Really Tiny Houses

[Junglebetti78]

Love the idea of living in a small house in my backyard and renting the house!

Zoning in my area won't allow me to turn my house into a duplex; I wanted to rent out half of it and would have had _plenty_ of room for my family. :- /

[sonicsuns]

@Junglebetti78 sounds like a dumb zoning law. Hopefully you can find a way around it.

[Junglebetti78]

@sonicsuns I was told by an apologetic city employee that "our city just isn't ready for that yet". IMHO, it boils down to city council being unwilling to come up with set construction/modification requirements for people petitioning for a zoning variance to follow. I'm going to call at the same time next year and see if anything has changed, and consider a plausible plot for joining city council in order to stir things up a bit . . .

[sonicsuns]

@Junglebetti78 sounds like a plan. let me know how it all turns out.

[finehomemadewine]

@Junglebetti78I too want to build minimalistic house and of course I also found out it is not allowed (preposterous!!) and I found very simple solution to that: I just do not declare the house as a living house, but as a place of business, workshop or atelier :-).

[GQJeeper]

Those houses are so small, you have to go outside to change your mind...

[Thekozlowskis]

I really enjoyed listening to this.

[sonicsuns]

thank you

[carveawoodeneye]

4g network will be out @ the end of 2010 = high speed internet anywhere you get cell reception!! 40 to 60 bucks a mouth unlimited!!

[MrNeosoul99]

If you take this idea seriously enough and look at the practicalities. Some of the houses they build are cute, however if I was anybody, I'd buy the biggest one they have and that'd be still small. It's the low-impact, less materialistic, minimalism, movement. However, if you have less, what will you fill your life with? Is less really more? Be moderate otherwise you'll get cabin fever or something. I believe about 500 square feet for a house is more practical. :-)

[sonicsuns]

"However, if you have less, what will you fill? your life with?"

lol with activity, of course! I'd go and do stuff, most of it outside the house. And since a small house costs less, and takes less effort to maintain, I'd have more money and more time to spend on other stuff.

"you'll get cabin fever or something"

Only if you insist on staying inside the house at all times.

During college, I've been living in a dorm room. It's small, but it suits me. The same idea works with houses.

[Fire4FX]

Sounds likes someones had too much sugar!

[cdltpx]

Imagine you get one of these houses live in it save your money and buy your second home outright. You could build your second home yourself while you live in the owned house. Better yet you build a MDI dome home that uses 1/3 the energy of other houses fire proof, tornado proof hurricane proof you name it proof it is a great house that will last hundreds thousands of years. Debt is the enemy you have debt you are the slave. All you need has been built just acquire it.

[jkeelsnc]

It is a very good idea! Why people are married to big and MORE is beyond me. Too much expense and too much trouble.

[Gilmourist]

To be realistic, if you want to save space and have low taxes, buy a 1 bdrm condo, then consider buying some land, then consider the tiny-house for weekends.

[sonicsuns]

It's an idea.

[sniped101]

LOL @ the guy who builds his house in the back of the house he is renting out.. that is kinda cool :P.

[Evonne77]

that totally defeats the whole point of having one of these really.

[gyrcutie100]

wow u people r geeks

[FrigglesTheSapien]

at least they own houses..

[sniped101]

true. some people don't even own houses lol.

[Sherri119]

I currently live in a 2200 sq. ft. house and I'm really wanting to get out from under this mortgage. It's like a monkey on our backs. I think tiny houses are going to be the way to go. Take off the wheels and you can always add on without incurring more debt. All we owe on is our mortgage, but I'm ready to sell the farm, find some more rural acreage and go off the grid. Just makes so much sense.

[v7j7w7ard]

I''m feeling the same. When I look back over the past 30 years of homeownership, the most "stuck" I ever felt was when I was scared I could'nt take the house payment. The word "mortgage" means "deathgrip" in French.

[kipptumor]

You would be surprised how much junk in your place right now you could live without. I think these houses are the key to financial well being and would afford you a lot of free time. Especially if you were resourceful and had a few grand socked away to live off of. $6.00 to $10.00 a month for a gas bill isn't bad!

