The pandemic has made many Americans dream of more space and rush to find it. Sales of large homes are growing. The same goes for the little ones.
These villas typically measure no more than 350 square feet, or slightly larger than a standard hotel room. They are built mainly in suburban yards or converted garages on the west coast, where new laws designed to reduce homelessness in the region have spurred their construction.
But they are also for sale or rent in rural Maine and Vermont. They are emerging in Wyoming, Alaska, Georgia and Texas. Florida city officials have proposed zoning changes to allow them.
While tracking all of these mini-homes in the U.S. is difficult, listings that include tiny homes or other types of guest apartments have increased by an average of 8.6% per year over the past decade, according to a July study by Freddie Mac. Today , there are more than 1.4 million homes that share a lot with one of these units.
The high cost of housing is a factor. The average price paid for a home by a first-time buyer is about $ 266,500, according to the National Association of Realtors, which is out of reach for many younger owners. Small houses can be rented for approximately the price of a traditional apartment of the same size. For smallholders, the units generate income or serve as guest houses. Owners usually rent them out to college students or offer them to elderly family members so they can stay close.