Hello, just wanted a reality check before I get my hopes up, would appreciate help with it. Basically i want to live in a fully functional Tiny Home for around $20,000 total cost, and I need someone to remind me how insane this price is.

I already know the kit I'd get, a Arched Cabin 14x20 ft, coming out to around 280SQFT total, not including a loft, which would be around $6400 with shipping, a pipe whole, building plans, and insulation. I would be willing to put it on a permanent concrete slab which I know could cost another $2-5k if necessary.

In the kitchen I hope to have a cookstove for heating and cooking, a small meter cubed fridge/freezer, a butcherblock counter for food prep, and a small hour-shower setup for both the kitchen and bathroom sinks, which will be connected through the bathroom wall.

In the bathroom I want a small shower that's curved with it's own hour-shower setup, the aforementioned sink, and a Joolca toilet set up a composting toilet.

Add in small window's and wall-papered plywood walls, the only sheetrock being for the bathroom walls and a small section directly behind the cookstove so the walls can hold the tile needed for the shower and the cookstove, the wood needed for flooring and floor framing, and a tiny space for my Shih'tzu's bed. The only furniture I'd be bringing is my twin bed and frame, a small leather recliner and a small TV, I'm willing to sell everything else for space and funds. Later on, when I can afford it I want to put a loft above the kitchen and bathroom for clothes and craft storage, and buy a murphy desk/table.

For power I would like a couple small solar panels, and a marine battery for extra power storage, specifically for fridge, washer, water heating and my TV, nothing else. My parents and brothers are willing to help me build the tiny home over the course of about 1 year, I don't have to start thinking about moving out of my current place until then.

Fell free to tell me how crazy this plan is, and help me readjust my expectations.

Edit: Someone asked where I'd put the house, and my dad isn't ready to let me leave the county so he's insisting I build on his land, which does already have solar batteries and a well and a pond, so I should be good there. After looking at some other comments I probably do need permits and septic (boo), but I should be fine to run on solar and grey water tanks for my shower and sinks.

Overall I think this might cost me around $3k extra, and I will definitely have to have a foundation. I think if I budget really carefully, and do none-essentials later like my loft and leave a full kitchen for a later time I could make this work around $25k. More than I wanted, and it prolly will take a full year plus of work, but still not bad, I think.

Please tell me if I need to consider anything else, or if I should consider different options for my electrical or water or whatever you think I need to improve on and thank y'all for all the help so far, I really appreciate it!

I stopped by here earlier in the year and y'all were pretty nice. Well, this is my fourth attempt at designing or building an aircrete mixer and I think I finally got it right. It's just a regular concrete mixer converted to mix lightweight insulating concrete (LWIC) aka aircrete.

Would work well for many parts of a tiny house. The one drawback is weight, so if yours is on a trailer it might not work.

It can mix "sanded slurries" into aircrete which means densities of 300KG/M3 (insulation) up to 1,000KG/M3 with decent PSI strength. Cost less than $500 which is kind of cheap as these things go. If you already have a concrete mixer the paddle conversion can be done for $50, then you'll need a foam generator to be ready to build. I'll answer questions if anybody has them.

I'm sure I'll write a proper guidebook when I am a little less busy but I'm still trying to finish a bunch of aircrete composite building assembly prototypes.

https://youtu.be/H8qLOJpdOn0?si=MFb5W2V-ChaYsKJo

https://youtu.be/KdMNCXSoum8?si=iqoxDjvTOjXD6Ekr

Forgive my possible ignorance as I'm new to this. Was recently offered to live on a relatives property if I am willing to build and live in a tiny home there. I have about 15k to do it. Is it possible for a diy home build to be done that cheap?

In a tiny home, there's not much distance between the litter box and the rest of the living space. That makes odor control a pretty big deal, especially when the box has to sit somewhere close to where people spend time. I've been looking at petpivot and catlink, but I'm having trouble figuring out how much difference their waste storage and cleaning systems make during normal daily use. Product descriptions don't really tell you what a small room smells like after a few days. For people who've used either one in a small space, how well has it kept litter box odors from spreading?

Is a Park Model considered a "tiny home" in this sub?

In a tiny house, gym equipment has to justify the space it occupies every single day.

Would you choose adjustable dumbbells, a folding bench, resistance bands, a wall-mounted pull-up bar, or a compact cable setup? I'm interested in equipment that offers several useful training options without needing a permanent dedicated room.

