Normal houses are a large investment of both your time and money. Between yard work, home repairs, and other necessary maintenance, you may find yourself longing for the simplicity of apartment living. However, there is an alternative.
With a tiny house, you can downsize the space you live and care for without sacrificing your independence. You can have it custom-made and place it wherever you want. All you need is a plot of land and some creativity.
For those without much creativity or extra funding, you can also move into a tiny house community. Here’s why you should consider selling your house and making the move.
What Makes a Tiny House?
There is no official definition for what makes a tiny house. They’re usually under 600 square feet but can be bigger. Some are built on foundations, while others are built on trailers and are mobile.
Whether a tiny house is built on a foundation or not depends on various factors, such as if a property is owned or rented. A tiny house may also be built in an already functional building that’s improved upon.
An advantage to a trailer tiny house is avoiding local building codes. Many municipalities require homes to be a certain size, but a tiny house on a trailer doesn’t count as a house.
Tiny house communities can comprise both homes on foundations and on trailers, depending on zoning laws.
Eco-Friendly House
One benefit to downsizing your home is switching to an eco-friendly house.
Tiny houses are very sustainable and more easily maintained than larger homes. As such, they’re much easier to make eco-friendly.
Instead of hooking up to a sewer system, you’ll likely expel all your excess water into the land around you. This provides a great opportunity to use eco-friendly detergents and soaps for all your cleaning needs. You can also set up a rainwater collection system if you’re living off the grid.
Because most tiny houses are custom made, you can opt for energy-efficient windows and energy-efficient appliances. Incorporate solar panels into your roof for lower energy bills.
Overall, there will be less space to use energy in. With multi-functional rooms, you won’t need lighting or air conditioning for different rooms in your house. Install a terrace onto your tiny house to give it more living space.
Moving Into a Tiny House Community
When looking into tiny house listings, consider where exactly you’re going to put it. If you don’t own any land or have a friend who’s willing to let you place your home down on their property, consider a tiny house community.
Before you decide on a community, though, compare your available options.
Most current communities operate much like RV parks. You pay monthly for a parking spot with hookups for water, electricity, and whatever else you may need. Some communities have amenities such as pools or walking trails.
You also need to look into what kind of local permits are required and whether or not your home will be protected by local laws.
Finally, choose whether you’re going to rent, buy, or park your home. Newbies to tiny houses can rent one in a community to see how they feel about the situation. Anyone already owning a tiny house can find a community with parking.
Tiny House Community Examples
Tiny house hunting means looking into the available options locally as well as communities outside your nearby area.
WeeCasa is one such tiny house community in Lyons, Colorado. Located in the mountains of Colorado, WeeCasa provides 22 tiny homes for nightly rental, making it perfect for a weekend getaway.
For those already comfortable with the prospect of living in a tiny house, Habitats Tiny Homes in the San Diego, California area offers 50 dwellings with private backyards. There’s edible landscaping, a farmer’s market, and energy-saving features built into each home.
In Florida, tiny houses on wheels need to double as towable recreational vehicles. A benefit of that classification is the availability of RV parks as booming tiny house communities.
North Carolina features a few tiny house listings such as The Village in Flat Rock, and Acony Bell in Mills River. The Village is tucked away in nature a half-hour from Asheville and has tons of amenities like a fitness center and yoga studio. Acony Bell Tiny Home Community has permanent occupancy and short-term vacation rentals available and is 25 minutes from Asheville.
How to Downsize Your Home
Downsizing from a traditional home to a tiny house can be a challenge. Even though the act of doing so is meant to free yourself of excessive attachments, you have to decide what is ultimately worth keeping.
First, try gradually reducing your living space by moving into a smaller home. If you’re moving into a tiny house community, try out the largest option they have and go from there.
If you have a lot of stuff to get rid of, try throwing a packing party or get rid of a single item every day. Get rid of whatever you know you don’t need or use, and go room by room.
Most importantly, stop buying new things unless they’re meant to replace something else. It’s an important habit to develop before moving into a smaller home where space is scarce.
When you feel ready to move into a tiny house, reach out to Wake County Home Buyers. We buy houses in Raleigh, NC in any condition for cash. There’s no need to worry about commissions, agents, or fees.
Downsize Your Home and Upgrade Your Style
Tiny homes are a great option for anyone with the savings and creativity to make their dream home. It can be as small as you want and function as a more eco-friendly house.
Joining a tiny house community is an alternative for anyone who is interested in downsizing but wants an easier transition. If you own a tiny home on wheels already, you can find a community to park it in. If not, you can rent or buy one.
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