21 Day Blogging Challenge

The Freedom(s) You Can Enjoy because of a Tiny House

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Honestly, is Freedom the first thought you have when you think of a Tiny House?

For most people it probably is not – but it should be!

In fact, you’re probably thinking right now that going to a Tiny House means you’d have to give up some or all of what you have or want, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  I’m going to share with you several of the many freedoms that open up to you, new freedoms you can enjoy by living in a Tiny House and how Tiny House Living may in reality give you MORE of what you actually want, not less…

Tiny Houses – How Letting Go Creates Freedom

As Americans, we like stuff.

We like buying stuff in order to solve a problem or need (which we may or may not have had prior to watching the infomercial… lol).  And there’s nothing inherently wrong with stuff (or liking to buy things…).

However, are all those wonderful things you’ve bought because you had to have them actually solving your problem, making your life better, making you more than you were before?

I’m guilty of it.

I have books, courses, even clothes I’ve bought that I’ve never gone through, opened or worn.  It was the simple act of buying that gave us the feel of satisfaction right?  For a variety of reasons…

But the fact is – the truth is – a lot of the stuff we own doesn’t really do much for us…

“What have you done for me lately?” 😉

It just sits in our house under the bed, in the closet, on the shelf or some other out of the way place so that someday just in case we might need it, it will be there.  Or you may even just hold on to them as trophies.  And there are some people who actually cling to stuff or hoard because they are afraid of losing something.

letting-goFirst of all, you are enough just as you are and you don’t need any thing or possession to complete you or make you who you are.  Again, there’s nothing wrong with having things, but they don’t determine who you are, no more than your job does, your house, your car or your hobbies.

You are you, and those are simply things you have or things you do.  I’m getting a little off tangent here but I think this is a key point that many people overlook.  They cling and hold onto stuff out of fear (of loss) or perhaps even to avoid something else in their life that they’re trying to cover up.

But when you “pair down” as they say and start to rid yourself of the clutter, you start freeing yourself, layer by layer.  You begin to feel lighter, more raw, more free.  It can be a scary feeling if you’ve been buried underneath all your stuff for years and years, but once you experience how great it feels, it can even become addictive and your life begins to shift and transform and you really start to LIVE!

You see, I’ve gone through this transformation initially when I went through my divorce.  After carrying around all this stuff year after year, home after home – and all the emotional attachments I had added to it all – it got real heavy, figuratively and literally.  And I’ll be honest, after 15 years there were emotions there that got triggered by the parting of some of the stuff.

But I got to the point where I realized none of that stuff mattered.

All my “stuff” is what was keeping me from really LIVING life.  I was holding on to everything around me so tight because I thought it meant something about me, I thought it was part of my identity (subconsciously of course, I didn’t realize this until after I started letting it go).

Case in point, a few years ago just trading in my car for another, better vehicle was so hard – or so I had convinced myself.  But then we traded in the car that I thought defined me in some way (even though I didn’t want it anymore) for the car that had the features we now wanted, and I pretty much completely forgot about the old car!  Crazy, right?

I realized that I was holding onto stuff so tightly because I must have subconsciously believed that I wouldn’t have that thing again, or that I couldn’t have that thing again.  Again, totally false!  In fact, it opens up the space to have something even greater show up.

In terms of dollars and sense, I literally was paying money out each month to store, condition (heat and cool), pay taxes on, insure, clean and maintain the extra space, money that could have gone towards going out, traveling, throwing an awesome party, going skiing, or whatever else.  Again, lots of stuff that sat on shelves, in closets, on bookcases, under beds, etc, etc.

let_go freedomI had spent so much time compiling all my stuff over the years and thinking it meant something about me until I got divorced and realized it was just stuff.  Throwing stuff out, giving things away, selling furniture, emptying the house out was such an exhilarating and liberating feeling (and you don’t have to get divorced to do it; in fact, it might even help your marriage if you throw out all that baggage sooner than later!).

