that will increase your overall efficiency!

Another benefit of living in a tiny house is that you will be able to declutter your life and rely less on material items. The small square footage does not leave room for an abundance of knick-knacks, décor, clothing, and clutter that may otherwise plague your home. In order to have enough space to live, you will be forced to leave unnecessary items behind and focus more on what brings you true joy.

Living in a tiny house provides you with financial advantages due to the fact that the cost to build or buy a tiny house is well under the cost of an average sized one. Additionally, the cost of tiny house maintenance and upkeep is significantly lower as well. If your tiny house contains energy efficient appliances and systems, your cost of living is much lower. As a bonus, spending less on the outright cost of your home as well as maintenance and upkeep leaves you with more cash that you can put towards your savings, purchasing quality goods and services, and of course, enjoying life!

If you are interested in living the tiny life, check out the rules and regulations in your area regarding tiny homes. Depending on where you are located, there may be some legal issues associated with tiny homes that are not built on private property. Associations like the American Tiny House Association aim to support those who wish to live in tiny homes and promote these tiny dwellings as a viable living option.

American Tiny House Association

Tiny Homes Canada FAQ

Tiny House, Big Benefits: Freedom from a mortgage and worries – and stuff