Tiny House Communities | Are they realistic and what is their impact?

Tampa Bay Tiny Homes Model

There is not much resistance to the idea that there is both a need and a desire for smaller footprint home. That may mean less space, less financial overhead, less responsibility and less material possessions or a combination of all four. Any new movement that has yet to be proven has negative potential and positive potential. What you choose to see is primarily based on your perspective on the issues. Sure there will be issues that arise where tiny house communities are involved, as with any community. From my perspective the potential positive outcomes far outweigh the negative.

With a monthly rent of $1 per square foot, these dainty dwellings don’t break the bank.

Detroit is one city leading the way in permanent tiny house communities focused on low income housing. MNN reports that “Spanning two vacant blocks on Detroit’s northwest side, CCSS is building tiny houses — 25 of them, to be exact — as part of an innovative rent-to-buy housing program that gives students, seniors, the formerly homeless and other low-income Detroiters the chance to achieve something that may not otherwise be financially feasible: home ownership.” “Ranging between 250 and 400 square feet, the dwellings being built at this budding tiny home enclave are smaller than the average American home, no doubt, but they’re also fully kitted-out and include all the amenities — full bathrooms and kitchens along with the standard appliances and furnishings — that one would expect from a “normal”-sized residence. Complete with porches and/or back decks, they’re independent, functional living spaces … just with a dainty footprint.”

This type of option could greatly benefit those individuals who are seeking stability and growth in their lives that are not able to or not interested in a typical home mortgage. The rent to buy option has the potential to be a huge benefit for both renters/buyers and owners. Renters have the option to put rent towards ownership and owners benefit from rent collected when the home is not sold. While permanent living in these dwellings may not be for everyone the temporary housing solution they provide combined with the minimal financial commitment appears to fit a large market. At Tampa Bay Tiny Homes we are excited to see this type of option in St. Petersburg soon!

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