I don’t know all the psychology behind it all, but I know how it felt and the transformation its started for me in going Tiny.  You start to realize what really is possible, what you really do need, what’s important in your life, and how often times a lot of the stuff we hold onto because of our concern for what other people think… (Do they pay your bills?  The truth is, they care a lot less about you and your stuff than you may realize… I learned that too!)

So what does all this have to do with Freedom?

I’ve learned through my personal journey that what really traps us and prevents us from getting what we want in life is ourselves.  We get in our own way, but then we want to blame all those around us or conditions or politicians – someone else must be responsible, it’s THEIR fault…

The truth is each of us has the power within us, if we so choose, to create the freedom(s) in our life that we desire, if we are so bold and inspired to do so.  With that said, living in a Tiny House can be an awesome vehicle (literally) to help you LIVE that freedom lifestyle.

Without further ado, here are just a handful of the various freedoms that Tiny House Living can provide:

  • Location Freedom with a Tiny House

This is probably pretty common sense if you have a Tiny House on Wheels (THOW), as you up and move to another location whenever or if ever you should feel like it.  The house is on wheels and you just hook up your Tiny House to your truck and off you go, be it for vacation, to visit family and friends, to go skiing for a month (yes!), to the beach for the summer, or to explore a new state or region of the country (or world!).  All you need is a place to go (learn more about The New American Dream Project and the Tiny House Communities we are creating here).

  • Personal Freedom with a Tiny House

Each Tiny House is a unique, custom building.  There are so many different options, so many different ways to go that you can be free to really express yourself as much or as little as you like.  You’re not worried about making sure its got the right colors or landscaping or furntiure in it so that it will resell well, you’re focused on LIVING.  So paint it whatever colors you like, decorate it how you want, add a living roof, drape plants over the side, throw a hot tub down in front, whatever. It’s your house and if its on wheels more than likely you have no building codes or restrictions to prevent you from creating just the perfect house, how you want it.  That’s personal freedom!

  • Financial Freedom with a Tiny House

How would your life look if your expenses dropped $1,000 a month or several thousand dollars a month in some places, depending on where you live?  Would that help you rearrange your finances to get you out of debt, build up an investment account, or maybe start up a business from your tiny house?  Maybe you could retire now and stop working altogether and live off your retirement or investments now while you’re as healthy and young as you are before you’re at a point where you’re physically unable to enjoy a retirement?

With the technology available today, many people are able to telecommute and work from home using the internet, video chat and other technology that allows them to be productive from home.  What better way to work and live than to be able to get paid while you travel around the country?  (And if your job doesn’t have that flexibility built in, why not consider starting an internet-based business from home to give you the time freedom as well?  Click here to learn more)

nadp_fb_logo1As you can see, living in a Tiny House is all about Freedom.  But it has to start with the desire to be free.  If you’re content living in your home or apartment with all your stuff, your finances are in order, you’re happy with your experience of life and have no desire to really live more, then a Tiny House may not be for you.

But on the other hand if your mind is going and you’re thinking of different possibilities and more of life that you’d like to experience and you’re ready to move forward and create the life you want, then living in a Tiny House may be just what you’re looking for.

Need a place to live in a Tiny House?

We’re working on that. 🙂

We are creating The New American Dream Project for just that purpose, to help people live that Freedom lifestyle through Tiny House Living in Tiny House Communities.  Learn more in this blog post here.

Until next time,

I appreciate you!

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

PS> Have you found us on facebook?  Like our page and stay up to date with the latest project happenings, news and announcements!

 

Pre-Owned Tiny House for Sale – An Even More Affordable Way to Go Tiny

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How to go Tiny and Mobile on the Cheap

As I was driving back from Colorado this last weekend during the big freeze that took place and coated everything in ice, I got a chance to visit my cousin in Southern Missouri who I hadn’t seen in a while (first time visiting since he moved there).

iphone6 253iphone6 264It was quite a journey – you can see a few photos below and more on facebook, but in doing some more Tiny House research I found a Tiny House for sale about 90 minutes south of where my cousin was, pretty much en route back to Huntsville.

