Advocates of the growing “micro-housing movement” seek to promote smaller housing alternatives for people pursuing simpler lifestyles. “Micro-apartments” and “tiny houses” are typically less than 300 square feet in area, a fraction of the average American home’s 2,600 square feet.
Often weighed down by credit cards and student loan debt, millennials in particular find these minimalist dwellings — many selling for $23,000 or less — an attractive path to homeownership, in lieu of 30-year mortgages.
However, local zoning laws enacted by local governments and homeowners associations’ regulations are stepping into to prevent this innovation.
A large part of the tiny housing story is debt. The median debt load, per household, rose to $70,000 in 2011, from an inflation-adjusted burden of $50,971 in 2001. This figure more than doubled for Americans over 55, who are supporting children for much longer than prior generations.
via “Tiny Housing Movement” Pits Millennials against Regulators | Heartlander Magazine.
