What Is a Tiny Home?

What are tiny houses? What is the tiny house trend? Why do individuals choose little homes and what does tiny living mean?

Basically, the trend toward tiny houses has become a social movement. People are deciding to downsize the space they live in, simplify, and live with less. Individuals are welcoming the small life philosophy and the flexibility that accompanies the tiny house lifestyle. The tiny house advancement is about more than merely staying in a small space (although, a cottage is certainly part of it).

How Much Does a Tiny Home Cost?

At Tiny Home Builders California a high-quality tiny home can cost anywhere from $75,000 to $180,000. However, the key thing to note when it comes to investing in a tiny home is that it can be created to match anyone’s lifestyle and budget.

The average cost on a luxurious tiny home ranges from $90,000 to $220,000. With this price range you are guaranteed longevity with your tiny house investment, and there’s affordable monthly payment rates to fulfill your dream.

Below are some key facts when it comes to a tiny home investment:

Good Investment

A tiny house lifestyle is a proven way to increase your savings, due to the fact that about 69% of people who own a tiny home will not have a mortgage. In fact, 55% of tiny homeowners have more savings than an average US resident, with a median of about $10,000 in the bank. In addition, 90% of tiny house owners have much less credit card debt, which results in having a better credit score.

Low Energy Expenses

Tiny homes are great on efficiencies of any kind, and that includes energy. The core of living in a small area is economical in terms of heating and cooling. With the advancement of technology there’s eco-friendly energy components you can include in your tiny house to provide power to your washing machine, stove, and other appliances.

Sum It All Up…

Tiny house living will absolutely save you money, but it will also cost you in some instances. To reap the maximum cost-efficient benefits of tiny house living, you’ve got to be willing to work around the cons that may come with it (i.e. space compared to a regular size home to host many guests). Overall, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to saving money, energy, and maintenance of the tiny house. There are even tiny homes that can sleep up to 6 people, which is a great size for what’s considered “tiny”.

What’s the Point of a Tiny Home?

Tiny houses are the centerpiece in a more comprehensive system to resolve problems, concerns, and complications of the present day. They provide a course to a smaller sized environmental blueprint, greater financial flexibility, and ultimately a self-dependent lifestyle. The little home movement allows you to live a life on your own terms.

 Residing in an extra minimalist way can produce more spare time, more money in your savings account, and an even more objective filled life.

 A tiny home is less complicated to maintain because the average tiny home size is substantially smaller. Imagine the time you’ll save keeping up with the typical tiny home square footage (simply 186 square feet). There is far more time spent on maintenance of a normal-sized home, that’s 12 times larger in the United States!

What is the price range of the models you have available?

We don’t carry inventory. We build houses on demand. We are General Contractors, and we offer custom builds.
Please check our website for starting prices for the various models we have available.
https://tinyhomebuilderscalifornia.com/models/

Would it be possible to have someone come to our property to give us an idea of the proper size and location that would be most suitable for our property?

For either of the two options below, you need to consult with the zoning department in your city and request information from them:
For Tiny Home on Wheels, you need to ask them if they would allow you to park one on your land and what is the minimum sq ft size they require.
For a Tiny House (Custom House) on a foundation, you need to ask them what is the minimum square footage they will allow you to build.
For Tiny Homes on Wheels, you just need a flat area on your lot the size of the Tiny House. You will also need to provide us with stub-outs with the utility conduits we can tap in to connect your Tiny House on Wheels.
For Tiny Homes of a Foundation, you will need to start working with the architect. The architect will inspect your land and tell you what is possible. The architect fees are approximately $3,500 to design the house plans for you. It includes structural and electrical calculations and the final architectural design. The architect will work with you until you are fully satisfied with the design.
Let us know when you are ready to start.

Is there any specific insurance I need to have for a tiny home or is it something I add to my current policy?

If you intend to put a Tiny House on Wheels on your property, you will need homeowners’ insurance. Adding it to your existing policy may be cheaper, but it depends if your insurance company allows you.
The same applies to your Custom Home on a foundation.

Does your company offer any type of financing?

We only offer financing for Tiny/Custom Homes on a foundation. The first step would be to start with a review of your credit standing. Next, we would process your loan application for a 401K loan, which includes a construction loan and a mortgage loan, all in one.

If not, are there any tiny home lenders available in Central California?

For Tiny Homes on Wheels, we recommend you request an RV loan from your personal bank. You will need to show proof to the bank about the location where you will park it.
Here is a website that offers RV Financing Loans https://www.rvfinancingdirect.com/

Are these tiny homes able to withstand strong winds?

Both our Tiny Homes on Wheels and Custom Homes on a foundation meet the California construction code. They will withstand strong winds. 

What is a tiny home?

Typical Tiny houses are single-family homes under 500 square feet, yet they can range from 100 sq ft to over 500 sq ft. 