So of course, I had to call up and make an appointment to see this Tiny House for sale.

So the next morning I drove through the 8 inches of snow that fell (luckily it had warmed up to 34 degrees so everything was melting or it would have taken a real long time!) to meet Ed and take a look at his Tiny House for sale (see below).

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He had the tiny house parked facing a small creek in the trees – it was a cool spot showcasing the potential of Tiny House living in that tiny home.

The back story on the home is that it was part of a trade for a couple from Ohio who had built the tiny house and then moved down to Southern Missouri with it and traded it in part for some land.

Own a Tiny House for under $10,000?

Yes.  And it’s ready to go.  The unit is plumbed and wired for electricity and ready to live in.  It has a propane hot water heater, propane oven and stove, small though neat shower and tub, composting toilet, 2 lofts (one big enough to sleep on a queen mattress), a couch, mini-fridge, ample counter top space all in around 150 sf (I can’t remember the exact length of the trailer).

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Personally, I would customize it a little more and add my own finishing touches but it has everything you need to live (just need a water and electric supply of course).

You can find the Craigslist listing here and Ed’s website who’s listing it for sale is http://homesteadcrossinginc.com.  He sells lots of land all over, so who knows, perhaps we can work together to create the next Tiny House Community there?

iphone6 290iphone6 287iphone6 297Want to learn more about the new Tiny House Community we’re creating?  It’s called the New American Dream Project and you can learn more and get involved in the movement here: New American Dream Project.

Until next time,

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

PS> Blogging is an activity you can easily do from within a Tiny House.  Have you thought about how you can earn income while living in a tiny house?  I’d encourage you to start creating an additional income stream now so that you can really live that freedom lifestyle and take advantage of the mobility a Tiny House can give you.  Click here to learn more.

Tesla Home Battery – Off-grid Tiny House Living About to Get Much Easier

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Freedom is one of the many great benefits of Tiny House Living and living in a Tiny House Community.

One such freedom is the freedom to live off grid and have your own sources for power, water, heat, etc.  A typical power setup might include a wind generating turbine, a hydroelectric setup or a solar panel array.

Of course, living in a Tiny House your need for power and electricity is greatly reduced (less rooms to light, appliances or devices to power in standby mode, etc) and much more efficiently used (aka smarter) and therefore your power generation requirement is less.

However, when the sun’s not shining or the wind’s not blowing, etc, your ability to generate power is limited or removed altogether.  Typically this problem is solved with a battery backup system which is charged by the sun, wind or water power generation and then in the evening you run off batteries.

And now Tesla motors has announced their new Home Battery product, coming soon, that will surely be more efficient, more powerful, slimmer design, lighter in weight and better performing that what’s currently available – all elements which impact the livability and add to the quality of life in Tiny House living.  And with lithium car batteries that go 300 miles before needing to recharge, living off grid will be even easier and more common very soon…

Needless to say, this is a very exciting development.  Tesla Motors is the same electric car company out of California that has produced the Tesla S which is a fully electric vehicle that some compare to gas-fuled supercars for its style, performance from 0-60 mph, etc PLUS it can go upwards of 300 miles without needing to be recharged (Tesla X the all-wheel-drive SUV version coming soon…).

Watch the video below to learn more.

Tesla Motors Announces A New Home Battery; Living Off The Grid Will Soon Be Status Quo

“Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, announced Wednesday that the company is working on a new kind of battery that would be used to power homes. Based on Tesla’s lithium-ion battery technology, the new battery is expected to help the company become a leader in the growing home energy-storage market.”

More info at: http://offgridquest.com/news/tesla-motors-announces-a-new-home-batter

 

Exciting developments for the Tiny House Community and off-grid living for sure!  Learn more about Tiny Houses and the Tiny House Community we’re creating with the New American Dream Project here.

I appreciate you!

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

What is a Tiny House? Tiny Home Living Defined

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What is a Tiny House?  

If you have yet to get caught up in the Tiny House movement and want to know what all the fuss is about, let me share with you in the following videos what exactly the Tiny House movement and Tiny Home Living is all about.

