Tiny Houses   

 

 As I said in my previous blog, having the ability to read is a fabulous gift to possess beacause you can read to learn about anything. I’ve been reading about the trendy tiny homes people are buying.

These tiny houses have been growing in popularity over the last decade. They are popping up around the country as more people decide to downsize their lives. While the structures often measure less than 300 square feet, this tiny house movement isn’t necessarily about sacrifice. With thoughtful, innovative designs, some homeowners have discovered a small house actually leads to a simpler yet fuller life, connecting them with family, friends, and nature while freeing them from mortgages, wastefulness, and an urge to keep up with the Joneses.

These tiny houses are part of a growing movement that promotes minimalist sustainable living. But that doesn’t mean tiny house dwellers have to sacrifice everything. Many designers have figured out innovative ways to make these homes amazingly well equipped.

With the financial crisis of 2007–08, the small house movement attracted more attention because it offered housing that was more affordable and ecologically friendly. Overall, however, it represents a very small part of real estate transactions. Only 1% of home buyers acquire houses of 1,000 square feet (93 m²) or less. These small houses are also used as accessory dwelling units to serve as additional on-property housing for aging relatives or returning children, as a home office, or as a guesthouse. Typical costs for these tiny homes are about $20,000 to $50,000 as of 2012

Tiny houses are a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in. The typical American home is around 1,900 square feet, whereas the typical small or tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. Tiny houses come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but they enable simpler living in a smaller, more efficient space.

People are joining this movement for many reasons, but the most popular reasons include environmental concerns, financial concerns, and the desire for more time and freedom. For most Americans 1/3 to 1/2 of their income is dedicated to the roof over their heads; this translates to 15 years of working over your lifetime just to pay for it, and because of it 76% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

The Cost of Buying a House Over 30 Years
Purchase Price for a Single Family Home	$290,00
Down Payment	$58,000
Principal	$232,000
[email protected]%=$291,000 (after tax, 33% tax bracket)	$195,000
Taxes and Insurance ($6,000/year	$180,000
Maintenance ($300/month)	$108,000
Major Repairs and Improvements	$300,000
Total Cost	$1,073,000

 As I said, you can learn about anything if you are able to read. Fisher Hill has a literacy program to help Spanish-speaking teens and adults learn to read in English.

Visit our website at www.Fisher-Hill.com to learn more about this English literacy program.