When it comes to home buying, Millennials are all about customization;cookie cutter houses don’t draw us in the way they did generations before. Alsounlike the generations prior, many Millennials are burdened by debt, makingthose dream homes unrealistic. How can you have the best of both worlds?
Enter tiny houses: an effective intersection between expensesand individual expression for Millennials looking to become homeowners. Here’sa closer look at some of the benefits of tiny homes and why they’re a greatchoice for young buyers.
Money, Money, Money
Most tiny homes cost somewhere between $25,000 and $80,000; a pretty penny, but compared to the $393,700 average sales price of new homes in April 2019, still appealing. As tiny homes become more commonplace, more tiny-home builders are cropping up, enabling you to choose a builder and price point that works best for you.
Another money saver? Utilities. No matter how you slice it,warming and cooling a home less than one sixth the size of an average home inthe US is going to cost you less. And that’s not considering even morecost-effective renewable resources, such as solar panels or a wind turbine – awin-win for you and the environment.
Something to keep in mind, though, is financing a tiny home can get complicated. Mortgages typically aren’t available for people looking to go tiny. However, that doesn’t mean you have to hand over $80,000 in cash to make your dream come true. There are alternatives to mortgages available for tiny houses, it just takes a bit of research.
Wellness Generation
A nickname for Millennials is the Wellness Generation, dueto the value we place on living healthier. Actively pursuing wellness is muchmore manageable within a tiny house.
Staples of tiny living, such as having less clutter and being more connected to nature, significantly improve mental health. People in tiny homes are likely resting better too, considering their bedrooms are pared down to the bare essentials, which is a proven contribution to better sleep.
The minimal maintenance and upkeep that comes with onlyhaving to manage a few hundred square feet also frees up your time forhealthier activities, such as meal prepping or exercise. There are only so manyhours in the day; wouldn’t you rather spend your time focusing on what youvalue most?
Lifestyle Expectations
Perhaps the most well-known aspect of tiny living is itrequires some serious downsizing. But more than just tossing out items andadopting a capsule wardrobe, it’s about adopting a new lifestyle — one that powerfullydraws in young home buyers with adventure and freedom.
It’s easier to travel, for starters, especially if your tinyhome is on wheels, allowing you to bring your lodging with you. Taking a jobacross the country? Even if your house isn’t portable, packing and uprootingyour life is much more efficient when you own fewer items.
Are you one of the Millennials eschewing marriage and kids? Tiny home living is ideal for the independent lifestyle so many 20- and 30-somethings have embraced.
There’s also the overall aesthetic of living tiny. Oursociety is driven by social media, and it’s easier than ever to connect withpeople all around the world. If you’re someone who finds yourself browsing Pinterestor searching for blogs that celebrate tiny, minimalist, or simple living, whynot adopt it? Become one of the influencers you appreciate and show others how disentanglinglife leads to happiness.
Millennials are experiencing the world with a uniqueperspective, and they’re placing value on things in a way different fromprevious generations. Tiny houses are a way for young buyers to emphasize whatis uniquely important to them while also achieving the more-traditional goal ofhomeownership.
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Kian Zozobrado
Kian Zozobrado joined Builders Digital Experience (BDX) in 2019 as a content writer. A graduate of Southwestern University with a degree in English, Kian is passionate about the written word and making connections. Outside of work, Kian also serves as president of the Board of Directors for the Writers' League of Texas.