Exploring the Diverse Buyers of Tiny Homes in Australia

A surge in popularity over the past few years has shown that there are many reasons someone might buy a tiny home in Australia. It could be a first home, a secondary dwelling for a family member, or an additional source of income. In this blog, we are listing typical profiles of who buys a tiny home so you can see where you sit and how a tiny home can be the solution to your specific needs.

The Financially Savvy: Gaining Freedom Through Tiny Living

A primary reason many of our customers buy a tiny home is to reduce living costs. Whether you buy a turn-key build or want to DIY, it’s much cheaper than buying a standard house or even an apartment. In the long term, living in a tiny home also costs significantly less. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, a smaller home uses less operational energy (energy needed to heat, cool, and light up the space). Secondly, renting land is also far cheaper than renting an entire home, sometimes coming in at four times less than an average rental. While there is a significant upfront investment, the long-term savings give owners the financial freedom to spend more time doing the things they love.

As a moveable asset, it’s also much easier to relocate, eliminating the stress and costs involved when selling and buying houses.

Minimalists and Downsizers: Embracing a Simpler Lifestyle

There are many reasons someone might choose to downsize. Maybe your kids have left the nest and you no longer want the upkeep involved with a larger home. Maybe you’re looking to become a minimalist, or perhaps you love the idea of having less but experiencing more. No matter your reason, tiny houses offer a nice middle ground between size and flexibility. They’re much easier to maintain than a traditional house but are larger and more comfortable than a van.

Growing Families: Adding Space with a Tiny Home

On the other hand, you might have the opposite problem and have found that you don’t have enough space. Whether you have an older child who’s ready to leave the nest (into your backyard, anyway), or it’s time to take care of an older relative, a tiny house can be an alternative to a granny flat. With the option of prefabrication and building offsite, the construction time will be much shorter, with minimal onsite disruption. And, even better, there’s no need to apply for a DA from the council—we all know how stressful they can be!

From Renters to Owners: A Pathway to Affordable Homeownership

For many of our customers, buying a tiny house is an entirely financial decision. House deposits take many years to save up for, and mortgages themselves can be stressful and unaffordable. But, if you’re sick of the hassle that is renting, we completely understand. Tiny houses provide an opportunity to say goodbye to condition reports and rent inspections without ending up in mounds of debt.

Pre-built tiny houses range in price from around $78,900 to $139,900 – significantly less than a standard house. That’s still a good chunk of money, though, so while traditional home loans aren’t possible with tiny houses, there are financing options available. This means that, for as little as $375 a week (that’s as much as many rental properties) you could own your tiny house in as little as five years.

Entrepreneurs and Hosts: Creating Income with Holiday Rentals

Tiny houses also provide a great business opportunity. If you have a bit of extra space on your property and live in a popular holiday destination or a rural area, you can make some decent supplemental income by offering it up as a holiday rental or Airbnb accommodation. Many people would love the opportunity to spend a few days in the peace and quiet of the country, and they’ll love it even more in a tiny house.

Golden Years Simplified: A Manageable Home for Retirees

Tiny house living isn’t just for the younger generation. Many of our clients are elderly people who live on their own and have no need for a large house. Selling your current property for a tiny home will leave you with a lot of extra cash, so you can live your retirement stress-free. And you might even have some money to spare to do more of the things you never had the time for while working. The small size also gives you the option to move onto a relative’s property so you can spend more quality time with friends and family.

Eco-Conscious Living: Tiny Homes for a Sustainable Future

For those who want to minimise their environmental footprint and live a sustainable lifestyle, tiny houses offer many ways to do so. With the option to include solar panels and a water tank, they make it possible to live a self-sufficient life that is completely off-grid. But, even if connected to the grid, they need such little operational energy that they’re still very sustainable. On top of this, the embodied energy (energy used to transport and manufacture building materials) of a tiny home is much less than a standard house. This is particularly significant as, according to CSIRO, a standard house uses the same amount of embodied energy as 15 years of operational energy in the same house. That’s a lot of energy used before you’ve even moved in. Using local, recycled materials in your tiny home can reduce your embodied energy even further.

A tiny house can serve many purposes and be adjusted to many different styles of living. So, it’s no surprise that there’s been a huge increase in tiny homes in Australia and around the world. Whatever your reason for wanting to buy a tiny home, we at Aussie Tiny Houses can help you make it a reality. Check out our models and services on our website to learn more about our Tiny Houses.