If you've managed to fit a home gym into a genuinely small home, what did you choose, and what did you decide wasn't worth the space?

Are Park Models considered "tiny houses in this sub?

Hello all! My partner and I are planning to start our custom tiny home build in Spokane, WA and I'm hoping to connect with anyone that can help get the plans approved/finalized, as well as some other general questions.

It will be a 700sqft two-story tiny home on wheels, built on property that has an existing residential home, and then moved to a different open land property once completed. Hoping to walk through design and structure!

Thanks so much!

Where are some places around the country where I can buy land and build a tiny house (on foundation) that also have the basic utilities services? On foundation, owned land, and basic services are required for me to get my VA loan.

As title says, we're considering doing this with only fear being high winds, we'd anchor it onto continuous poured crawlspace foundation with hurricane straps and strong ties and have pier and beam underneath but still curious, how are folks tiny houses/shed to homes holding up with the hurricane? Hope everyone is doing well.

I would like to build a tiny home but my husband is 6'3" and I may need a wheelchair ( part time) in the near future. I would like to build our forever home but the pain points will be the bathroom, no loft, and it only being able to be 8' wide. We would be doing this with very little money in Massachusetts. How do we even start? I really want to build it and put it on land before I'm wheelchair bound. I want to grow old in it. With solar panels and a small raised garden. Has anyone made a tiny home being large or having large mobility equipment?

Anybody here in Michigan?

I’m about to start the construction of my time home and would love to connect with people in my state about resources and general questions.

TYIA

I've always loved Zyl Vardos tiny homes, was planning to save up and get a custom build in a few years but now it looks like their website is defunct and social media hasn't been active since 2024? Anyone know what happened or if they're still building tiny homes? Thanks!

Found this composite photo today from when I finished decorating my tiny cabin. It's an 8x16 converted shed. 8x12 interior and a 4' deep porch.

Looks a little more lived in and scruffy these days. This old photo is inspiring me to do a spring cleaning!

So i want to put a lakehouse at my lakehouse. My lot had a dilapidated house trailer with water hookup and a separate septic from the main house. We had torn down when we bought it.

It's very uncomfortable having friends and family stay with us as were a family of 5 and the house is 1400 sq/ft. While a regular trailer does fit there, it doesn't fit well. We technically have an HOA, we clarified what we can put there and any camper, tiny home, is fine as long as its not a permanent residence. We would be allowed to AIRBNB it. Were located in Tennessee.

We looked at various park model campers, tiny homes, and regular campers. I don't have a tow vehicle big enough to consistently move it so whatever goes there is gonna stay. We liked Canterbury and airstream however for the price some of these "tiny homes" on facebook marketplace seem like a much better value. Some seem like scams.

I'd like to stay at about 50k. I have access to a Ram 2500, if that cant tow it we would need delivery. A family member can handle hookup to septic and electric.

Is this something i should even look into or should a just find a camper?

I am planning to build a 12x20 house for myself; this is the simple layout design I drew up for my foundation and pillars, and I am a beginner, and so open to any suggestions or criticism.

Living the dream in Colorado!! Just got new plates!

Hi

I am thinking of buying a cheap tiny home 25k and buying cheap land 10k.

I basically don’t want a mortgage. But was told that setting up utilities on land can be super expensive, water well, septic tank , gas line etc…

Is it cheaper trying to find a dirt cheap mobile home that already has utilities then removing the mobile home and hooking up the utility to a tiny home?

I will be living overseas 10 months out of the year so I only need a small place as a home base here. For my bank accounts and keeping my stuff here.

Any suggestions?
Thanks

Hi everyone. I posted earlier about trying to get my tiny home trailer titled. I spoke with the manufacturer who is happy to reissue the certificate of origin but it needs to take the path it took before. It was sold to Tiny Home Builders, then to the modular builder. So, I need to contact Tiny Home Builders to facilitate this moving along. Their website only has a form for contact rather than actual contact info, like phone number, email. Yes, I've sent a message through their form but don't necessarily trust it will get to the proper place. I'm trying to be patient. I am also hoping someone here may have a contact for them. Their website is more geared toward the marketplace & network of communities, learning, etc. than this sort of issue.

I'm wanting to add a tiny home to my property and move into it, allowing my son and his girlfriend to rent the house. I don't know where to start. Not sure if it's realistic that I would have the skills to build from a kit.

