ONE tiny home community offers everything you could ever need for just $650 in rent, and that includes all your electricity, Internet and taxes as well.
The village exists within Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
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Spanning 14 acres, the Tiny Estates community provides 58 lots so far, with plans to grow to 100 in the near future.
Tiny homes have surged in popularity as Americans look for any way to make their dollar stretch amid intense inflation.
Tiny Estates capitalizes on this trend, and for just $650, you’ll have everything you need within the small-scale property.
In a recent YouTube episode of Tiny Home Expedition, owner Abby Shank gave a sneak peek into the alternative way of living.
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BEGINNING OF A VILLAGE
Technically zoned as a campground, Tiny Estates opened in 2018 with 15 nightly rentals.
At first, the space operated more like a hotel, but Shank said over time, it became the community it is today, far different from its past as a mobile home park.
“We worked with the township on how do we clean it up, how do we make it better so that it was a win-win for the town,” Abby said.
Soon, the space was attracting tiny home builders to display their designs and have visitors test them out before buying.
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The pandemic changed everything, however.
“When Covid hit, we realized we had a huge waiting list of people who wanted to live in a tiny home,” Abby said.
Tiny home rentals proved more challenging during this time as more and more Americans felt cooped up inside their homes each day.
So Abby said, Tiny Estates pivoted and switched fully to an owner community.
Today, you can rent out a lot for six month interval and plant yourself there long term or use it as a place to stay while visiting the area.
“Everybody kind of has a different lifestyle and a reason for having their tiny home, but it’s created this nice, well-rounded sense of community,” Abby said.
INSIDE THE COMMUNITY
Tiny Estates boasts many benefits to residents, both long term and short.
For one, they have the option to engage in ‘Community Days,’ in which residents all participate in an activity together.
One community hub serves as the center for all the gatherings that take place within Tiny Estates.
This could be a game night, knitting circle or music evening, with the activities as diverse as the people who live there.
Rent varies between $650 and $750 and covers nearly everything you could think of – water, electric, propane, Internet, trash, mowing and property taxes.
The space also boasts a community garden, firepit, mailbox space and laundry facilities.
Residents tend to share all of their produce grown, offering a new food supply for everyone on the property, Abby said.
There’s also an off-leash dog park, guaranteeing that all residents, furry and otherwise, have enough space to run around and enjoy the Tiny Estates.
FUTURE OF TINY ESTATES
That’s just the start of what’s to come in the tiny home village.
Soon, Abby said, residents can expect both a large and tiny dog park, plus EV charging stations to help those looking for a more sustainable lifestyle.
There will also be a specific section of the Tiny Estates land geared for hotel-like rentals while the rest of the space offers lots for long term living.
“The goal is somewhere around 25 acres, to do about 100 sites,” Abby said. “Ultimately, we would love to have a small pod that are rentals where people can try it out, that they can experience the community.”
This continues Tiny Estates’ larger mission of offering affordable housing as traditional home prices remain out of reach for many Americans.
“The hope for us is more of an affordable housing community and a better option for people who want something permanent,” Abby said.
She anticipates around 30 to 40 more Tiny Estates communities to open up across the country in the next five years as well.
If you are interested in having a tiny home community in your own town, you can fill out the form on Tiny Estates’ website.
IMPACTFUL LIVING
Tiny Estates resident Dylan was initially surprised by just how impressive the tiny homes could be.
“I thought it was going to be this really compact walk hunched around all the time,” he said.
“When we actually came to look at it, the place was incredible.”
Another resident, Debra, said the tiny home lifestyle afforded her flexibility and financial independence when she found herself divorced after being a stay-at-home mom for more than 20 years.
“Not having employment, I couldn’t even necessarily put my resume out there,” she said.
“I don’t exist as a person, so if I go to try and rent an apartment in an apartment building, they won’t even take my application.”
Tiny Estates is different, and for a rent of just $650, the price is truly unbeatable for many of the community members.
“I’m so grateful,” Debra said.
“Being on a journey and coming out of a dark place, this is such a positive thing.”
Entire families are able to occupy the tiny home spaces as well.
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One tiny home enthusiast revealed how she converted a $13,000 van into a full living setup for her nomadic lifestyle.
Plus, Lowe’s is selling a house shed you can easily convert into your own mini-house for just $12,000.