If you prefer graphics and stats, you can click here to see this cool infographic about the Tiny House movement, but first let me introduce you to what is a Tiny House and share with you a little bit about my story and why the Tiny House movement has really moved me…

Tiny Home Living Defined – What is a Tiny House?

So now that you know what is a Tiny House, let me share with you some of the many advantages of Tiny Home Living and what it can help you do away with, which can reduce your monthly costs significantly freeing up more money for other more important things…

Tiny Home Living – how the Tiny House Movement can help you cut costs & increase your disposable income

But does Tiny Home Living mean that I would have to cut back, settle and live less?

On the contrary!  The Tiny House movement is all about creating more freedom in your life, more possibilities, more opportunities, more mobility and a higher quality of life, NOT less!  Here’s what I mean…

What is a Tiny House?  Mobility, Convenience and Freedom

More on the Tiny House Movement – Is Tiny Home Living for you?

Do you think tiny home living is for you?  It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.

So let me share with you my tiny house plan – what I’m going to do to join and become part of this exciting tiny house movement, what it means to me and the impact on my life it will have…

My Tiny House Plan for freedom and a higher quality of life

So now what do you think?

Do you GET IT?

If not, let me know in the comments down below so I can try to fill in any remaining gaps.

Maybe its for you, maybe it’s not.  Maybe its for you just not right now.  Maybe you know someone who this would be GREAT for (share this with them if you do!).

Either way, whatever way, I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this cool trend (not a fad – it’s here to stay!).

I appreciate you and look forward to reading your comments down below!

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

(That’s me in my mobile office, blogging while I travel across the country.  Gotta love getting paid to explore 🙂  You can too, just click here to learn more.)

Why the Tiny House Movement – Infographic Facts and Figures

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Is the tiny house movement really a movement or just a fad?

I’ve been swept up in the Tiny house movement since I first REALLY looked into.

If you’re not familiar with tiny home living or the tiny house movement, or perhaps if you’ve prejudged it like I had, I encourage you to take a closer look and really try to get a feel and understanding of just what it’s really about.

(If you prefer video, check out my short 4-part video series on tiny home living I created in this blog post here: What is a Tiny House? Tiny Home Living Defined)

The Tiny House Infographic below was from 2013 (the 2015 survey is underway now!).

The bottom line is, the Tiny House movement and Tiny Home Living is a big deal.

Check out the stats, facts, figures and images below to learn more about the people who make up the Tiny Home Community (it may surprise you)…

Tiny Houses Infographic

 Did any of those Tiny Home Community facts or figures surprise or shock you?  Let me know in the comments below!

I appreciate you!

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

(Blogging away while on the road – I love getting paid to share my thoughts and ideas when they come to me during my travels 🙂   How would you like to get paid when you travel?  Click here to learn how you can)

Service Professionals – this may piss off your landlord

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As a self-employed service professional, your work space and environment is crucial to creating the results for you and your clients and getting repeat business, right?

Yet, sometimes getting all you want in a work space just doesn’t seem possible, does it?

You may be a massage therapist or masseuse, an energy healer or energy worker, a chiropractor, or have a nail or cosmetic business – even a hair salon…

And maybe you found a good location that’s highly visible but there’s no parking or rent is expensive.  Perhaps you’ve found a great space that you’ve been able to customize and create that perfect feel but your clients are too scared of the area to even get out of their car…

I think you get the picture.  It seems like you always have to compromise on some element of your space which has a noticeable impact on your clients and ultimately your success and your ability to make an impact.  

But what if you could have your cake and eat it too?

What if it were possible to not only have all the elements that you wanted in a space – totally customized and unique to you and your business in fact – AND even own it outright (instead of paying rent each month) AND further reduce your expenses like utilities AND include additional elements and benefits you may never have even considered?

Have I got your attention yet? 🙂

Finally! The Perfect Solution for Self-Employed Service Professionals

I’m real excited about the potential that this new movement can have on all sorts of people from all different areas of life (and work).  This is but just one benefit it offers.

