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Exactly, that's why the tiny house movement is really more of a lifestyle statement than a true solution for affordable housing. It's a way to display a rejection of conspicuous consumerism and hoarding of necessary stuff., Which is kind of ironic considering that they are buying something to show their disdain for consumerism.
Anyway, even outside of the tiny house movement, there is a movement by a subset of wealthy Boomers and younger urbanites to eschew the bigger is better American dream for simple homes in urban centers.
One of the unique things about the movement is that tiny house owners often built their homes themselves, in some cases with reclaimed material, so it's a little different from buying a stock RV or mobile home off the lot.
Last edited by randomparent; 06-05-2014 at 03:30 PM..
What we need are watertight capsule homes that are buried underground, shatter proof, earthquake proof, just need some PVC vent pipe and elevator to take you down a shaft to your level, run some water, sewer and electic lines running along the tunnel hallway branching off to each unit, nice and cozy. Each one would be soundproof from the neighboring pods. Around here it stays at a constant 50 degrees when you get a few feet below ground level, so a very small amount of energy needed to get it up to room temp. Plus they don't have to be small, you could have a 5000 sq/ft unit made up of 5 giant pyrex jars connected together and have room for the whole family. You could have LCD screens hanging on the walls for windows, hooked up to cameras on the surface showing you "outside" conditions. After the excavation and installation of the infrastructure, the land above could become a park, or be used for rich peoples homes.
The homes are on trailers because they are below the minimum threshold for square footage in most municipalities, and it's the only way to make it work. Few tiny house owners have been successful in putting their home on a permanent foundation, although many would very much like to do so.
I know quite a number of people around here that have put mobile homes on permanent foundations. Only thing is, by the time you buy property, build a road, install a well and septic system and put in power, you've sunk well over $100k into the property. I'm not sure about trailer parks-do any let the residents actually buy the lot as opposed to rent? If so, I don't know why the owner wouldn't be able to put their trailer on a foundation.
I know quite a number of people around here that have put mobile homes on permanent foundations. Only thing is, by the time you buy property, build a road, install a well and septic system and put in power, you've sunk well over $100k into the property. I'm not sure about trailer parks-do any let the residents actually buy the lot as opposed to rent? If so, I don't know why the owner wouldn't be able to put their trailer on a foundation.
I know quite a number of people around here that have put mobile homes on permanent foundations. Only thing is, by the time you buy property, build a road, install a well and septic system and put in power, you've sunk well over $100k into the property. I'm not sure about trailer parks-do any let the residents actually buy the lot as opposed to rent? If so, I don't know why the owner wouldn't be able to put their trailer on a foundation.
Probably because a mobile home is large enough to meet the minimum square footage requirement, while the tiny house is not.
Last edited by randomparent; 06-05-2014 at 08:25 PM..
Toyman, do you not get that one of the central tenets of the movement is that the owners stick-build their own homes? That's part of the appeal, so it matters not a whit if the park model units are nice looking. It's not what these people want.
Last edited by randomparent; 06-05-2014 at 08:54 PM..
Toyman, do you not get that one of the central tenets of the movement is that the owners stick-build their own homes? That's part of the appeal, so it matters not a whit if the park model units are nice looking. It's not what these people want.
I didn't realize that owner built was a central tenant for the movement. So having a professional with construction experience build the house somehow disqualifies it as a "tiny home"? Don't get me wrong, I understand the appeal of building your own house, I've done it. I do wonder then, what codes are enforced and building permits secured to do this?
Toyman, do you not get that one of the central tenets of the movement is that the owners stick-build their own homes? That's part of the appeal, so it matters not a whit if the park model units are nice looking. It's not what these people want.
No it isn't. The central tenet is to "live simply in a small home".
I didn't realize that owner built was a central tenant for the movement. So having a professional with construction experience build the house somehow disqualifies it as a "tiny home"? Don't get me wrong, I understand the appeal of building your own house, I've done it. I do wonder then, what codes are enforced and building permits secured to do this?
Zoning could still be tuff.
I am not sure of the figures but, I know in our township there is a formula of living space to bedroom space.
What I don't know is it a percentage or, square footage.
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