[will3482]

I just went through your excitement level, once you figure out how easy it is to do this and be happy it really changes your life. Me and my fiance are on the path to owning land and living off grid. Have learned lots, if you have any questions feel free to ask! Good luck on your quest!

[Dragoon206]

can get mobile internet via usb with a sim card, in the UK they do it as pay as you go so you wouldnt even need a monthly cost for it, well i would :P

[Membrane556]

One can buy a 600 to 800sq cabin/cottage kit often used for summer homes for around 21K and then go buy some cheap land out in the country for a few grand and have a lot more room.

[will3482]

You can spend a lot less then that on other structures that will make you just as happy. Check out yurt's if you like tiny houses.

[FatBird11]

They will make us pay, one way or another - if too many people were to do this.

[beermangary]

QuinnCassidy is right, you look and sound like Eric foreman from that 70s show. you are not as skinny or whinny though. i am a huge fan of the tiny house concept, i think it would be better if instead of a wood frame just buy a used steel shipping container. lots of people are building tiny homes out of shipping containers.

[supersvinet1]

hey buddy never mind the negativity from the posters. its like having a revelation. i'm danish and i just watched a microhouse on tube and they're pure genius. do your own and you're free from almost any commitment to any company

[Christopher711]

Heck , I am sure cableone wouldn't mind hooking up internet. what do they care as long as you pay your bill.

[docmomo1233]

gay

[kenbob15]

not that im one to critizize but as i was watching some things came to mind

1 you are gonna need plumbing and water which means underground pipes right?

2 you would have to have money to sustain although cheap you would have to have a job

3for me at least T.V. = internet for basic stimulant

4wouldent you get board?

5a house of that size would not be good if you are dateing or have a partner etc (dog)

i would be interested to see how the people living in these houses deal with these probs

[QuinnCassidy]

eric forman

[rajkimo]

I can't believe I didn't watch this video earlier. I love the concept. :)

I would have a problem though, if I lived in a tiny house. Books. Too much of 'em... :p

[bkastrinos]

Thanks for the video, and mentioning us Tortoise Shell Home in the intro.

To answer some of the posts. We manufacturer our homes in a 100% solar powered facility, space rented from Codding Enterprises in Rohnert Park California. Our most popular model the "Galapagos" utilizes a commercial grade steel frame that is comprised of 30-100% recycled steel, depending on the coil used. We try to keep our cost down, but 15-25 thousand is tough to beat in this economy.

[tomterahedrob]

Imade my sheds roof ,walls floor from hardwood pallets you get for free.

[Charles2337]

I would put one in my backyard just for fun and make it the ultimate entertainment home.

[asdffd]

Those are cool houses but they're only for rich folks- way overpriced for what they are. Just get a tipi or yurt.

[MustaphaIsBored]

I wonder about the wisdom of confusing frugal living with green living...

If you're "driving" this thing "into" the woods, a forest, etc, than you're impacting the existing ecology. You can also bet your bottom-dollar that there is nothing really green about the construction materials & methods either.

Simply put, this is just a "cute" & severely over-priced trailer house, perhaps for folks who get carried-away with fads...

Let's not even talk about re-sale values & depreciation.

[sonicsuns]

You said: "I wonder about the wisdom of confusing frugal living with green living"

I respond: Why, can't we do both?

You said: "If you're "driving" this thing "into" the woods, a forest, etc, than you're impacting the existing ecology".

I respond: Yeah, but it's better than the existing concept, which involves cutting down the forest to make room for new houses.

[sonicsuns]

You said: "You can also bet your bottom-dollar that there is nothing really green about the construction materials & methods either."

I respond: How would you know? And even if these particular houses are not eco-friendly, it's surely possible to design some that are.

The important thing is the *concept* of minimalist living. It's a good idea, if you ask me.

[MustaphaIsBored]

Well, if "green" is the underlying theme here, they're certainly being low-keyed & humble about it.

