Photo: Erik Mclean

How big can a tiny house be and still be considered tiny?

Tiny homes are generally designated as being under 600 square feet, but the average size of a tiny house for sale in the U.S. is actually just 225 square feet, or roughly eight times smaller than a typical home, according to a new survey by Porch.com, a home services platform.

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12 of Beloved Community Village residents, formerly homeless people, are now live in the tiny-house community in Denver, Colorado. Demand for tiny homes, either stand-alone or backyard dwellings, rose significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, as some homeowners looked for additional space and others looked for more affordable space. Along with the rest of the housing market, however, the costs are rising. Tiny homes are generally designated as being under 600 square feet, but the average size of a tiny house for sale in the U.S. is actually just 225 square feet, or roughly eight times smaller than a typical home, according to a new survey by Porch.com, a home services platform. Nationally, the average cost of a tiny home is $52,000, 87% cheaper than the average price of a typical home. Buyers, however, are paying more per square foot on tiny homes, 62% more. "There is a lot of detail and complexity in connecting and integrating all the mains (electricity, sewage, heating) in a relatively small building," said Volodymyr Kupriyanov, a researcher at Porch.com. "All of the material and labor often require custom or specialty sizing, which all adds to additional cost of building and maintaining the tiny home." Also, local zoning laws for tiny homes can vary drastically state to state and even county to county, adding costs for some homeowners. In addition, utility hookups can be an expensive part of a tiny house. "If your house is located off-grid – meaning there's no access to utility sources – you may need to collect rainwater or dig a well, use solar panels and install a septic system. All of these will add to the cost of a tiny home build," added Kupriyanov. So where do you get the biggest bang for your buck on a tiny home? They're cheapest in North Dakota ($28,000) overall, but if you're going by square foot, homes in Arkansas are cheapest. Hawaii, which is one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S., also has the most expensive tiny real estate, with an average price tag over $149,000 or $490 per square foot. When it comes to tiny home affordability, North Dakota, New Hampshire and New Jersey rank at the top. Tiny homes there cost less than half the average annual household income. Tiny homes are least affordable in Hawaii, Montana and New Mexico. Potential buyers of tiny homes also need to consider the cost of insuring their tiny investments. And that differs by region as well.

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Why are people against tiny homes?

Tiny house owners can struggle to regulate the temperature in their tiny houses, with many saying it gets too hot too fast. As a result, water builds up on the windows, walls, and furniture. Without the proper ventilation and cooling systems — like air conditioning units — a tiny house can quickly create harmful mold.

insider.com - 26 disappointing photos that show the ugly truth of living in a tiny house

The unfinished tiny house. Courtesy of Lindsay Wood

In 2017, the Woods started working with Alpine Tiny Homes in Utah. The couple said the company was supposed to build a $90,000 tiny house for them. Halfway through the build, however, Lindsay said the company went out of business, leaving them with an unfinished tiny house. Brian Hawkins, who ran the sales and marketing for Alpine Tiny Homes, said he understands how the situation could be upsetting. "The situation surrounding Lindsay Wood's home is definitely a difficult one, and I completely understand why she was upset about it. We all were," he told Insider in 2020. "My heart goes out to the Woods, and I wish them the best on their tiny house journey." When the Woods picked up the tiny house, they said there were some building mistakes. For example, Lindsay said the company used the wrong tires and axles, and the roof was poorly insulated. They said they spent an extra $40,000 fixing the builder's missteps. Their story points to the larger issues within the unregulated tiny house movement.