Oh, and if you decide to go this route, you will likely piss off your landlord (because you won’t need him or her or them anymore…).

To learn more about this movement, the New American Dream Project, and the many ways you can benefit from it, I encourage you to just click here now.

 

I appreciate you!

– Hans Schoff

PS> What are your thoughts?  Leave them in the comments section below – thanks!!

Hans mobile office

 

(Today driving thru the midwest back to Alabama in my mobile office.  If you want to learn how you too can work mobile like I do and travel or do more of what you want, watch this video here)

 

 

Why the American Dream should die

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Is the American Dream dead?

I believe it is, or at least that it should be – the OLD American Dream that is.

This supposed dream that you and I have been sold on as Americans – and even those around the world – that we should strive for, desire and at virtually all cost each HAVE the large fancy multi-bedroom, multi-bathroom spacious home (whether we need it or not)…

 My American Dream Experience

A few years ago in my late 20’s I thought I had finally achieved the American Dream – a 4,980 square foot home with 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a 3-car garage, swimming pool, hot tub and hefty HOA fees for access to the community amenities.  Wow, must have been nice you’d think right?

Sure, it was nice…

That is until the monthly bills came in.

  • ~$4,000 mortgage payment
  • ~$400 utility payment (3 HVAC units, 2 fireplaces, 2 water heaters, pool & hot tub)
  • ~$3,000 annual real estate payment (In other states, this payment would be 2-3 times as much)
  • ~$200/mo for landscaping
  • ~$300/mo for insurance
  • ~$600/year for HOA fees (whether we used the facilities or not)
  • (I think you get the picture)

…And these expenses don’t include the random repairs and maintenance of the 3 large HVAC systems, 2 water heaters, pool, spa, etc, or the costs (or time) to keep the house clean.  Even with just me, 2 dogs and my wife at the time, we would spend at least one day each weekend just keeping the place clean!  Can you relate to any of this?

It was insane.

I was a slave to the bank and a slave to the house.  If I wasn’t working on repairing something around the house or coordinating with someone else to do it or service or clean something, I was stressing about paying the bills or worrying about some other aspect of the home.  It got old very quick!  As nice of a home as it was – and it was very nice – it just wasn’t worth it.  Trying to keep up with the Jones’ lost its appeal very quickly, but I was stuck paying for it each month…

For me, I realized that the American Dream I had been sold on had become the American Nightmare!

Does this mean you or I can’t have a nice house?  No.

Does this mean you or I can’t live well?  No.

Does this mean that you or I are better off renting a home (vs owning one) so that the landlord takes responsibility for the majority of the expenses to maintain a home?  I don’t believe so, No.  In fact, it is just the opposite of these assumptions.  There is a solution that I’m working on that will solve the majority of these issues and create real freedom from the hassles and expense of traditional home ownership while allowing you and I to live even greater, richer, and happier …

Introducing the New American Dream Project – coming soon!

Is the American Dream dead? The New American Dream Project

I’m on a mission to set people free from this lie and to help them live the New American Dream founded on sound/prudent economics (not the overspending, living above your means to impress the neighbors philosophy) and the ability to live free (and specifically, mortgage-free).

It’s an ambitious project I am just beginning but one that I feel will recreate the meaning behind American Dream.  A project that will directly impact about 25 Americans, but a model that will be able to recreated around the country and the world that will empower and free Americans just like you and me to live happier, more rewarding, more fulfilling lives and with more disposable, spendable income to boot.

To learn more and stay up to date with the latest on this project and how YOU may be able to participate in it, just enter your information in the form here and I’ll keep you posted with the latest news and information- just click here now.

I appreciate you.

– Hans Schoff

Hans mobile office

(From the road in Colorado, in my mobile office 🙂

The Next Real Estate Market Boom (It’s Not What You Think)

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The Next Real Estate Market Boom is coming!  Want in?

Physical Real Estate ownership has long been sought after by those seeking to hold onto their wealth or grow it.

