Three Tiny Homes With Big Appeal
What these small houses lack in square footage they make up for in clever design and savings.
Think you could live in a house that’s not much bigger than an SUV? Tiny homes are becoming a practical and affordable option for buyers ranging from young singles looking for a starter home to empty-nesters and retirees looking to downsize.
Typical tiny homes are well under 500 square feet and range in price from as little as $20,000 to more than $150,000, excluding land costs. Most homes are prefab, so there might be an additional charge for delivery.
Piqued your interest? Here are three tiny homes with big appeal:
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At 160 square feet, this studio-style home was designed by Tiny Home Builders with the retired homeowner in mind. It’s one-level with no ladders to climb to access the sleeping area, as is common in many tiny homes with loft-style beds. There’s one bathroom. The home is priced at $36,000. If you need the builder to deliver the home to a site, there’s an additional charge of up to $3 per mile after the first 50 miles.
This modern tiny home is 200 square feet and was constructed by Cinderbox Dwelling using a Japanese-style burnt wood siding, which is rot resistant. It costs $19,000. Inside you’ll find a bathroom, desk alcove, storage closet, built-in shelving, and a bookcase that doubles as a ladder, which is used to access the loft-style sleeping area. Appliances aren’t included. Shipping costs for this model are negotiable.
This petite property mimics the look and feel of a barn. Built using recycled materials by Spice Box Homes, it’s just 128 square feet. There’s a loft-style bed area, vaulted ceilings and exposed wood collar beams above the kitchen and main living areas. The bathroom is equipped with a composting toilet. This model costs $37,000 and shipping costs are negotiable.
Take a look at six additional tiny homes you'll love to get more ideas about how to take downsizing to the extreme.
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Browne Taylor joined Kiplinger in 2011 and was a channel editor for Kiplinger.com covering living and family finance topics. She previously worked at the Washington Post as a Web producer in the Style section and prior to that covered the Jobs, Cars and Real Estate sections. She earned a BA in journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is Director of Member Services, at the National Association of Home Builders.
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