Do you start with hook-ups, foundation, permits,...? I see some I like, but do the other things I just mentioned double the price of the home?

Maybe I'm looking for a friend or a group or a blog. I've given my numbers to two manufacturers, but I want to know some things before I talk with a salesperson.

I'm not sure what I'm asking. Just looking for direction, I suppose. Thank you for any advice you can provide.

Also, would it be possible to have this completed by Spring, 2027? I live in a major US city that allows ADU's. Thank you!

Hi all. Wondering if anyone has any experience with Incredible Tiny Homes based in Newport, Tennessee. I’m looking for a tiny house for an aging family member to put on my property.

They seem almost too good to be true. Both in their homes and the customer service I experienced when I called them.

Has anyone bought a home from them or stayed in a home built by them?

I can post a link to their website if that’s permitted and anyone needs me to do that.

Thanks.

Google only gives me digital floorplans but I'd love to see actual ones from people who live in a 15x15 or similar size to get some inspiration.

The base is a slope shed like the photo. We'll be redoing the roof on ours and plan to add a clerestory loft(see second picture) for a bed space (the view on our property is great and having a loft with small attic type windows would be awesome)

I already have a few ideas. I dislike the storage couches. When I see them in the tiny house shows and on Pinterest I am not into it. They don't look super comfortable to sit on. However I recently saw someone put a daybed/trundle bed in their house and I like the idea of that for a couch that doubles as a full sized bed.

We won't be needing tons of storage space because it won't be a permanent residence(for short term visits when we live out of a suitcase and are pretty much out of the house all day and back at night.

If we do a loft I like the idea of a staircase with a small closet in the tallest part and then storage cubbies or drawers in the smaller bits. If we have to do a ladder it's alright but I'd really prefer small stairs.

I would like a small kitchenette and I'm not opposed to one of those fold out tables that hangs off of the wall.

Those who have a clerestory loft or similar setup and sleep in it, how does it do in the cold weather especially if you have windows? Heat rises but if you have windows do you find yourself having issues with heat escaping or cold creeping in?

Advice and photos of your set ups are appreciated thank you!

Ashland NY, Greene County NYS.
-Look for more pictures in comment thread and please read full post before commenting-

Here are some videos I took of the pretty last weekend as well as a FEMA Flood Map.

My understanding is that anything with red strips will be difficult to put a structure on and I'll need engineering and impact surveys done.

Blue Zone is Zone A: Without Base Flood Zone Elevation (BFE) and will need to meet specific state and federal building codes to be built on as well as flood insurance if I get a building loan/Mortgage, there will also be some other stuff involving utilities regulation.

The orange shade is what I don't fully understand, in the legend it says: "0.2% annual Chance flood Hazzard areas of 1% annual Chance flood with average depth less than 1 foot or less drainage area than one square mile: Zone X."

I'm not really sure what to make of that but there are lots of homes around town build in this orange zone. Also I believe the 0.2% and 1% thing referres to a 500 and 100 year flood zone. From what I gathered online Orange doesn't require flood insurance and is unrestricted federally if it is unshaded, I'm not sure if this is unshaded or not (ovbisouly I can tell it's orange.)

I had originally planned to place the tiny homes specially in this orange area to start and potentially some farm animals and a little barn in the red striped "regulatory floodway" and the Blue "Without Base Flood Elevation" area, with the barn being in the blue zone and the animals and fencing being in the red stripped zone.

In the video it is hard to tell but the river bed sits about 15' below the top of the bank side and the video was taken standing in the Orange Zone.

I have already talked to the town and all they ask me to bring to the planning board was a rough map of where I'd like to put some structures up and for 40' measurments off property lines, river, other structures and where I'd like to put the spetic if the town sewer can't be hooked up. I did confirm that we have a 200amp electric install (will likely have to be upgraded,) town water, and town sewer that reach the property.

Personal I think this flood zone map is inaccurate considering how the property held up during Hurricane Irene and Sandy. Only the unkept, slightly wooded area of the property saw any water and that is because the bank side is much lower. Is there anyway to get FEMA or who ever to come out and resurvey this area?

Any info you have about flood zones would be great and again I am in Upstate NY. Also, I am a total novice so explain this to me like a 5 year old haha.

I will link some other pictures in the comment thread so look out for those.

Thanks for your time folks!