I built my $20k tiny home in six months - people praise 'great use of space' (2024)

A WOMAN explained how her 250-square-foot tiny home was built for just $20,000 - and it all started with an old trailer as the foundation.

As home prices remain high, many people have turned to tiny homes as an affordable option.

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Sarah explained in a Reddit post how she was able to build the tiny home of her dreams on a tight budget.

In the r/TinyHomes subreddit, she shared a photo of the tiny home on wheels, which features a lofted bedroom and a spacious living room with a sectional couch.

There is a full kitchen, bathroom, and ceiling fan to help keep things cool.

She said it was a spur-of-the-moment thing and decided to build the home after finding the Craigslist trailer for $700.

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"I traveled a few hours to pick it up. I had to get a title and then sand it down and repaint it before I could start building. That took a few months," she wrote.

"I’m not gonna lie. My blood, sweat, and tears went into this. I would wait quite a few years before I tried this again."

"I was in the best shape of my life after that! All of my free time was spent working on the house, I gave up my personal life for that time, but it was worth it."

Sarah was renting a house at the time, and the deadline to either renew the lease or move out was approaching.

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She said the situation was "quite the motivator" to get her to finish building on time.

"I had help putting up some of the larger walls and other heavy lifting. I hired an electrician because I didn’t have the time to figure out how that works," she said.

Sarah also added it is imperative to understand your own skill level and what you’re capable of.

We turned our ugly garage into a tiny home for our daughter, 24 - she gets independence but she's nearby if she needs us

Since she was good at building or fixing things, usually on a smaller scale, Sarah wasn't too afraid to mess up.

"Do a lot of research, read a lot of blogs, and watch a lot of DIY videos. If you’ve never built anything, I’m not sure starting out building a tiny house is the best choice, but if you put in the time and energy, who am I to say?"

She insulated the floor, walls, and ceiling to keep the heat out during the summer and keep things toasty inside during winter.

There is also a split-system heating and cooling unit with a thermostat to control everything easily.

Despite being handy her whole life, Sarah did say there were a few hiccups in the building process.

"Buying used items and not researching the pros and cons, or issues to look for. Specifically the windows. I should have done my research first because I had quite a few leaks and a heck of a time trying to figure out why," she said.

Once construction was done, she took the home to an RV park in Texas and has been enjoying life.

Fellow Reddit users praised Sarah's design and hard work, saying the home had a "great use of space."

"Really nice! 20K? You need to host a tiny home-build TV show! Ditch that desk job and be a TV star!" replied one person.

"That takes effort and elbow grease, man. Happy for you!" added another.

A third person said: "Beautiful! I also built my own 24' tiny! Just like you I tweaked some plans, watched a lot of YouTube and took the build step by step."

"Winter hit before I could completely finish so spring projects are waiting. Love seeing what determined women can do!"

INSTANT HOME

For those who aren't as handy as Sarah, they may want to consider buying a prefabricated tiny home.

What is a tiny home?

I built my $20k tiny home in six months - people praise 'great use of space' (9)

Typically, tiny homes are between 100 and 400 square feet, and very rarely exceeds 500 square feet.

For reference, the median size of a new, single-family home in 2021 was 2,273 square feet, reports Realtor.com.

Tiny homes first sprang into popularity after the 2008 financial crisis, when many people had lost their traditional homes or could no longer afford them.

The dwellings can cost as little as $15,000 if you plan on DIYing the project, but some can cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It's important to note that tiny houses aren't legal everywhere, and you should check with local ordinances before buying any supplies or land.

Amazonhasone for sale that is delivered flat and unfolds into a tiny home.

There are multiple sizes of theAMFOR tiny home ranging in price from $18,000 to $20,000.

The smallest is 400 square feet, which is still bigger than many tiny homes.

It has ample space for two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room.

"The kitchen will be equipped with cabinets and a sink, while the bathroom will have facilities such as a shower, a bathroom cabinet, and a toilet," the product description states.

"All doors, windows, flooring, internal wiring, switches, sockets, and drainage pipes will be installed within the house for convenient use."

The instructions recommended using four people for "safe installation" and claimed that the home could be set up in just 10 minutes.

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Another tiny home dweller broke down the costs of her two-story home that has a monthly rent of $1,400.

A couple shared how they were able to be mortgage-free after buying a "barndominium kit."

