Whether you’re enticed by the idea of saving money or you’re tired of a cluttered lifestyle, the tiny home movement has gained a significant and devoted following. So what exactly is the Tiny House Movement? For many, it’s born out of the desire to live as simply and economically as possible. The Tiny Life blog puts its best: “Simply put, it is a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in. The typical American home is around 2,600 square feet, whereas the typical small or tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. Tiny houses come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but they enable simpler living in a smaller, more efficient space.”

The McMansion is out and many people across the nation are moving towards a tinier, mobile lifestyle. Tiny living also has many perks for environmental lovers – the small space works well for those cautious about leaving a large environmental footprint, and you’ll save on utilities living in such a compact home. Tiny home residents and builders focus on making their homes as environmentally friendly as possible including solar panels, a rainwater catchment system, and one savvy and creative developer even recycled an air duct into a dry erase board. It’s clear that tiny homes have become a symbol of environmental consciousness and simple living.

Picture of Ontario 17 in Washington D.C.

Many tiny home proponents who are looking for something small and affordable to keep them out of a cluttered lifestyle have turned to the tiny condo movement. Small condos as small as 300 feet have become extremely popular among millennials and young professionals but have a wide range of features meant to appeal to everyone. For example, Ontario 17, a new condominium building in Washington D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood is priced as $275,000 and is only 380 sq. ft., which puts it at half the price of the neighborhood median. It’s obviously why these new homes would be popular in cities like D.C. and NYC but now Philly is jumping on the bandwagon and is also growing a tiny home movement. If you’re interested in learning more, these Philly adventurers have started their own meetup group. While the Philly movement is in its early stages, these tiny home pioneers might just be onto something incredibly big.

If you’re enamored by the tiny home and condo movements but just can’t see yourself settling into a 300 sq. ft. home, ease yourself into a less cluttered lifestyle by picking a unit that’s more middle of the road in terms of size. Perhaps something more like 700 sq. ft. – just enough space to feel comfortable which preserving a more economical lifestyle. Many smaller homes feature clever designed kitchens with hidden storage. Look for one with a balcony and get the bonus of the great outdoors.

The tiny home trend is all over modern pop culture. Check out this spoof from one of our favorite shows, Portlandia, where Carrie and Fred parody life inside a tiny house.

Whether you’ve decided to live small or in a large mansion (and if so, feel free to invite us over), Philadelphia is an amazing place to start your home buying journey. Ready to begin? Feel free to get in touch with us – we’re ready to help you begin your home story!