The Little Things That Count: Reassessing the Value of Tiny Home Living
Finding Solace in Tiny Homes
Few things have had a heyday as big as the tiny home. In the mid-2010s, these pint-sized houses started popping up everywhere; gracing magazines, commanding staggering social media followings and spawning at least five reality TV shows. (Several on the same four-letter network.)
A decade later, the novelty has worn off, but the hype lives on. In 2023, the global market for tiny homes — typically defined as units less than 400 square feet — was valued at $5.61 billion. By 2031, the company predicts, that number will reach $7.38 billion.
In a market with stubbornly high home prices, the allure makes sense: Affordable, quick to build and requiring little furniture or decor, tiny homes seem like the perfect fit for many cash-strapped buyers.
Finding Space
Many tiny homeowners buy their properties from specialty builders, who often build the homes off-site and then ship them directly. Others build their homes from scratch themselves. Either way, the cost is pretty low — especially compared to traditional single-family homes.
The exact total depends on the size, but most pay between $30,000 and $70,000 for a tiny home, according to home contracting platform Angi. (The current median home price, on the other hand, is over $412,000).
But buying a tiny home is only the first step. After that, buyers need to cross their first hurdle: Where to place the property.
Finding Privacy
Securing a physical space for the home is one item in a long list of obstacles many tiny home owners face. Another big challenge is the limited space these homes come with. While it’s an inherent — and expected — part of tiny home living, owners say it also has a pretty steep learning curve.
For one, there’s no privacy — at least for those who share the space with someone else. When living in a tiny home, carrying on private phone conversations is near impossible. And getting alone time — even in the bathroom? That’s a thing of the past.
Less Items, More Work
One of the perks of tiny home living is that you don’t need to buy tons of furniture or home decor. And while that can save you cash, it has its drawbacks, too.
Dyer’s home, for instance, didn’t have room for a kitchen table, making for a “depressing” dinner time. “We ended up eating on the couch for the first year,” she says.
It also requires a lot of upkeep. Though minimal storage space and few belongings mean the home is easy to clean, it also means cleaning almost constantly.
When It’s Worth the Hassle
Despite the unique headaches that come with it, some tiny home residents say the lifestyle is worth it.
For Comperda, tiny living has allowed her to save up “a lot of money” over the years — almost enough for a down payment on a property she’s been eyeing, and though Dyer has since moved into a traditional home in Evansville, Indiana, she says she’d “definitely” live tiny again if given the opportunity.
