Taking "Downsizing" to a Whole New Level

The Small House Movement Believes Less is More, Especially in a Recession

(CBS)  At only 120 square feet, two is company - and three is really a crowd. The house is too small to meet building code minimum standards. It's a vehicle, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod.

But it's got all the comforts of home, and plenty of storage space.

Shafer is at the forefront of the "small house" movement - a school of thought that less is more, especially in a recession.

"This house, all decked out with plumbing and heating would be about $50,000 if we built it for you," Shafter said. "But if you built it yourself, it would be about $20,000."

According to the U.S. Census, the average single family house in America is a little more than 2,500 square feet, meaning you could fit 21 of these into one of those.

"I think they're amazing," said Elizabeth Randol, a possible buyer.

Right now, Randol lives in 1,500 square feet, but she finds tiny very tempting.

"You buy the house, no mortgage and no utility bills," Randol said. "So any money that you make goes right into your pocket."

And she's not alone. Shafer's been criss-crossing the country with his tiny house in tow, teaching workshops on the art of building small.

When he pulls over and posts where he is on his Web page, the small house draws large crowds.

Like the houses themselves, sales are still small. But interest is growing, and Shafer is finding a new use for an old sales pitch: good things come in small packages.

[lloydbest1]

The idea is a good start. I agree, though, that $50000 is too much. I also don't believe you need go that small to be minimalist. 300 sq. ft. or the size of a standard master suite in today's glandular giant homes is more than twice as big of Jay Shafter's featured broom closet and is still plenty small enough.
The advantages of "living small" go beyond being easy on the budget; it is a possible way out of the Malthusian trap we've sprung on ourselves. If it does nothing else, Shafter's scheme will launch other ideas that may work better.

[mgkonyx]

$50,000 seems like a hellava lot of money for 120 sq.ft. Katrina cottages are about 300 - 500 sq. ft. and cost about $35,000 depending on the extras. They come pre-fab and take about a week to put up.

My husband and I lived in a 845 sq foot place for nearly 20 years. It was pretty crowded with 3 cats and 3 Shelties and an Irish Wolfhound. We learned, however, how to not keep stuff that had little or no use to us.

[April_B]

Our blog is http://agreatleapinthedark.blogspot.com for anyone who is interested in how this can be done. Specifically, http://tinyurl.com/lbg5kq.

[April_B]

My husband and I are building our tiny house in rural Idaho and although I appreciate Jay Shafer's intent to help Americans see that we don't all need to live in oversized McMansions, the prices he suggests for these houses are unbelievable. We estimate we've spent only about $5,000 on construction so far, saving money by doing all of the work ourselves and using recycled/salvaged/bartered materials whenever we can. It can be done for MUCH less than $20,000. And $50,000 seems like a downright rip-off to me. How is that accessible to your average American?

To the people who think tiny house living is "a nightmare." Our house is 12'x20' (outside dimensions), making it a little less than 200 sq. ft. on the inside. With 2 adults and 2 pit bulls we get along just fine in this amount of space. We also don't have a mortgage, we don't have astronomical utility bills (wood stove heat and solar panel lights), we don't have to stress about what would happen if we lost our jobs (since we only work part-time anyway), and we have the satisfaction of knowing that we built our house ourselves (and didn't get divorced in the process)! Of course it's not all puppies and rainbows, but our goal in doing this is to spend more quality time together instead of commutes of 45 minutes and 10-hour work days (which is what we were doing in the city) just to pay the rent and keep our heads above water. Anyway, we're happy with our decision and encourage everyone who is interested to research the possibilities. It doesn't have to be as extreme as this; just taking a look at what you really "need" is a worthwhile exercise.

[sam-kiley]

coucou,
moi je les trouve trés biens ces maisons "ambulantes, c'est mieux que d'etre dans la rue, et en plus elles ne sont pas a la portée de tous,
si l'on considére les gens qui dorment dans la rue et n'ayant pour seul toit que le ciel....
en attendant des jours meilleurs, la recession passera ya pas de raison..au revoir

[Ace22257]

If you're in the path of a tornado it isn't going to make one bit of difference what type of structure that you're in...the funnel cloud will wipe the slate clean. These homes aren't designed for families or people with children. For one or two people these are great. You'd save a bundle on heating and utility costs and you'd also be helping to save "land" space. Human's are killing off animal species because we're gobbling up their natural habitats. There's a lot of positives that come with a house of this size. I could live quite comfortably in one of them if it had a full basement. My current house is 926' with a full basement, more than enough space for one person. Great idea here...lets see some of you big home construction companies pick up on the idea and start making whole communities of these types of homes......