Schoff Global InvestmentsMyself personally, I’ve been involved in the physical real estate market in all different capacities over the years, from finance, fix-up and repair, remodeling, construction, development, investment, syndication, property and asset management and others.  So I know a thing or two about real estate :)…

However, the type of real estate market boom I’m talking about is something rather new.  It’s been around for a few years but still the masses are asleep to its potential, even to its existence, which is what creates this exciting opportunity and future boom as more and more people get exposed to it and catch on (like any real estate boom).

But this next real estate market boom I’m referring to is different.

First of all, at the moment its dirt cheap.  Which means many more people have the opportunity to get involved and profit from it.

It can create cash flow for you, you can wholesale it by improving it, increasing it’s value and “flipping it” to someone else so-to-speak.  Or you can also snatch up an important address (like a prime location) and sell that for a nice profit.  But the best thing is, there is no real upper end.  You can continue improving the asset and forcing the value up, generating more and more income from it – and one of my favorite aspects – there’s generally no banks involved!  And no insurance.  In fact, no property taxes either!

Have I gotten your attention yet??

So what exactly is this phenomenal real estate market I’m talking about?

Online Real Estate of course!  Have you got your address yet?

I’m serious about this.  The future is online.

If you don’t have a serious online real estate presence, you’re not only missing out, you’re becoming irrelevant.

Remember what a phone book was?  Many people do not anymore.  They are a thing of the past.  Just like newspapers and magazines are becoming a thing of the past as well.

online real estateWhat’s the first thing someone does when they hear about a company or product and they have an interest in it?  Do they pick up the phone?  Do they get in the car?  Do they search for a phone book?

No.  Just as you would, they pull out their phone or computer and search google to learn more about it.  And if you’re not online, you won’t show up in google (but your competitors probably will!).

And this is not just for businesses or organizations like non-profits or charities.  On a personal level you want to have a presence online.  You want to be in control of what people see when they search online right?  Would you want a potential business partner, employer, employee, mother-in-law, professor, political opponent, etc to see what may be out there online about you?

Or would you rather have a page – an address – that displays YOU for who you are and what you want to share with the world?  Facebook, twitter, youtube… these social media sites are always changing and display information about you how they choose, you have little control over that.  Granted those are great resources to use, but if you had your own online real estate – like a blog for example – that was YOUR address, your business’ name or your name or whatever, some place where you could direct someone that was just yours… Wouldn’t that be cool?

online real estate homeJust like we each have a physical address we live at, to be relevant today and going forward you really need to have an online address to.  Not just a physical mailing address (or online emailing address) but an actual HOME where people can find you, see what you’re up to, what you’re about and who you are.

Being able to stand out in this world with all the noise and distractions, its important that you have a special place like that online that separates you from everyone and everything else out there.  Everyone has a facebook profile or YouTube channel, etc.  But who has a blog that’s setup and customized the way YOU would want it to be, so that its uniquely yours?

That is the next coming online real estate boom.  Have you gotten your address yet?  Your online home (page)?  Don’t miss out on this boom…  You can get started here.

PS> Not all blogging platforms are created equal.  Check out my prior blog post about it here.

125sf Tiny House with Wings? The Luxurious Residence by Etihad Airways

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As of late, I’ve become a HUGE fan of the Tiny House or Tiny Home movement sweeping the country.  In case you hadn’t heard, tons of people across the U.S. are ditching “the American Dream” which has become the American Nightmare for many – a big house in the suburbs with a big mortgage – and moving into these Tiny Homes, which are exactly what they sound like: Tiny Houses typically between 100sf and 500sf (but I’ve seen them both smaller and bigger than that, but you get the idea).

I’ll be honest, at first, I thought it was a joke; at best, just a way for people to be different and stand out from the crowd, more a way of expressing themselves than a way of life.  But then I went to visit my friend Linda in Idylwild, California not too long ago – a small town in the mountains away from the lights and noise of cities like Los Angeles and San Diego.

