Mini house

[LuvOrlando]

watching mini homes on TV and thinking it might be a fun way to collapse expenses for a year in order to regroup for retirement ( dragon's milk - yum- might have something to do with my interest ) . Of course, I may be romanticizing the lifestyle but After 20 years in the suburbs I'm so over where I am and figured I'd check to see if anyone out there has done it and wondering do you love it?

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

It seems like the initial outlay is really high so it would take more than a year to start really seeing a return. Also, it seems like they aren't legal everywhere due to codes, ordinances, etc.

The thing that would make them a no-go for me is the fact that they all have some form of composting toilet rather than regular plumbing lol. Why not downsize into a much smaller space like a 1 bedroom apt. for a year to see if that's workable and to save $$?

 

[tvguy]

Well, I have lived for a week in a 200 square foot cruise ship cabin with my family of 4, but not sure even with just me I would find the roughly 186 square feet most of these tiny homes are to be enough space. Some of the bigger 5th wheel trailers are 400 square feet, and they are cheaper to buy.
Local laws are all over the place, from no restrictions, to rules some places that say they can only stay in the same location for 30 days, the type of sewer, water and electrical connections they can have.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It seems like the initial outlay is really high so it would take more than a year to start really seeing a return. Also, it seems like they aren't legal everywhere due to codes, ordinances, etc.

The thing that would make them a no-go for me is the fact that they all have some form of composting toilet rather than regular plumbing lol. Why not downsize into a much smaller space like a 1 bedroom apt. for a year to see if that's workable and to save $$?

Hmmm I don't love the no plumbing part, good point

 

[LuvOrlando]

Well, I have lived for a week in a 200 square foot cruise ship cabin with my family of 4, but not sure even with just me I would find the roughly 186 square feet most of these tiny homes are to be enough space. Some of the bigger 5th wheel trailers are 400 square feet, and they are cheaper to buy.
Local laws are all over the place, from no restrictions, to rules some places that say they can only stay in the same location for 30 days, the type of sewer, water and electrical connections they can have.

The law side of it seems to be the most annoying part

 

[Hikergirl]

We are looking at them for some land we have, but not to live in permanently. Maybe when the kids are older and have a place of their own.
I am not interested in a compost toilet, this is what I will get.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Laveo-Dr...ht-Electric-Waterless-Toilet-DF1045/205205828

 

[Ranger111]

They are the new "thing."

In a few years there will be a new new thing. My community has pretty much outlawed them. Personally, if I were a bachelor, fine. If I had to share with someone else, no.

Portland oregon has a tiny house hotel....maybe, before you commit, stay in one of their offerings for a week or so....money well spent -- and there could be some other tiny hotels, in that case, google is certainly your friend.

But, again, not for me. I spent two weeks living in a converted brothel when I worked for the US Forest Service in the late 1970s. Of course, that was more a rooming house situation. Oh, the stories I can tell from that....

 

[usnuzuloose]

I went and saw some, i could do the 540 sq ft one. They brought them to the fair. Now if you had someone willing to rent land latch onto the plumbing and pay apercentage of the bill. Some of them are a pretty tight fit. So you would need to find out what sa footage would you be comfortable with

 

[usnuzuloose]

Well, I have lived for a week in a 200 square foot cruise ship cabin with my family of 4, but not sure even with just me I would find the roughly 186 square feet most of these tiny homes are to be enough space. Some of the bigger 5th wheel trailers are 400 square feet, and they are cheaper to buy.
Local laws are all over the place, from no restrictions, to rules some places that say they can only stay in the same location for 30 days, the type of sewer, water and electrical connections they can have.

I saw them up in Auburn. Maybe they will be brought to our home show.

 

[tvguy]

I saw them up in Auburn. Maybe they will be brought to our home show.

The line was took long to look at the ones at the Auburn home show. The one they were giving away they brought by my work, tiny is an understatement.

 

[usnuzuloose]

The line was took long to look at the ones at the Auburn home show. The one they were giving away they brought by my work, tiny is an understatement.