A tiny house is a great way to downsize your life, simplify, and remove unnecessary stuff from your life. The charm of living in a tiny house is that you can live simpler with less clutter and have more time for what’s more important.

Tiny houses are the next big thing. We’re not talking about living in a small space, but a movement that advocates for downsizing your living space and simplifying your life. The tiny house movement has developed into a social media sensation embraced by bloggers and influencers.

What are the price ranges for tiny homes?

The answer depends on how big it is and how you want it to feel. A small trailer can cost as little as $16,000, while a high-end custom house can cost up to $150,000—and that doesn’t include the trailer or any land it sits on. Plus, you must factor in other peripheral costs such as permits, hookups, and supplies. That said, there are many tiny houses out there for less than $75,000: You have to avoid the add-ons.

The average tiny house cost falls within $30,000 – $95,000. They can cost as little as $16,000 or up to $150,000, depending on the features and finishes you choose to include. It’s frequently cheaper to build a tiny house than to buy one prebuilt.

What’s the purpose of having a tiny home?

Tiny houses are a response to the last few years of economic growth and high living costs. They offer you to live in a smaller footprint and have less wasted space. A more meaningful and inclusive discussion to talk about is what we need to be happy. and if the house has little wasted space. When ample personal debt and low consumer savings are the norms, living in a tiny home can offer the possibility of a life-changing lifestyle.

You can get it by living with a more focused intention. This is especially true for those dealing with housing insecurity and at risk of being homeless. This unique conscious-living lifestyle provides many lasting benefits for individuals and communities.

Tiny houses are famous because they offer a path to:

  • A smaller environmental footprint
  • Greater financial freedom
  • A self-sufficient life

The tiny home movement enables you to live a life on your own terms.

What’s the smallest size for homes placed in a given area? 

The smallest house sizes vary a lot between states, towns, and counties. Some cities require building new homes to have a least 1000 square feet.

Most US States have adopted building and zoning codes from the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC codes require building all homes on at least 320 square feet. The lowest square footage for a house is 120 square feet, and at least one room must be habitable. Habitable rooms meet other regulations, requiring a closet and at least one window. Other rooms, with a purpose other than sleeping, must have a minimum of 70 square feet. Bathrooms and kitchens don’t have the smallest floor requirements. All rooms must meet the minimum height ceiling heights of seven to eight feet tall.

Can I finance my tiny home project? 

Tiny homes are becoming more popular but can be challenging to finance. Unlike a traditional stick-built home, you can’t get a mortgage to finance a tiny house. You may be able to use one or more of these options: 

  • Recreational Vehicle – RV – Loan
  • Travel Trailer Loan
  • Personal Loan
  • Home Equity Loan
  • Pure Cash

When you have cash upfront is the best option but not always the most practical. If you happen to own another house where you’ve built up home equity, taking out a home equity loan would be your best option. You can invest the money you put into your home to help finance your tiny house. Recreational vehicle, travel, and trailer loans may be a good option, but they can be a bit harder to get and carry a high-interest rate.

Tiny Home Costs in California

If a tiny house makes more sense for our customers, then we will build it for them. The amount you invest in building a tiny house depends on the:

  • Type of home you want
  • Fittings and furnishings you wish to install
  • How smooth or elaborate the house layout plan is

among other requirements. 

It is ordinary for a tiny house in California to cost as low as $75,000 or as high as $220,000.

Is Tiny House Living in California for You?

The idea of owning and living in a tiny home yields excitement and anticipation in many. But the flip side is that you most likely have to change and scale down your usual way of living. Living in a smaller space means less storage space, less living room space, and less freedom if you want to remodel the house after some time. You may feel forced to adopt a somewhat minimalistic way of life.

If you have a problem adjusting, you might want to press pause and re-think things. If you have no problem making such drastic and abrupt changes, then yes, tiny house living may be suitable for you.

Would this be considered more of an RV/Camper or a mobile home?

more like a mobile home

What is the turnaround time for the Seashore 30’ Alta?

Approximately 6 months from the time you place the order

Are the water, power, and sewage hookups similar to that of an RV/Camper?

Yes, it comes with the hoses and electrical cord to connect to the utilities

What is the warranty like for your tiny homes?

We give you a 7 years warranty on our workmanship and materials. It doesn’t cover damage in transit when you move it from one place to another. It doesn’t cover damages from a natural disaster.
However, we build the Tiny Homes to meet the Florida construction code.

Where is the best place to find more information regarding your company and any reviews on the product?

We have several reviews of satisfied customers in our Google Business Profile, but Google cancelled our listing.
Let me see if I can find these testimonials.

Would we be able to meet anyone in person or over a zoom call for discussions about the house?

We can certainly do a Google Meet or Zoom

How does the payment process work?

We recommend our customers reach out to their local bank and request an RV loan

Is there a special permit or insurance needed after purchasing the house?

We suggest you buy RV insurance, and ensure you get full coverage against natural disasters