And then I GOT it…

But before I go on, let me show you this video of the 125sf Tiny Home (or Palace, rather) in the sky.  The Residence aboard Etihad Airways’ new fleet of Airbus A380s contains 3 125sf cabins which include a private living room with 32-inch flat screen TV, a double bedroom (yes, with a proper double bed!), a separate ensuite bathroom with a shower!, and of course a dedicated butler!  Dannii Minogue will give you a video tour below…

Not a bad way to get by, right?  (Or from point A to point B)…

Could you see yourself living in a space like that?  Because a lot of people across the country are now living in spaces about that big full-time – some a little bigger, some a little smaller – and for all different reasons.

I had been tinkering with similar ideas over the past several years, talking about selling my house and getting away from a mortgage and the hassle of mortgage companies and banks (I’ve been involved in real estate and real estate finance for 10 years now…).  And while the idea and simplicity of renting can sound appealing, I’d prefer still more control and the ability to change things and not be limited by what I can and cannot do.  I guess it really comes down to a sense of freedom and independence.

For others, its a way to also cut costs.  In many markets around the country, a lot of people are simply priced out of the mainstream property market but still want to own their own home.  And that’s where a Tiny Home – whether that’s a floating house boat on the riverbanks of Portland, Oregon or on a float in close proximity to downtown Seattle, or a 500sf top of the line, fully kitted-out and off-the-grid home high up in the scenic Rocky mountains, or a very space-efficient tiny home built on a double-axle 8×20 trailer that can be towed to different locations around the country – really starts to make sense.

Tiny Homes come in all different styles, types, shapes, costs, and mobility options.  I’ve seen people build their own tiny home on a double-axle or 5th wheel trailer (fully functional with kitchen and bathroom, with water and power options) for $30,000.  Then there are other permanent-type Tiny Homes that you can find in communities in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that start at $300,000 for around 250sf.  And a whole lot in between.

When you realize how much of your house is wasted space that you hardly ever use – but have to maintain, keep clean, heat and cool and pay for each month (taxes, insurance and mortgage) – you start to question WHY…

Myself, I live in a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom 1550sf home and I never use my dining room, hardly ever use the living room even, don’t need a 2nd bathroom, don’t use the guest room on a regular basis nor the study all that often.  I realize I could quite easily downsize into a home easily 1/3 this size and still be able to maintain the same way of life I do today – but with 1/3 (or less) the cost, hassle, inconvenience, stress, energy, etc that it takes to maintain my home currently.  And to be honest, from what I’ve seen, I believe I could design a tiny home to be twice as functional as the space would make you think.

So what really would I be losing?

I think another part of my skepticism or resistance to the idea was the thinking that I was cutting back, or having to give up something and drastically alter my quality of life, which I didn’t want to sacrifice.  If anything, I want to improve my lifestyle or quality of life, not the other way around.  But again, when you take the time to design and engineer every little space and utilize the latest technology and gadgets, you can actually end up creating MORE not less.  In watching shows like Tiny House Nation, Tiny House Hunting, Tiny: Living Small, the documentary Tiny, etc (there’s a ton of shows out there about it, even shows on-demand thru Dish Network) I began to see how powerful that space could be.  You really can do a lot with a small space with some smart planning ahead of time.

I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m sold!  Every night I find myself watching an hour of one of these shows and going to sleep dreaming about the different possibilities.  Not sure if I want to build myself a nice tiny home in the rockies with all the latest technology and appliances and go off-grid or build a smaller tiny home on double-axle trailer and continue to travel even more around the country and staying for a few weeks or months a time before taking my home to the next location.

I’m excited about it!  And because I can work from home using this laptop or my ipad and iphone thanks to this Kalatu blog (see the banner on the side of the blog), its just a matter of figuring out which way I want to go.  Who knows, maybe I’ll build a few tiny homes around the country.  The price is right!  The Tiny Home movement is in full swing, are you sold on it yet?  Let me know your thoughts, questions or opinions down below!  (And please SHARE this with others so we can get a good conversation going below – thanks!)

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