Recently, small homes have been all over the news. People downsizing, going green, or switching to a more minimalistic lifestyle are some of the main reasons small homes (homes generally 400 square feet or fewer) have become all the rage. Should you consider one?

 

 

·  These smaller homes allow for more efficient energy use. You are lighting a smaller area as well as heating or cooler fewer square feet. Overall the amount of energy you use will be greatly reduced.

·  Green living is a almost a given when you switch to a tiny home. Living minimally forces you to be creative and efficient with waste. Many tiny home dwellers find it easy and convenient to compost more regularly, maintain vegetable and her gardens, and use reusable materials to avoid pileups in the small space.

·  Switching to a small house is a great way to save money in the long run. Rent and mortgages become non-existent, your bills will be minimal, and your financial flexibility has the potential to grow astronomically.

·  New designs allowing for more unique and versatile living arrangements are reinventing the stigma surrounding small homes. While a few years ago the idea of a small home came with the reputation of no functional space and an outdated way of living, now the homes can even be categorized as luxurious with the accommodations available.

 

 

·  If you have or are thinking of starting a family, now may not be the most opportune time to make a drastic change to a small home. With the limited space, raising children could prove more difficult. Not impossible but much harder.

·  Buying or renting land for your new home can be tricky and expensive. With zoning laws and high prices of land, this could end up being the most expensive and time-consuming part of your home transition.

·  If you are used to a spacious home, lavish lifestyle, or many material items, the adjustment to a more minimalist life can be hard and stressful to get used to.

·  The initial price of your tiny home can be more expensive to get exactly what you want to live comfortably. While some layouts and styles come at an incredibly cheap price (think just a few thousand dollars), to customize or add on unique features can crank that price up higher quickly.