It's time for Americans to start downsizing and it starts with smaller houses. (market, best)
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These aren't too much of a bad idea... I could never ever live in the 100 sq foot ones.. O_O..
However, looking at the "plans", I scrolled down to cottages. I clicked on what is the largest one "Enesti".At 2 bedrooms, 1 bath the estimated cost is $49,000 for 746 sqare feet. We currently live in a one bedroom apartment that's slightly over 800 sq feet and we feel fine
Anyway, back to my point... how quickly does the price of that estimated $49k shoot up? For example: I have to find SOME spot to build it... so how much will that cost? I'm assuming materials means just to build the house.. well, what about electricity and plumbing?
That 49k, depending on the state (ESPECIALLY NJ!!!) can easily turn into like.. an 80k for 750sq feet, That's just totally not worth it.
These homes are def much more suitable for rural people. Or the suburba/rural crowd. We would personally love to live in Nevada one day.. so I can see this being idea for out there.
Maybe.
EDIT: LOL!!! So on the site they have a cost estimator thing... well, it provided with a "how to guide" to just give you some basics on what the defaults of their homes usually are. Well, after inputting what they suggested..and selecting an area in NJ... after costs, materials, and labor.. my cost for an 842 sq ft 2 bedroom/1 bath home is..$129,241.00... I'm very much aware that it's an "estimate".. but still. The price is kinda ridiculous considering my parents have a 1 (or 1.5/2) acre property with about 1700sq feet....and they bought this home in 2001 for $149k... in NJ..
i think not extra space can be rented rooms. get rid of the junk and replace it with people.
get a smaller car, used, get rid of your gas guzzler. even small drops in consumption have a big affect on price.
It's kinda funny how I see so many people get 'a smaller car' to 'save money' when if they KEPT their car (I know you said used, but there's used and there's used) they would have avoided a car loan, paying for full coverage etc.
I hate gas prices... but it's going to have to get VERY high to make getting something other than my $2,500 truck 'cost effective'! (And then I wouldn't be able to DO anything with it!)
Even small amounts of math have a big effect on the REAL bottom line!
And I'll skip moving people into my house, thanks. At the moment I'm (unexpectedly) sharing a spartan 2 bedroom apartment with another guy as I help a buddy with his business for the rest of the month.
I have appreciated the many replies to this thread, especially people detailing the sizes of their houses and their experiences with small-house living.
My only request is that people also indicate where they live. In my experience, a small house in the tropics, where I can spend a good deal of time outdoors (under a patio roof, for example) is a lot different than being cooped up in a small house in the sub-Arctic where cabin fever is a very real experience.
For example, I would be hard-pressed again to live in a 500-ft2 house in Alaska, which I did one winter. In the tropics, that size might be big enough.
I came across this one was really liked the simplicity of it: Turtleback Nomadic Yurts Have to relocate? No problem! I know not everyone can appreciate a simplistic lifestyle but I surely could and have worked toward that for a number of years. I just love this house!
LOL I've always loved the "idea" of these tiny houses, and thought, "That would be great to live in when I'm in my "eating cat food because I have no 401k" retirement years...but when I used their calculator, it told me that I'd end up paying $96884 for their 461 sq ft Whidbey plan (roughly $650 per month when you add in taxes and insurance)...
The house I currently own is 1180 sq ft with a full basement not included in that footage, and a one car attached garage...that I paid $100500 for 2 years ago! Now granted, utilities would be a LOT cheaper, and so would property taxes for a smaller lot, but I don't really think that's worth the trade off!
Not sounding like such a good deal now, eh? If it were the actual $50k price as listed on the website, then sure, but add all the extras of the construction, it ceases to be a frugal deal.
LOL I've always loved the "idea" of these tiny houses, and thought, "That would be great to live in when I'm in my "eating cat food because I have no 401k" retirement years...but when I used their calculator, it told me that I'd end up paying $96884 for their 461 sq ft Whidbey plan (roughly $650 per month when you add in taxes and insurance)...
The house I currently own is 1180 sq ft with a full basement not included in that footage, and a one car attached garage...that I paid $100500 for 2 years ago! Now granted, utilities would be a LOT cheaper, and so would property taxes for a smaller lot, but I don't really think that's worth the trade off!
Not sounding like such a good deal now, eh? If it were the actual $50k price as listed on the website, then sure, but add all the extras of the construction, it ceases to be a frugal deal.
Exactly!
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