I built my $20k tiny home in six months - people praise 'great use of space' (2024)

FAQs

Do tiny houses appreciate in value? ›

Tiny homes do not always appreciate in value in the same way that traditional homes do. Tiny homes on wheels tend to be viewed as similar to a recreational vehicle, and therefore they see a depreciated value as the years pass. Even a stationary tiny home is unlikely to appreciate as quickly as a home does.

How long do people live in tiny houses? ›

There is no specific timeframe for how long people typically live in a tiny house, as it can vary depending on individual circ*mstances and preferences. However, many people who choose to downsize to a tiny house often find that it meets their needs for the long term. Next, they may even prefer it over a larger home.

Is it cheaper to buy a tiny home or build a tiny home? ›

The average cost of a tiny house is a reasonable $30,000 – $60,000, although they can cost as little as $8,000 or up to $150,000 depending on the amenities you choose to include. It's typically cheaper to build a tiny house than to buy one prebuilt, but don't get too caught up in the savings.

How much do the North Hollywood homeless tiny homes cost? ›

For the -3- Tiny Home Villages in North Hollywood with -219- homes and -425- beds constructed, Estimated Construction Cost per Bed is $50,124 ($36,809 at Alexandria Park; $65,783 at Chandler; and $60,047 at Whitsett West).

Are tiny houses hard to sell? ›

In the event that you want or need to sell your tiny home, finding a buyer won't be easy. Tiny homeownership has more barriers to entry than traditional homeownership -- there simply aren't as many people willing to live in 400 or fewer square feet.

What is the best foundation for a tiny house? ›

If your land has high groundwater, a crawl space foundation is a good choice. Also if you live in a dry climate or are building in an area where soil is compressed and hard to dig, installing a crawl space foundation can be a good option. A crawl space is basically a short basem*nt but generally above ground.

What are the problems with tiny homes? ›

Tiny house owners can struggle to regulate the temperature in their tiny houses, with many saying it gets too hot too fast. As a result, water builds up on the windows, walls, and furniture. Without the proper ventilation and cooling systems — like air conditioning units — a tiny house can quickly create harmful mold.

Do tiny houses make money? ›

Can you make money on tiny homes? As with any rental property, it is possible to make good money on tiny homes. However, this all depends on how you manage your finances. If you have a good mortgage on the property and have conducted all of the proper predictive analytics, you may be able to make a profit.

What is the cheapest tiny home you can buy? ›

For a more affordable option, DIY kits can range from $10,000 to $20,000 for a simple design. According to Rocket Homes, a stationary prefab tiny home can range anywhere from $35,000 to $68,000, while a mobile prefab tiny home averages between $60,000 to $80,000.

Is 900 sq ft considered a tiny house? ›

What are “Tiny” Homes? Any home that is 400 square feet or less is usually known as a tiny home; most tiny homes sit in the 100-250 sq ft range.

Where is the best place for a tiny home? ›

10 best places for tiny house living
RankStateLegality Rank
1Vermont1
2Kentucky1
3Arkansas1
4Maine1
6 more rows
Mar 8, 2024

Are tiny homes ridiculously expensive? ›

On average, a tiny home costs about $50,000. Comparing that against the average U.S. home sale price, which was nearly $298,000 in 2021, it's astounding how much a tiny house can significantly save you money. You'll find a broad range of price tags when researching common tiny house costs.

How much do people pay for a tiny house from tiny house nation? ›

Q: How much do tiny houses cost? Weisbarth: The most economical house we built was $40,000. There's a perception that you can build your own tiny house for $8,000 to $12,000, and while that may be possible, that requires doing the labor yourself and getting material donated.

How much does the Nomad tiny house cost? ›

How much does a Nomad tiny home cost? Fully equipped tiny homes built on a custom trailer start at $79,500.

Are tiny homes a depreciating asset? ›

A tiny home built on a trailer isn't real estate, even if you own the land that it's parked on. Tiny homes on wheels are personal property, and like other personal property — such as cars and RVs — they depreciate over time. Real estate, on the other hand, usually appreciates over time.

Is a tiny house an investment? ›

Tiny homes offer an affordable entry into real estate investment, but their potential for appreciation is contingent on several factors.

Do small houses appreciate in value? ›

It's easy to think that you should purchase as large of a home as you can afford, but this won't always give you the most bang for your buck. It may come as a surprise, but smaller houses tend to appreciate, or increase in value, faster than larger homes, making smaller homes good investments.

Do tiny homes actually save money? ›

In fact, 58% of people who live in tiny houses have about $11,200 more saved in the bank than the average American and 65% of them have no credit card debt. Living in a tiny home will dictate your spending habits because when you lack storage room, you are less apt to overspend.

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