More and more, faster and faster, tiny houses are being seen as solutions to tight inventories, tight land space, tight budgets, and as a relief housing mechanism for increasing urban density as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) of “granny flats” when tiny houses are placed on existing residential lots as second homes.
Here’s the latest on this growing housing market segment that’s on its way to branching out into every part of the country.
Kasita, an Austin-based company, manufactures innovative, high tech prefabricated tiny house designs to “…integrate technology in a way that makes living in them a ’user’ and simple habitation experience.” Those houses now cost #139,000. Kasita now has all the approvals to manufacture and sell its products in California and Nevada.
CEO Martyn Hoffman said, “It was a strategic decision to target those two states as those states have challenges similar to Texas, such as escalating land and housing costs.” With the recognition, Kasita earned this year (its prototype received the 2017 Austin AIA award and Fortune magazine named it as one of its “disruptors of 2017,” the company will focus on major metros in those two states in 2018…San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno.
As an alternative to traditional building materials, shipping container homes are beginning to pop up around the country as well and, like everything else, are even available to order on Amazon. From urban farm communities to off-the-grid getaways, shipping container homes can be ordered, delivered and assembled in 10 weeks. Sizes and prices range from 20’ X 8’ with 160 square feet of living space and 40’ X 8’ with 320 square feet of living space for between $35,000 – $$75,000.
Escape Village in Rice Lake, Wisconsin near Canoe Bay is stacking out the short-term stay market with their tiny homes on wheels to their larger one and two bedroom modern cabins. Escape houses have full sized appliances and bathrooms, hide-away TVs and ample windows. Utilities are in place and sites are specifically selected for the type of tiny house.
Escape’s Canoe Bay Traveler XL costs $90,000 and its Park Model costs $130,000. Additional costs include $350 – $600/monthly site costs that cover maintenance in and around each unit. Short-term stay rates range between $200 – $300/night.
Additional tiny house villages are opening in the Midwest and Oregon, getaway cabins are popping up in the Northeast, and Airstream resorts are opening in California.
