The Best Amazon Tiny Homes for Less Than $50,000: Inside the DIY Dwellings Taking the Internet by Storm
Amazon.com (2); TikTok/UnspeakableAmericans spend billions of dollars each year on Amazon purchases for their homes, but a new wave of shoppers are now turning to the online retail giant for the homes themselves—little houses that start at just $10,000 each.With the median house price in the U.S. now at $424,950, many people feel that the American dream of owning their own property is an impossible feat.Enter Amazon’s DIY tiny homes—compact properties that can be assembled in less than a day and cost a fraction of the average house or apartment.Some of those who have already purchased one of the diminutive dwellings have been showcasing the process on social media, revealing the truth about what it takes to put them together and how comfortable they really are.One social media user and proud Amazon homebuyer, Nathan Graham, was full of praise for his new property, which he purchased online for just $38,999.Americans spend billions of dollars a year on Amazon purchases for their homes—but a new wave of users are now turning to the online retail giant for the homes themselves, which start at just $10,000 each.TikTok/UnspeakableOne social media user and proud Amazon homebuyer, Nathan Graham, was full of praise for his new property, which he purchased online for just $38,999.TikTok/Unspeakable“I’ve never folded a house together,” he notes, before adding: “This thing is so easy to build, you just unfold it. It didn’t come with instructions, and we built it.”TikTok/UnspeakableGraham, who is known as Unspeakable online, shared a video of himself unboxing his new abode, voicing his shock at how “legit” the home looked when he first opened it up.“There’s a whole bathroom! And a shower!” he and his friends exclaim as they tour the property, before expanding it out to its full size, revealing that the home essentially just “unfolds” and clips into shape.“I’ve never folded a house together,” he notes, before adding: “This thing is so easy to build, you just unfold it. It didn’t come with instructions, and we built it.”Another influencer, Jeffrey Bryant, 23, from Los Angeles, also took the Amazon property plunge, to the tune of $26,000, explaining that he worked with one of the company’s specialists to procure several “upgrades” to the home, including two free couches.Just like Graham’s home, Bryant’s tiny abode also came complete with a working bathroom that features a toilet and shower. He notes that the ceilings are “very low” but adds that, on the whole, he’s thrilled with his new dwelling.“I’m 23 years old, and I just bought a house off Amazon!” he marvels.He added in an interview with the New York Post: “People my age are told that we can’t afford to purchase homes, but I’m proof that it is possible.”While it may seem like a novel concept to purchase a house online from Amazon, real estate salesperson Douglas Bendt, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in New York City, says otherwise.“This concept is really quite old,” he notes. “Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold kit homes from its catalog in the early 1900s.”Another influencer, Jeffrey Bryant, 23, from Los Angeles, also took the Amazon property plunge, to the tune of $26,000, explaining that he worked with one of the company’s specialists to procure several “upgrades” to the home, including two free couches.hittaa_jeff/TikTok“I’m 23 years old and I just bought a house off Amazon!” he marvels, before showing off the plumbing connections on the home’s exterior, as well as the kitchen inside.TikTok/Jeffrey BryantHis tiny home came complete with a living room and a bathroom with a working shower and toilet.TikTok/Jeffrey BryantBe smart before you ‘add to cart’Before you hit “buy now” on an Amazon house, it’s crucial to do your homework—and lots of it.New York broker Nikki Beauchamp, of Sotheby’s International Realty, says she would have some major concerns if a client was going to do this—namely “zoning, where to put it, and— most importantly—quality of construction.”However, real estate agent Chantay Bridges, of EXP Realty in Los Angeles says, “Depending on the circumstances, I may not be opposed to the idea. I have a client who loves tiny homes, and it’s her dream to purchase one.”Before making your tiny-home dream come true, doing your due diligence is critical, particularly when it comes to figuring out where exactly you are going to build your new property.“Check the zoning laws, as it could be challenging to obtain permits and licenses even if you already have the land,” advises Bridges. “You don’t want to purchase a tiny house only to find out your city does not allow them or has extremely tight restrictions.”Connecting into the city’s sewage and water system could be another big hurdle, according to Sam Fitz-Simon, a real estate agent with Compass in Danville, CA.He advises meeting with your local planning and development department—as well as checking into insurance and financing—before adding one of these home kits to your cart.Others warn that you should only consider purchasing from reputable sellers whose listings have legitimate reviews.If you’ve done all your research and still want to have your “home, sweet, home” delivered by Amazon Prime, take a gander at these five houses that are only a click away—and all priced at less than $50,000.1. Adorable A-frameAmazon price: $13,078This modern retreat is delivered fully assembled, allowing “for hassle-free setup and relocation.”It has one bedroom downstairs, and a second bedroom upstairs in the loft. There’s an open, airy living room along with a kitchen and bathroom.But it’s the cabin’s incredible floor-to-ceiling windows that truly steal the show.Click to buy this “Modern A-Frame Cabin” on Amazon.This Amazon home comes with free delivery.Amazon2. Two-story modern oasisAmazon price: $49,899This two-story house is approximately 25 feet long and 20 feet wide.It makes ultraefficient use of the space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.The tiny home also boasts a full kitchen, a combined dining-and-living area, and an additional upstairs living room.Its one review on Amazon says, “The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the customer support throughout the process was fantastic.”Click to buy