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by David Chang, ChFC®, CLU® | Published on July 28, 2022

You can buy a tiny house for the same upfront cost of buying a home.

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The average sales price of a house in the U.S. has hit an all-time high of $507,800. Home prices have become more unaffordable, with the average upfront cost to buy a new home now at $43,874. This cost includes the down payment, the first monthly payment, and any closing costs. 

The average upfront cost varies widely depending on the region. Costs can be as high as $120,807 in San Francisco and as low as $26,930 in St. Louis. As a result, many people are beginning to opt for tiny homes. You can now buy a tiny home for just the same upfront cost of buying a traditional home, saving you on average hundreds of thousands of dollars that a traditional homeowner would later have to pay. 

The average size of a traditional home in the U.S. is 2,261 square feet. Tiny homes are typically homes that are less than 400 square feet. There is no set maximum size limit, but they rarely go above 500 square feet. 

The average cost of buying a tiny home is $45,000, almost the same amount as the average upfront cost of a new home in the U.S. The typical tiny home ranges from $30,000 to $60,000. They can be as low as $8,000 and as high as $150,000, based on the amenities you choose. The average cost of a tiny home costs $300 per square foot, double that of a traditional home of $150 per square foot. Tiny houses are still cheaper to build, though.

There are a number of financial benefits of owning a tiny home. In addition to costing just 10% of the average sales price of a traditional house, utility and maintenance costs, as well as property taxes, are much lower. There are also mental benefits of owning a tiny home. A minimalist lifestyle and less physical clutter can lead to a less stressful life. Since many tiny homes are built on wheels and can be transported easily, they offer greater freedom. Tiny homes are also more sustainable and better for the environment.

Tiny homes have less living and storage space, so you will have to reduce your possessions or get a storage unit. If you want to move to different states in your tiny home, you will have to ensure you understand the zoning codes of the area you want to be in. Traditional lenders typically do not offer mortgages on a tiny home. So finding a mortgage lender and also finding insurance can be more difficult, and you may have to use alternative financing. 

A tiny home can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars, but downsizing to one is a big step. Before you make the decision, understand the challenges you may face. A tiny home is more than just a smaller house, it is a lifestyle change.

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David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® is an award-winning entrepreneur and financial planner with over two decades of experience in the personal finance space. He is a graduate of West Point and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. He has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

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