tiny-house-with-modern-style

With the rising costs of energy, the recent mortgage crisis, and the troubled economy have all contributed to the increasing the trend of number americans that build tiny house model. The National Association of Home Builders reports that the average size of newly constructed homes was 2438 sq ft in 2009, but the sizes have been decreasing since 2007, where they peaked at over 2500sq ft.

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David Crowe from The NAHB chief economist says that the situation is related to phenomena such as an increased share of first-time home buyers, a desire to keep energy costs down, smaller amounts of equity in existing homes to roll into the next home, tighter credit standards and less focus on the investment component of buying a home.

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The prefabrication homes often built in large sections before being assembled on site. For example, The North American retailers are noticing the need for prefabs, and they have introduced a wide range of reasonably priced, well-designed models.

The Katrina Cottages that were designed in the aftermath of the hurricane disaster are now available from Lowes. Another US-based retailer, Design Within Reach, was recently selling their ultra-stylish “kitHAUS”.

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Shipping container prefabs are also available in the US from companies like Phoenix-based Upcycle Living. Builders have offering modules or cottages like the Eco-Cottages from Nationwide.

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If you intersted in the some other way, there are many web-based resources that have generated list made by Small House Society of design firms. Those Tiny House blog will show you examples from around the world, and if you want to build your own, Tumbleweed House Company and PAD (Portland Alternative Dwellings) have plans and workshops to show you how.

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source : inhabitat, nwinteriordesigner, nytimes, tumbleweedhouses, portlandalternativedwellings