Since the pandemic hit, the economy has gone for a toss. People who bought homes in 2019 are suddenly finding themselves unable to keep up with payments or even maintenance. Keeping a home can be quite a time and money-consuming process. Till the job market regains stability, it can be challenging to manage all the costs. Renting, while cheaper in the short-term, has its own disadvantages.
There is, thankfully, a middle-ground for you that is cheaper than a large house and more permanent than a rental. Tiny houses have seen a massive uptick in popularity. Especially since more and more millennials are choosing not to have children and minimizing costs wherever possible. If you are a small family, a couple, or even a single person looking at a permanent home, a tiny house could be the perfect fit for you.
What Is a Tiny House?
A tiny house is any house that is less than 400 square feet in total area. They were born out of the minimalist movement whose philosophy is to cut out things in your life you really don’t need. You don’t necessarily need to be a landowner to have a tiny house since most tiny houses can be packed up to travel like a motor home.
Many tiny houses are designed by the owners themselves. However, planning and building a home is a huge project, and you don’t want to mess up even the smallest sections. It is often best to leave it to professionals who have experience doing this and planning a house around your needs. Let’s take a look at some of your options when buying a tiny home.
Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses
Who they are – Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses are a tiny home designing and manufacturing company based in Colorado. They offer an excellent collection of tiny homes that you can customize to your exact wants and needs. They have a particular design philosophy and will try and make your house as light and eco-friendly as possible. They used advanced building techniques and innovative cost-cutting measures to achieve the same.
For those who prefer to DIY, you can order shell houses from them. These shell houses contain a minimum of the framed waterproof outside walls and can be customized to be at any stage of building for you to continue. This means you can order a home that is finished all the way except for the windows you want to put in yourself. If you want to take DIYing even further, Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses also offer floor plans for purchase.
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company specializes in motor homes that you can take with you on the go. They offer four base models called the Elm, Cypress, Farallon, and Roanoke. Each model has a few sizing options for you to choose from depending on small or big you want your tiny house to be. You can also opt for their shell called Barn Raiser, which includes a trailer, a fully framed home, a sheathed exterior, and a temporary license plate. There are things you can add to this for extra charges, including RV certification, a metal roof, doors and windows, and more.
In case these weren’t enough, you can also opt to work with them to build your own tiny home. And in case you aren’t sold on the idea of a tiny home yet, Tumbleweed Tiny House Company also offers 3D tours of their homes. Finally, Tumbleweed also provides great discounts for what they call “Community Heros,” so if you are active military personnel, a veteran, a teacher or teacher’s aide, or a first responder in any field, you can get a hefty discount on your purchase.
Tiny Heirloom
With over a decade in home building experience and their own TV show, Tiny Heirloom has become a great option when looking into tiny houses built for luxury and longevity. They have six models in the Signature Series to choose from, along with a commercial B2B option and a prefabricated option. Their cheapest budget option is called Legacy, from the Signature Series, and is priced at $52,395. With sleeping space for four people, this is an excellent starter option for those dipping their toes into the world of tiny homes.
In case you built your own house, Tiny Heirloom also offers starter kits that include everything you need to get your new home running. These starter kits include an extension cord, a drinking water hose, a sewer hose, and plastic sewer hose support. Other kits also include water filtration systems, backflow preventers, and water pressure regulators.
New Frontier Tiny Homes
New Frontier Tiny Homes is a luxury tiny house company. They are focused on building quality, exclusive products for premium customers. They offer five base models of homes: Alpha, Esher, Cornelia, Orchid, and Luna. The Alpha and the Luna are ideal for two people, while the Cornelia and Orchid have space for up to 4 people to live inside. Esher is a larger home with room for up to 6 people to sleep. Since New Frontier Tiny Homes cater to the premium segment, the costs for these homes are slightly higher than you are used to seeing.
The lowest-priced model is the Luna, which starts at $80K. Next up, you have the Cornelia with a base price of $132K, while both the Alpha and the Orchid come in at $155K. Finally, their largest model, the Escher, starts at $180K. Their models represent the ultimate luxury for tiny homes and come equipped with full-size dining rooms, jacuzzi tubs, 270-degree loft views, and chef-oriented kitchens. Your home will come equipped with all the lighting and heating elements built-in along with fantastic interior designs. So all that is left for you to do is pack up your bags and see where the road less traveled takes you!