We hit them before the lines got to long. DH liked that one that looked like , I think it was medicine one or something like that, and the longest line was the 540 one and it went fast.The one they gave away was really small. But you know a lot of people we talked with were thinking about making purchases.

 

[tvguy]

We hit them before the lines got to long. DH liked that one that looked like , I think it was medicine one or something like that, and the longest line was the 540 one and it went fast.The one they gave away was really small. But you know a lot of people we talked with were thinking about making purchases.

My house buying days are long over. Been in ours 33 years, one and done. It was our first home, the house we raised our kids in, and it will be our retirement home in a few years, good Lord willing. I come by it honestly. My parents owned their first home 10 years and their second for 53 years. My in-laws have been in theirs 43 years, and it was their first and last home too. FIL was career Air Force and has base housing until he retired.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Like I said the 540 would be fine. We rent, not own. So I do enjoy more space. Just don't enjoy neighbors at times....

 

[DawnM]

Nope, not interested. Not even remotely. I don't even want a trailer for weekends. Really. I don't.

I think it would be more economical and practical to buy a townhouse or small house in most areas.

There was one episode of Tiny House Nation where the family of 6 ended up buying a 600 sq. ft. home instead of a Tiny house. Even that would be too small with 6 people IMO.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We are looking at them for some land we have, but not to live in permanently. Maybe when the kids are older and have a place of their own.
I am not interested in a compost toilet, this is what I will get.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Laveo-Dr...ht-Electric-Waterless-Toilet-DF1045/205205828

I have to be honest the whole toilet situation is really throwing me off unless I could find some kind of way around this side of it. Can't help but wonder why they can't have an option to use what they do with RVs? I wonder if septic can be hooked up

 

[LuvOrlando]

They are the new "thing."

In a few years there will be a new new thing. My community has pretty much outlawed them. Personally, if I were a bachelor, fine. If I had to share with someone else, no.

Portland oregon has a tiny house hotel....maybe, before you commit, stay in one of their offerings for a week or so....money well spent -- and there could be some other tiny hotels, in that case, google is certainly your friend.

But, again, not for me. I spent two weeks living in a converted brothel when I worked for the US Forest Service in the late 1970s. Of course, that was more a rooming house situation. Oh, the stories I can tell from that....

So many communities outlaw it and it's so weird to me. Not to get too serious but with homelessness such a big problem I think think that municipalities should broaden their horizons a little bit to accommodate all the ways people want to live. If someone is ok with living in a mini home or even a shed it I'm all for it... maybe the laws will catch up with need soon otherwise where is everyone going to go?

I think the tiny hotel thing sounds fun, with they were hobbit style

Bet you have a ton of fun stories, I've never lived in any sort of commune but I would think it would get a little wonky after people shed inhibitions lol

 

[LuvOrlando]

Nope, not interested. Not even remotely. I don't even want a trailer for weekends. Really. I don't.

I think it would be more economical and practical to buy a townhouse or small house in most areas.

There was one episode of Tiny House Nation where the family of 6 ended up buying a 600 sq. ft. home instead of a Tiny house. Even that would be too small with 6 people IMO.

Ok thanks I guess.

I think that these are not permanent so it might allow people to reduce taxes... hmmm, come to think of it that's probably why they're not legal:/

 

[teacup princess]

If it was just for a year I'd pick up a cheap used camper and live in a long term spot at an Rv resort on the cheap. I'd also consider looking into purchAsing a 50's style bungalo type home on a small lot in town. They seem to go really cheap because it's a small footprint and an outdated style of house. I've seen them go as cheap as $15000 where I live.

 

[aprilchem]

I really don't understand the tiny house thing. If people want to live cheap, why not by a trailer home? I know they aren't glamorous or a particularly good investment, but they are way, way cheaper than the tiny homes I see people buying on HGTV.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I didn't know what these were so looked them up. Very cute! I read a small number are catching on in the UK.

I would prefer to convert an attic or basement and rent it out for a while to get some cash or put a tiny house in the back yard and rent out my home for a year.