5 Alternative Living Options That Go Beyond Traditional Housing

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As housing prices continue to rise, many people are exploring simple, flexible, and affordable ways to live. Whether you’re looking to save money, embrace minimalism, or live a more mobile lifestyle, there are plenty of creative alternatives to a standard residential home. Here are five of the most popular options— tiny homes, campers, sailboats, skoolies, and van conversions —complete with pros, cons, and average costs to help you choose the right fit. 1. Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) A tiny home on wheels offers the comforts of a small house with the freedom to relocate when needed. Built on a trailer frame, they’re designed for full-time living and can handle four-season climates with proper insulation. Average Cost $40,000–$120,000 depending on size, finishes, and whether it's DIY or professionally built. Pros Feels closest to a traditional home Fully customizable layouts Four-season living possible with good insulation Low monthly costs when parked on private land Large resale m...

SiZe - Does it matter?

Ah, the age-old question. Does size matter? Any house can feel like home if you put the right time, care, and people into it. Homes come in all shapes and sizes, allowing us to have some options when looking into a house to make our home. Is it better to have a larger home or a smaller home? When looking into buying a new home, many people think they should aim to get the largest house they can afford (sometimes not afford). But square feet per dollar is not always the best measurement of a house’s worth. Let me show you some of the perks of owning a smaller home and of course some of the cons. 

Pro: 


  • Lower bills. Just think of all the space you won’t be heating in the winter and cooling in the summer! In a smaller home, you’ll notice lower utility bills all around. Another expense that will likely decrease is the amount you spend on furniture for your home. you will have to buy less of it.


  • You’re less likely to hoard a bunch of stuff you don’t need. If you’re limited on space, you’ll learn to use less. And usually buy better quality of the things you do need. So you can stop carting around all those useless items that you have lugged around for the past years like that guitar you were always going to learn how to play.


  • Cleaning and maintenance. Less space means fewer square feet to mop, dust, and fix. It is also much easier to keep tidy, no more finding cups and plates hidden in rooms you never knew you had (thanks kids for the science experiments).


  • Your home will be cozy and comforting. Small homes can be charming, cozy, and entirely complete.

Con: 


  • Rooms can become puzzles. Speaking of furniture, if you are bringing large pieces with you from a more spacious previous home, you could have a hard time fitting it all in. 


  • Things clutter easily. Though you will be less likely to hoard in a smaller home, you will still have to be conscious of the items you do have in your space. Especially for those who have children and/or spouses (because obviously, you are not to blame).


  • It’s tough to host gatherings. Your house might not be the most comfortable place to host the entire extended family for Thanksgiving. However with some families that could also be a pro.


No matter what home you buy, as a realtor I always try to guide my clients into the right home, not the biggest, not the smallest. But the one that will work best for them and the families growing needs.




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