I could ask you about the "carbon footprint," etc, of the process that yields these houses & I could ask about the typical structural contents of recycled materials, etc, but you would of course not be privy to this sort of info & consequently, such questions would be pointless.

Put simply, these houses are "cute, over-priced & tiny trailers," & are likely riding a fad based trend.

[MustaphaIsBored]

The term/concept "minimalist" mean different things to different folks. Perhaps, to you it means utilizing minimal amount of (energy, physical) resources; whereas to another individual, it may mean a near-absence of content, furnishings, etc.

Some circumstances/definitions of "minimalism" would invariably lead to a "green" outcome, this would not hold true however, in all definitions of the term.

"Green" living is a "good idea," but "minimalist" living is simply a subjective choice.

[MustaphaIsBored]

"Frugal" does not necessarily equate "green," that was my point. I simply stated that we should not confuse "frugal" as being synonymous with "green."

Also, not all new house constructions lead to cutting down forest(s,) correct?

Most trees, in fact, fall prey for economic reasons (this house, being almost entirely constructed of wood, help to provide such a "reason,") & we need to look for viable alternatives to wood, if we are to actually do something about tree harvesting.

[toomanythings]

Trees aren't going to become extinct, forests are renewable and most wood in North America is from sources that are planting as fast as they're cutting down. It's a crop with a really long growing season. The deforestation of the South American rainforests is maybe what you're thinking of, but none of that wood is being used in housing construction in America.

There are some designers doing some neat things with concrete, straw, and cob.

[snowbunny667]

You are so cute and funny!  I am building a tiny house for myself and my dogs!

Your expressions and wording are very funny - you are a cutie!

[ClamLuvr]

It is a little funny how Jay tries to make his houses seem new and revolutionary. And people get caught up in the excitement of something "new". Wow, people can be so naive!

Try searching on the internet for "Atlas Mobile Home Museum" and check out the photos at that web site. The wooden travel trailers built between 1892 and 1925 look suspiciously like Jay's houses.

On the plus side, sonicsuns seems like a heckuva good kid. Maybe there is still hope for the next generation. Maybe.

[sonicsuns]

Thanks for the compliment!

And thanks for informing me about similar houses. The important thing is not the Tumbleweed houses themselves, but rather the ideas that they represent.

[ClamLuvr]

40-some thousand dollars for about 100 feet? No thanks. I built a 900 square foot house for $25,000. I'll admit some of the lumber was salvaged. But hey, we live in a throwaway society. It is easy to find high quality building materials if you look around a little. I also helped my brother build a 1200 square foot house with two car garage using all new materials for $120,000 for the house, land, well, and septic.

[kimmarie801]

Thank you Watthiman! Very informative and thoughtful of you to share this.

[Watthiman]

Sorry! These are about $450 per s/f not $650 as I typed. $450s/f is at the very top of high end home buildings. IMO, These are not anywhere near high end buildings. If anyone wants something like this, I can build you one for half the price as they charge. I've been building mt whole life.

[sonicsuns]

you should set up a competing company! Then I could buy a house from you. =)

Not that I have any money right now, but someday...

(And then I could make a video about it!)

[kimmarie801]

they don't say how much it costs to buy one

[Watthiman]

Get ready for this..about $650 a s/f. Typical construction might be $70-$100 for a new home. High end homes are built for as much as 200-400 s/f. I've never even heard of $650 a foot and I've been building houses my whole life.

BIENSI- 70 sq. ft. $34,997

XS-HOUSE- 75 sq. ft. $36,997

EPU- 100 sq. ft. $42,997

WEEBEE- 110 sq. ft. $45,997

LUBSY- 120 sq. ft. $46,997

TARLETON- 120 sq. ft. $46,997

[sonicsuns]

Yeah Watthian, they are expensive. I'm hoping (and expecting) someone to do something similar for a better price. I think the current price is mainly a function of rarity; how many companies are in the Tiny House Market? So this guy can afford to charge a lot.

