tiny house communities: a new way to thrive in challenging times
TRANSCRIPT
Tiny House Communities A New Way to Thrive in Challenging Times
Openworld Villages www.openworldvillages.org
Mark Frazier, President/CEO
Contents
1. Overview 2. The Trend Towards Tiny Houses 3. Where To Put Them? 4. Overcoming Regulatory
Obstacles 5. Our Response: Openworld
Villages
www.openworldvillages.org
Overview • We’re a new nonprofit focusing on ecovillages and
tiny house solutions for the US and global market
• Our team includes the owner of the White Lotus Eco Retreat (21 acres in Standardsville, VA) and the cofounder of The Quarries (350 acres in Schuyler, VA)
www.openworldvillages.org
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses
Demand drivers: • First-time
homebuyers (22-35 year olds) who want to avoid debt
• Mid-career folks seeking second homes
• Retirees looking to downsize
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses
What are Tiny houses? • Designed for four season
living • Typically, 200 to 400 square
feet • Can be built permanently on
site, or kept on wheels
www.openworldvillages.org
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses Tiny Houses on Wheels
www.openworldvillages.org
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens (1-3 people can live in them)
www.openworldvillages.org
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses Make or Buy? • Build Your Own ($2K - $40K) • Or buy one ($10K - $100K)
www.openworldvillages.org
The Trend Towards Tiny Houses
How Tiny Houses can pay for themselves –
• AirBnb rentals of tiny houses: $100-$150/night • Typical cost of financing a tiny house on
wheels: $350 per month • A tiny house can pay for itself if rented part-
time via AirBnb for 3-5 days/month • Depreciation advantages
www.openworldvillages.org
Overcoming Regulatory Obstacles
BUT –
• Many localities restrict or outlaw AirBnb • Zoning laws usually allow only part time “camping” (not full-time
living) in tiny houses on wheels • Some localities prevent tiny houses from using rainwater, doing
microfarming, and establishing “off grid” energy alternatives
www.openworldvillages.org
Overcoming Regulatory Obstacles
www.openworldvillages.org
Building codes also frustrate tiny house innovations like these
1. Find localities willing to change policies 2. Work with them to offer sites for development of
new Tiny House Communities 3. Help tiny house owners prepare “crowdmoves”
Our Response – Openworld Villages
Tiny Houses and Alt-Edu
A ‘Next College’ option? • Free tuition (online courses) • Learn-by-doing projects
(build your own home, make it sustainable)
• Diploma – a digital portfolio of your project work
• Graduation: your starter home!
