Tiny House Hunting

Jasen and Eric are a married couple with family roots and a Victorian home in quiet Long Island, but a passion for the Manhattan lifestyle. And since they both work in Gotham, they’d love to get their commuting time back. They want to have the best of both worlds by keeping their home on the Island, and buying an affordable tiny space in the city. Time will tell how the plan plays out in the reality of the Manhattan real estate market.

Austin dwellers Michael and his girlfriend Beth are modern American nomads. They want to keep their financial commitments low, and their flexibility high so they can wander the world as they please. Michael’s normal-sized home of ten years seemed like an impediment to this lifestyle, until he got a brainstorm. Suppose he rents out his current home to help pay for their travels, and puts a tiny, manufactured ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) in the backyard to use as a home base between trips? The search is on!

Jenna and Scott are buying their first place together in the windy city and although they agree that limiting their lifestyle to a five hundred square foot space will allow them to live life to the fullest, that’s where the harmony ends. From budget to style, these young lovebirds have a lot to sort out, and the great variety of downsized living options in Chi-town don’t make their final decision any easier.

Currently living in Sarah’s parents’ house, these risk-taking newlyweds are ready to take on one of their biggest adventures yet–investing in a tiny home. As freelance videographers, Patrick and Sarah love being in control of their own schedule, and having the ability to travel for extended periods of time. Traveling the world with only a few essential possessions made them realize that living minimally fits their lifestyle best. The two are ready to set out and find a tiny home that they can easily maintain, while not having to worry about a huge mortgage to pay while they’re away.

Maura and Scott are the proud parents of two year old Beatrice and until now they’ve always thrived on the art scene and energy of New York City. But Maura, who’s from Charleston, SC originally, wants to rediscover her roots, and historic downtown Charleston has a lot to offer: cultural events, walkability and cozy abodes under 600 square feet. Scott agrees with the plan to go tiny in Charleston, that is, until he sees a little bungalow that’s under budget and right near the beach. Visions of family fun in the sun are enticing for dad, but the city lover in mom isn’t so convinced.

On a trip from D.C. to California’s wine country a few years ago, Keith and Rob discovered how much they love the place. So much so that they decided to move to San Francisco permanently just so they could continue spending their days off strolling the vineyards and tasting wine. Now they’re putting the next phase of their plan into action–buy a tiny home there. That is, if they can afford it. Tiny or not, real estate with wine country views can get pricey.

Boise based writer Elisabeth McKetta and her husband James Stead have a tiny quandary on their hands. They know they want to by a tiny house but they each want one for completely different reasons. Elizabeth wants a 200 square foot writer’s shack that she can escape to in order to work on her novel, whereas James wants a 500 square foot summer retreat that he and the kids can enjoy while Elizabeth works part-time in Boston. With help from designer and architect Derek Hurd, hopefully this story has a happy ending.

Jon is Honolulu born and bred. He went to college in Ithaca, New York, but migrated right back to his Pacific paradise when he was done with school. He’s a physical therapist, Ironman triathlete, and an eligible bachelor with a gonzo social life. And at the age of 30, he’s ready to buy his first home. The problem is that Honolulu real estate is ridiculously expensive. So Jon’s got his sights set on a tiny bachelor pad–long on style, light on price. And since he’s a real estate virgin, he’s got his wingman Scott backing him up on the hunt.

San Diego dwellers Carleigh and Kevin are getting ready for an intense 9 weeks. Specifically, they’ll be buying their first home, and welcoming their first child into the world…. hopefully in that order! They’re determined to be close to the beach, and are willing to go tiny to make that happen. But is 500 square feet really enough space for three, even if one is a rugrat? Time will tell.

The Railsplitters is a Boulder, Colorado based bluegrass band headed by lead singer and guitarist Lauren Stovall, and now that they’re blowing up she’s spending long stints on the road moving from gig to gig and living in one hotel to the next. When not touring she’d love to buy and park a tiny home in the mountains outside of town instead of always having to crash on friends’ couches, and it’d be pretty cool to have a creative space to write hits in and host band practice. That is, if she can find it.

Nash and Sophie are newlyweds and professional cooks at a high end restaurant in Salt Lake City. But to become chefs in the ultra-competitive culinary world, they need to be nimble. That means pulling up stakes and moving to a new city whenever opportunities arise. So they’ve decided to buy a tiny home on wheels from a builder in Nampa, Idaho who specializes in trailable tiny houses. Nash and Sophie quickly discover that in the world of tiny living, every square inch counts, and ingenuity is the key to successful design.

Australian Andrew and Californian Connie are the original free spirits. Andrew’s first job was as a guitarist in a 1980’s Aussie rock band. He met Connie on a rock video shoot in LA where she was a wardrobe stylist, and sparks flew. Fast forward 22 years, and they’re married and living in Hawaii. After sampling life in the 50th state for 10 years, they’ve decided to find a secluded tiny home in the jungles of the Big Island, where they can enjoy their surroundings with clothes on or off. With Andrew in Tokyo at a recording session, the house hunt is in Connie’s hands, and her friend Terra Ann will be her copilot.

Kendra is a successful dancer who travels the world performing in blockbuster theater productions, but when it comes to investing in a tiny home base, Chicago is where her heart is–especially near one of the city’s many beaches. With jazz hands excitement, Kendra has always dreamed about owning a tiny urban space near the water, but she’s not the only one in the chorus line: lakeside property demand kicks up the prices and leaping over the gap in her budget could be a hard dance number to pull off.

As a road manager on a bunch of big name music tours, Angela spends eight months a year living on a sleeper bus. Every day she rolls into a new city, sets up a production office, manages the event, and packs up again. When a tour wraps up, she usually heads back to her hometown of Kansas City, and crashes with her mom. But now that seven years of touring have come and gone, she wants to spend her rock and roll money on a tiny home she can call her own. Her high school friend Jill is riding shotgun on the search to keep her honest.

Drew Smith is a Navy doctor who’s been deployed to San Diego. He and his wife, Libby along with their two dogs, have moved into a temporary apartment downtown until they can find a 700 square foot craftsman home in the historic streetcar neighborhood of North Park. Original built-ins and vintage charm abounds in the area’s prewar homes, something Libby loves. But Drew, not so much. He’s got a thing for shinier, modern finishes instead. Whose taste will win out in Libby and Drew’s tiny house hunt?