[sonicsuns]

Depending on the model, its 35-140 thousand dollars.

[kimmarie801]

Thank you sonicsuns.

[Watthiman]

The problem is were to legally park these things. In most places you will not be able to park this on your own land and live in it. Cube vans and other freight vehicles can be converted to beautiful mobile homes and you can park them anywhere without suspicion. I guess I don't understand the market for this. Seems like a travel trailer that looks like a micro home. Why not just by an RV?

[Wooscary]

Great video. I love your enthusiasm! These houses are amazing.

[Watthiman]

Don't take this the wrong way but why are these "houses" amazing? It's an RV for God's sake!!!! and it's not a particularly well designed RV. What my father built us in our back yard, when I was a kid, is amazingly similar to this "house" only we called it a hut or fort back then.

[Wooscary]

Because they aren't made of brick and they look cool. I am not from a country that has a lot of RVs or Trailer Parks. We also tend to build houses from brick and concrete, so it is nice to see right wee houses made of wood. Why the anger at a perfectly simple positive comment?

[Watthiman]

There is no anger. I'm not angry in any way. I just found your description puzzling.

"Amazing" to me, describes the earth, the sun life etc. Not a box made out of wood.

I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm. Sorry if I did.

[Samurai9]

These tiny houses are intriguing but really amount to a very small, primitive travel trailer or cabin. I have made a cabin out of a 20 foot long shipping container. I have about 130 sf and the total cost delivered was $2200. I built a wall inside the steel doors from a stud frame and three storm doors.

[rckrchck]

There's a few strawbale home communities that are off-grid, sustainable, inexpensive, green.... but we could use some more viable alternatives, especially in my area. Nice to see a young person that gets it - free time, extra money = freedom :)

[justaguy123456]

Jay Shafer's houses are cool. But they are very expensive at several hundred dollars per square foot. I designed and built a small cabin for the same amount he is charging just for plans.

[sonicsuns]

maybe you should make a competing company. Then I could buy a house from you. =)

[justaguy123456]

Thanks for the reply. That could be possible. My friend has a very successful business that builds storage buildings, play houses, and furniture. I am working on a system to mass produce components that can be shipped on a flatbed trailer and then quickly assembled into a low cost, energy efficient house. The details are secret for now. But maybe you will see it in a couple years. One thing is for sure, the housing industry needs to get out of the 19th century!!

[sonicsuns]

definitely.

Speaking of 21st century houses, have you heard of geodesic domes? A few companies are offering houses with that shape, because they're very efficient (because of the general hemisphere shape) and structurally sound (because they're made out of triangles).

I've always been interested in dome homes.

(Though naturally, you're biggest problem would be figuring out how to arrange furniture...)

[LutheranLucciola]

If you can build something on wheels, like the 120 footer he has, market it!

[utoober12]

live in these things for a few years, save a ton until you can either get a 200k house or build your own house and pay it off with the money saved (plus investing) - done.

Simplicity is the best - its nice to see others embracing this mindset.

[PaulHoweydotcom]

I like how you think, simplicity and more free time. More people need to be less concerned about "stuff" and put a higher value on time. Many families today have both parents working just to pay for a huge mortgage and their kids lose out. While you might not want to go quite that small with your house (300-400 sq' may be a little more practical for a tiny house), either way it's good to see a young person with his head on straight in this area. If you were my son, I would be very proud of you.

[Jibbie49]

The IDEA is that you don't stay in the Tumbleweed house all day long. You live a busy life, therefore you shower at a Gym where you workout, spend time at your profession, etc. and then come home to sleep, regroup and go again. Therefore, spending 1/2 of what you earn for housing is rather silly.

[xena3600]

We can build you a power grid,it would help to have the farm. Watch out for that second law of thermo, you'll be part of a small closed system.

[vitalfinds]

This is really interesting. I'm on their site right now. Realistically, they are mighty small, but I've noticed this trend in other forms also, such as stacked townhouses and retirement community homes.