Buying a Tiny House Vs. Building a Tiny House

Something to consider before making the switch to living in a tiny house is how you want to obtain the home.

Do you want to move into an already existing home or build your own?  Each one of these options comes with their own set of perks.  At the end of the day, it comes down to what you need from a tiny house.

Here are some things to consider before settling on one option:

  • Buying a Tiny House

The popularity of owning a tiny home has grown significantly over the past few years.  This means that builders have gotten in on the ground floor of this amazing movement.  Specific search engines are now available to help you find your perfect tiny house.  Sites like Tiny Home Builders are a great resource for you.

A great perk for buying a tiny house is that the price is right.

Most tiny homes will run anywhere from 15-thousand to 40-thousand dollars.  There are many factors that go into the pricing of tiny houses that include:

  • Location
  • Upgrades
  • Water access
  • Rooms
  • Size
  • Yard 

If you have found a tiny house that hits all of your boxes while still being within your price range, consider yourself lucky!  There are even tiny home communities where you can live among like-minded people.  When it comes to buying a tiny house, you have options.

  • Building a Tiny House

Another option to consider before buying a tiny home is building your own.

This is the best way to ensure that you will get exactly what you need.  While it is easy to adapt to set surroundings, nothing beats making your own rules. 

This is especially true for larger families who need more specific measurements.

The first thing you will need to consider when building your own tiny house is where to live.  Once you have your dream location in mind, you then need to find a property that is zoned correctly for a tiny home.  From there the real fun starts.

From picking out eco-friendly appliances to finding that perfect bamboo flooring; your options are endless.

However, building a tiny house from scratch will be a larger financial investment.  Not to mention, you will need to find builders who are experienced in this medium. It typically takes 6-12 months to build a tiny house.

Building a tiny home can run anywhere from 20-thousand to 40-thousand dollars.  Also, much of these costs will be out-of-pocket.  While you still can obtain financing to build a home, you should expect to pay for many of your custom choices up front.

Zoning Permits Are Important

One of the biggest frustrations about building your tiny house is getting by all those pesky zoning restrictions.

It’s no secret that many areas have yet to get on board with the idea of smaller living.  The lack of information has led many places to consider tiny houses illegal.  This isn’t because they are unsafe to live in but because the state doesn’t know how to regulate them properly.

However, you shouldn’t let zoning restrictions from living your life.  If you are looking for creative ways to work with your particular area’s laws, check out this article about legal issues with tiny houses for some helpful tips.

Here are some things to consider when it comes to keeping your tiny house legal:

  • Location
  • The type of tiny house
  • If your tiny home will be on a trailer
  • Living in your home part-time

Legal issues are something that not all potential owners consider when purchasing their tiny home.

However, keeping your house up to code is an essential part of avoiding heartache.  A good way to make sure that all of your permits are in order is to consult help.  Along with your buying agent, you should look into seeking counsel from a real estate lawyer.  While this is an unforeseen cost, it can keep you from getting into some serious trouble.