Posted on 09/01/2011 7:17:13 AM PDT by SanFranDan
For those who are too broke to get on the housing ladder, an American firm is here to help.
Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company makes cute little homes that start from the bargain price of $99.
The cheapest home is a flat-pack to be built by the owner but, if you're not very handy, there are ready-made versions for $38,997.
The teeny homes, which start at just 65 square feet are kitted out with fully functioning kitchens, bathrooms complete with composting toilets and sleeping areas.
Some models even come on wheels.
As well as being environmentally friendly the homes are affordable for people on meagre incomes.
As the debt problem in the U.S. reaches tipping point Mr Shafer, who lives in one of his houses in Sebastapol, California, says that less can be more.
'People are starting to get a clue I think,' he said.
'People are starting to understand that excess is not necessarily a luxury. It can be a burden, a liability. People are living in 4,000 and 6,000 square foot debtors prisons.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Eh, I say more power to the guy for seeing a niche and filling it in a unique way. Yes, these houses are largely aimed at hippie greenie-weenie types, and I have a few of those as online acquaintances who are in love with these Tumbleweed houses. But if somebody wants to live in a glorified RV trailer without any room to turn around, hey, why not? That’s their call. And if this is the company I’m thinking of, they actually have a few house plans of a reasonable size, up around 800-1000 sf.
}:-)4
I had a builing like that once!
I called it, MY SHED!!!!
Where I come from we’d call ‘em either hunting cabins or weaning sheds.
Is that really true?
I'm not doubting you, just would like to be sure for future reference.
I'd like to make something like this for a deer camp on my twenty acres of woods.
6 ft. by 11 ft. ???
With a funtional bathroom and kitchen? Only if they are the same thing
Per Tumbleweed’s website, the plans start at $99 not the house. The smallest house kit is $16k.
I'm saving up for the motorhome model. ;o)
8’ x 8’ homes with “fully functioning kitchens, bathrooms complete with composting toilets and sleeping areas?” Must be real nice having the kitchen and sleeping area just a couple feet from the toilet.
I have no problem with folks CHOOSING to live this way.
I DO have a problem in that, with everything the left does, it ALWAYS goes from an option to mandatory, eventually.
I would love one as a little hunting cabin. Stick solar panels on the roof and a solar or turbine water pump and it would be pretty cool.
KOA Kamping Kabin with facilities.....
Instead of the Mother-in-law home, it’s the teenager pad for the backyard.
Isn’t that what the airlines do now?
I’ve been in deer blinds bigger than that.
I prefer a version with a garage...this is about the same as some of their homes:
http://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/the-charleston-carriage-house-8323/
800 sq ft for a one bedroom is fine. I’ve lived in 3 bedrooms with 1000 sq feet, but I would rather not...it was OK when young, but I prefer more room in my 50s. We’re thinking of building a 1000-1200 sq ft two bedroom on 2 acres, and then adding the garage linked above as a garage/guest house.
That’s how we think. Our house is much smaller than our garage which is 2,400 sq. ft. We have bigger additional storage. I don’t want to spend my life housecleaning a McMansion.
>>Not quite. The plans start from $99. The cost to build the houses looks to be around $20,000. <<
Thank for clarifying that. I was thinking that this would be a great addition to my niece’s house in Cleveland. Her kids could play in it and we would have a place to stay when we went down.
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