The pandemic sent many Americans to dream of more space and to hurry to find it. Sales of large homes are booming. They are also small.
These homes typically measure no more than 350 square feet, or barely larger than a standard hotel room. They are mainly built in suburban back gardens or converted garages on the west coast, where new laws designed to alleviate the region’s housing shortage have favored their construction.
But they can also be sold or rented in rural Maine and Vermont. They have been appearing in Wyoming, Alaska, Georgia and Texas. Florida City officials have proposed zoning changes to allow them.
While it is difficult to keep track of all these mini-homes in the United States, listings that include small homes or other types of guest apartments have increased on average by 8.6% annually over the past decade, according to a July study by Freddie Mac. There are now more than 1.4 million households that share a lot with one of these units.
The high cost of housing is a factor. The average price a first-time buyer pays for a home is about $ 266,500, according to the National Association of Realtors, which is beyond the reach of many younger homeowners. Small houses can be rented at the approximate price of a traditional apartment of the same size. For small owners, the units generate income or serve as guest houses. Landlords usually rent them out to college students or offer them to older family members so they can stay close.