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Small House Movement
Source: Nicolás Boullosa, Flickr

Small House Movement

Source: Nicolás Boullosa, Flickr

Quick Takeaways

  • On average, a tiny home costs less than one-fifth what a traditional home would cost.
  • A tiny home uses about 7% of the energy that a traditional house does.
  • Incremental growth is expected to reach $5.8 billion over four years.

Source: Tiny House Statistics (iProperty Management, Jan. 25, 2021)

Does size matter? The current economic climate as well as a desire for a greener lifestyle has driven some Americans to examine how much space they really need. The small home movement is hardly a novel concept—just ask New Yorkers who often spend decades in studio apartments. The tiny homes market has growth potential, but tiny house experts say the movement must do a better job marketing to their target audience and rebranding.

Tiny houses are affordable and an option for sustainable housing. Smaller spaces require less materials to build and use less energy. Tiny houses also tend to be built with recycled materials, utilize natural lighting, and other sustainable finishes.

Zoning is a hurdle facing many tiny house owners. Zoning codes vary and can be confusing. Learn about planning, zoning and building tiny houses.

See References for more information.

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References

NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.

Home Sizes and Home B​uyers

Small House Movement Data, Nov. 2021

Source: Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (National Association of REALTORS®, 2021)

Small Home T​rends

Tiny Homes Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 (Technavio, Feb. 2021)

The tiny homes market size has the potential to grow by USD 3.33 billion during 2021-2025, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.31%. This report provides a detailed analysis of the market by product (mobile tiny homes and stationary tiny homes), geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA), and key vendors.

After A Year of Booming Tiny-House Sales, Experts Say the Movement Is at a Turning Point (Insider, Jan. 11, 2021)

In 2020, the tiny-house movement saw an increase in interest and a boom in sales thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Zack Giffin, the host of "Tiny House Nation," said the movement's main goal in 2021 is to convince more states and municipalities to legalize tiny houses across the country. To do that, experts say, the movement must market itself as a great option for singles and couples with no children, it must rebrand itself as an affordable housing option, and it must distance itself from RVs and camper vans.

More Than Half of Americans Said They Would Consider Living in a Tiny Home in a New Survey as the Lifestyle Increases in Popularity Amid the Pandemic (Insider, Dec. 12, 2020)

Over half of the respondents reported that they would consider living in a tiny home, and of those who are not yet homeowners, 86% said they would consider purchasing a tiny home as their first home. Of those surveyed, 72% said they would consider using a tiny home as an investment property.

The Green Impact

Could tiny homes be the adorable, affordable and sustainable housing that our planet needs? (TED, Sep. 10, 2021)

In recent decades, tiny homes have emerged globally as innovative, affordable–and quite frankly, adorable–housing options for aspiring homeowners. No longer just a trend for minimalists and millennials, tiny homes–which are typically under 400 square feet–stand out as a promising solution to the affordable housing crisis, the negative environmental impacts of development and emissions generated by powering large homes.

5 Eco-Friendly Tiny House Design Trends for 2021 (Pin-Up Houses, Mar. 15, 2021)

Trends include natural lighting, recycled materials, roof top solar hot water systems, composting toilets, and communities of tiny houses.

Are Tiny Houses Sustainable? Here's How They Can Save You Money and Energy (GreenMatters, Jan. 7, 2021)

Tiny homes are massive energy-savers, require less water, heat, and air. If your tiny home is outfitted with propane, your bill will likely be cheaper (and more sustainable) than natural gas. In general, tiny homes use less because they have less space, so in most utility bill cases, they are going to be cheaper than traditional-sized homes.

Zoning

“Can I Put a Tiny House on My Property?” What to Know So You Don’t Break the Law (realtor.com®, Nov. 14, 2021)

Covers some of the most common issues in planning, zoning, building, and living in a home that’s tiny.

Tiny-House Owners Must Adhere to Strict and Often Confusing Zoning Laws — Here's What You Need to Know (Insider, Jan. 4, 2021)

Some tiny-house owners across the US are struggling to find places to park their tiny houses legally because of strict and often confusing zoning codes. Most local governments have a minimum square-footage requirement, so tiny houses are too small to be considered for full-time living. Tiny houses are also considered RVs in the eyes of most municipalities, which means people are not allowed to live in them all year long.

FAQs About Building, Using, or Renting Out a Tiny House (NOLO, 2021)

Thinking about building a tiny house, or wondering how you can legally use it? Find out more here.

Websites

Tiny Houses (Tumbleweed Tiny House Co.)

Small House Society Resources (Small House Society)

Small Space Design Guide (HGTV)

Tiny House Listings

eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:

The Big Book of Small House Designs (eBook)

Building Today’s Green Home (eBook)

Choosing Green (eBook)

Compact Houses (Audiobook, eBook)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Building and Remodeling (eBook)

Green Building A to Z (eBook)

Green Building Products (eBook)

Greening Your Home (eBook)

Green Zone Living: 7 Steps to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Lifestyle (eBook)

Microshelters (eBook)

Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid (eBook, Audiobook)

Prefabulous + Sustainable (eBook, Audiobook)

Prefabulous World (eBook)

Small Houses of the Forties (eBook)

Tiny House Basics (eBook, Audiobook)

Tiny House Living (eBook)

Your Green Home (eBook)

Books, Videos, Research Reports & More

As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.

Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures (North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2015) TH 4955 D54

Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter: Scaling Back in the Century (Bolinas, CA: Shelter Publications, 2012) NA 7205 K34

Little House on a Small Planet: Simple Homes, Cozy Retreats, and Energy Efficient Possibilites (Guilford, CT: Lyons Press, 2006) NA 7205 Sa3

The Small House Book (Sebastopol, CA: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, 2009) NA 7533 S53

Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter (Bolinas, CA: Shelter Publications, 2012) NA 7205 K34

Tiny House Floor Plans: Over 200 Interior Designs for Tiny Houses (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012) NA 7205 J26

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