WHEN it comes to buying a tiny home, there really is something for everyone.
As the industry expands with interest in downsizing and saving money at an all-time high, the purchase options have increased.
If you're looking to really invest and buy a place that is fully furnished and ready to go, there are countless companies that are selling beautiful homes for upwards of $80,000.
But for people who are on a tighter budget, there are cheaper tiny homes at a fraction of the price.
Of course, they won't be as plush as the more expensive models, and will need a lot of work done, yet for anyone going down this route, it's effectively a blank canvas that allows owners to get creative and style their new place in whatever way suits them.
Tiny homes expert Kari Cooper has been immersed in the lifestyle since 2011 and travels around the United States advising and talking about her own housing journey.
She spoke to The U.S. Sun at the Great American Tiny House show which rolled around to Jacksonville, Florida this weekend where the New Jersey native gave the crowds her pearls of wisdom when it comes to making that all-important change.
One of the most common questions Kari and her fellow experts are asked is about cost.
"The scene has developed so much in the last few years that now, you can get tiny houses now with pretty much everything you want," she told The U.S. Sun.
"You can go bare minimum or you can go $200,000 and have all the bells and whistles and get one of these tiny luxury places.
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"But even the ones which you can buy from Home Depot for like $2,000 are pretty good," Kari added.
Some retailers, meanwhile, have affordable lines of ready-built frames – like those on sale at 84 Lumber – which allow the owner to start from scratch if they so desire.
"I believe those ones are all two-by-four framing, so they're nice and solid. And then you can get in there and do whatever you want."
As more developers and construction companies join the party, advancements in materials and how the homes are built continue to improve the overall quality of homes, whatever the price point.
The introduction, for example, of structurally insulated panels (SIP), has helped accelerate the build process, saving time and money as well as making the house lighter which is handy if it's on wheels with plans to move somewhere else in the future.
"You can literally order your SIP panels, send the company your house plans and they cut everything exactly like it should fit, before sending it back," said Kari who perfected her downsizing skills by spending time in her yurt – which is basically a large tent-like structure.
"Now you've got your outside and your skin and your sheathing, and your insulation So it saves tons and weight too, and makes your whole build lighter if you're worried about towing it.
"The options these days really are endless."
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