AFP: Americans are increasingly attracted to tiny houses

Elizabethtown - It is a small revolution in this vast country: more and more Americans are opting for "tiny houses," which are mini homes with an area of less than 40 square meters. The reasons are low price, minimalism, and a smaller impact on the environment, reports the AFP agency.

The movement of tiny house enthusiasts, which includes homes on wheels or on the ground, has its roots a few decades back. However, the financial crisis of 2008 and the rise of the "millennial" generation into active life have re-energized the movement.

The key question is price. A new house of less than 20 square meters, costing about $50,000 (1.1 million CZK), has become the main topic on television stations specializing in DIY and home decor, which have expanded their broadcasts in the last five years.

Brandy Jones moved eight months ago with her husband and two children into a tiny house in Reading, about 100 kilometers west of Philadelphia. According to her, a new house usually costs at least $300,000 (6.9 million CZK). "A tiny house is much more affordable," Jones believes.

However, the economic factor alone does not decide in a country where the average area of a new home for a family is 228 square meters.

In the last 40 years, American society has gone "down the path of gigantism and built enormous houses," said Marcus Stoltzfus, marketing director of Liberation Tiny Homes based near Reading. "Today, however, some people realize that living with less is beneficial for their lifestyle," he added.

"We fell in love with the minimalist approach," said Scott Berrier enthusiastically, who moved into a 34-square-meter house with his wife four months ago, and appreciates that they do not have so many possessions. According to him, homes with limited space are more functional than traditional apartments. "There is no wasted space in them," Scott added. The effort towards minimalism also has its significance for the environment. "You reduce your carbon footprint. You do not consume as much electricity or water," he explained.

Despite these advantages, the Tiny Home movement has not become a major wave. According to some estimates, there are today just over 10,000 tiny houses in the USA. The first major obstacle is financing. It is nearly impossible to obtain a mortgage for these homes, as banks consider them more like camping trailers than houses. They offer a short-term loan for a significantly higher interest rate for tiny houses.

The main barrier, however, is legislation: most local authorities prohibit permanent residents from living in mobile homes throughout the year and set a minimum for house area, often above 80 square meters. Historically, bungalows, caravans, and mobile homes have a bad reputation because they are seen as lower-quality dwellings for poor populations.

"It is important for you to tell your community and authorities: look at what a tiny home is," Scott says. "There is nothing dishonest about it. They are amazing small houses with nice designs that will contribute to increasing the value of homes in the area," he adds.