[Hosheen]

I've lived in a 32' sailboat, a 25' sailboat and a 28' motor home. All of these cost less than $50K and were a lot more practical.

Living small is good, but this is overpriced, undersized, and a silly idea. Look around and see what can be bought for even the $20K.

Most Americans are horribly spoiled when it comes to houses. They should travel a little and learn how other live without consuming an inordinate amount of the planet's resources. 2500 sq feet is larger than the biggest house I ever owned and I rattled around in there.

[specialty8]

What happens when somebody takes a dump,everybody suffers.

[specialty8]

Al Gore will be proud. The "make more for Gore" tour is working. He can plug up another five heated swimming pools if this works out.

[John_Merritt]

This would be a neat little house if there were no building codes that prohibited you from planting it on a piece of land. County codes might be a little less stringent, but no way a city is going to allow this except in very rural small towns, MAYBE.

[nojoy01]

Is this the ultimate "starter home"?

[nojoy01]

Here's another thought for you. Just checked out the size of my bedroom. By counting ceiling tiles it's about 12x12. 144 sq. ft. So look around your bedroom & imagine that you have built the cabinets to hold your clothes, dishes, entertainment goodies, books, stove, refrigerator, washer-dryer, etc. etc., & ask yourself two questions. Do you really want to sleep in the kind of bed that would work/fit into this system? Are you really anal enough to live by the old "a place for everything and everything in it's place" adage. And where will you put the trashcan? OK, that's three questions. Of course you CAN eliminate much of the "stuff" that populates a normal sized house. Always eating out gets rid of the dishes, stove, refrigerator (no, wait, need refrigerator for beer) and using laundromats gets rid of washer-dryer & storage for detergent, fabric softener, etc. Belonging to a health club will give you a place to shower/shave every day so you won't need shower/hot water heater/ running water. (with a porta potty type device you also won't need any running water, but does present other, interesting, disposal problems) And all of this luxury for only $20,000. (build it yourself). :) Being an "old fart" with a lifetime accumulation of "stuff" that means something to me but probably would look like "junk" to anyone else I think I'll pass. Now, if I were 18 or 20 again & could figure out where to get 20 grand, this might have possibilities. :)

[longtree-2009]

seems like a little house trailer without wheels. most people are pack rats so in no time, the little house will have no room. people will have to build adjoining little houses or sheds for storage. you're in trouble if you have children after you buy the little house. 120 sq feet is enough if one is old, or disabled, and can't get around much. imagine cabin fever will set in and create mental health problems in people.

[incog-nito]

Why is this even news? There are companies that make prefab homes that will sell you a house right now (minus land, of course) for about $20K, and that's for 500 sq. ft. And you don't even have to build it yourself. This guy is trying to sell people a crock of sh*t.

[babooph]

If you can travel away in winter,or have it in a mild climate ,it is great,zoning will try & stop you,but with new tech ,it can be put in the Boondoks,but where would one work ?

[John_Merritt]

Lake or hunting cabin for sure. Another way for a person to make money in this environment. Good luck if you can find people that can live small, because there is NO room for extra's. For 50k you can get a whole lot of travel trailer, so the trade off is neglible. Don't see it becoming too popular because Americans are adverse to change and this accomodation is more than change, its radical. I have seen tree houses bigger than that.

[jetranger7]

Most of those really thinking about this, are probably thinking of using it for a lake cabin or some kind of little play house in their back yard,, their just not telling you that,,, of course than, theres always some dumy, that'll want to add on to it with a 10 car garage, swimming pool, decks lofts, etc, and so much for the theory,,,

[howbizarre]

$50,000 for 120 square feet??? That won't work in the midwest. Waaaay to expensive for the size. In my town you can find 800 square foot homes for $75,000.

[skeezix06]

We're in an unacknowledged depression, but a depression all the same.

Small houses may make sense for some but based on family history the feeling of deprivation due to depression can cause a person to become a hoarder. Hoarding and 6' x 8' houses don't go together very well. And that's not even going into the dangers of finding oneself in the path of a tornado in one of those.

[rational_1]

Might work for some but the thought of being stuck in that house with my five and seven year-old boys makes me shudder! LOL

[the_majesty]

Obama should buy one of these for his brother that lives in a hut.
Plus send him a few dollars.

[aChangeOfIdeas]

thesevenveils: the difference is, the trailer is way bigger. With a proper foundation, this little house might be safer though.