the “Double-Story House” on Amazon.This listing for this two-story house says it “comes fully furnished with modern furniture and high-quality appliances.”Amazon3. Bilevel with a balconyAmazon price: $24,750With its 20-foot expandable design, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny home is surprisingly roomy.It features double-glazed PVC sliding windows and security doors made of broken-bridge aluminum.It’s prewired for electric and plumbing and has a roof insulated with flame-retardant foam panels.The listing even claims it is “typhoon- and wind-resistant.”Click to buy the “Double-Story Container House” on Amazon.An Amazon home might “potentially need a foundation, so it’s not as plug-and-play as it might seem,” says Elyse Sarnecky of Marketplace Homes in Detroit, MI.Amazon4. Space-age abodeAmazon price: $35,000This unique dwelling is described as a “space capsule cabin house hotel, designed for modern living at its finest” that “has a lifespan of more than 50-60 years.”The one-bedroom unit is 40 feet long, with wall-to-wall windows.It conveniently comes prewired for electricity and plumbing.Click to buy the “Pod Mansion” on Amazon.This futuristic living pod usually ships within four to five weeks.Amazon5. Traditional tiny homeAmazon price: $23,000This tiny home’s structure is primarily made of galvanized steel, and it’s available in an array of colors including white, blue, gray, and brown.The listing says it takes just two hours to install, “greatly reducing labor costs.”The home also features an anti-rust, waterproof design that’s reportedly “anti-seismic.”The all-in price includes furniture, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, electrical appliances, and decorative materials.Click to buy the “Expandable Prefab Tiny Home” on Amazon.The Amazon home weighs 5,511 pounds and comes with a 30-day return guarantee.Amazon
REVEALED: Celebrities Who Want To Flee the U.S. in the Wake of Donald Trump’s Victory—and Where They Can Head
Instagram/Getty ImagesDonald Trump‘s victory in the 2024 presidential election has triggered a number of intriguing movements in the housing industry—but perhaps none more interesting than the hordes of celebrities vowing to move out of the U.S. rather than remain while he serves as the 47th president.Ahead of his inauguration in January, multiple stars have voiced their desire to quit America in favor of a new life abroad, with many making clear their plans long before the election had even taken place.So who is promising to leave—and where are they headed?Sharon Stone is just one of many A-listers looking abroad for a happier life. The “Basic Instinct” actress revealed earlier this year that she is dreaming of taking up residence in Italy.“I am certainly considering a house in Italy,” Stone told DailyMail.com in July. “I think that’s an intelligent construct at this time. This is one of the first times in my life that I’ve actually seen anyone running for office on a platform of hate and oppression.”A large number of celebrities have vowed to leave the U.S. in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty ImagesMusic icon Cher made clear the drastic steps she would take if Trump were to fight his way into the White House again before he had even claimed victory in the election.“I almost got an ulcer the last time,” she told the Guardian in 2023. “If he gets in, who knows? This time I will leave” the country.The singer is not the only star to have laid bare her plans to emigrate before the election even took place. Raven-Symoné said on “The View” in 2016 that she and her wife, Miranda Maday, would move if a Republican won again.Her choice of refuge? Canada.“My confession for this election is if any Republican gets nominated, I’m going to move to Canada with my entire family,” she said. “I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear.”America Ferrera is also reportedly set on pursuing a life away from the U.S., with sources claiming that she is looking to the U.K. as a new home base, along with her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, and their two children, son Sebastian, 6, and daughter Lucia, 4.“America is sick that Donald Trump is President again,” one insider claimed to DailyMail.com. “She is devastated that Kamala [Harris] lost. She thought the country she lived in was better than that.”In July, Minnie Driver told The Times of London that she was going back to the U.K. after nearly three decades in Los Angeles.The 54-year-old actress, who has lived in Los Angeles for more than two decades, said in July of this year that she “couldn’t” see herself living in a Republican-run state.“Living in California, you are somewhat insulated,” she said. “But do you want to go and live in a bubble? Do you run away from the fire or do you go back and help?”Whoopi Goldberg and Elon Musk’s daughter Vivian Wilson are among the high-profile personalities who have threatened to leave America now that Trump will be president again.InstagramShe added that she felt more “hopeful” about her prospects in the U.K., despite the country also going through a period of political upheaval.“I am more hopeful,” she continued. “For all the division in the U.K., there just seems to be a more robust connection between us. We have this discourse. We talk about it, and we laugh about it. We don’t pull out guns and shoot each other about it.”“The View” host Whoopi Goldberg has repeatedly said on the show that she often considers moving out of the U.S.“Maybe it’s time for me to move, you know,” she said. “I can afford to go.”Cardi B. hinted in a recent post that she wanted to leave the country: “And that’s word to the United States of mother f***king America.”Billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk‘s transgender daughter, Vivian Wilson, also joined the crowds of high-profile people promising to relocate in the wake of Trump’s election.She doesn’t “see her future being in the United States,” Wilston stated in a Threads post.“I’ve thought this for a while, but yesterday confirmed it for me,” she began her post. “I don’t see my future being in the United States. Even if [Trump is] only in office for four years, even if the anti-trans regulations magically don’t happen, the people who willingly voted this in are not going anywhere anytime soon.”While some stars have already revealed where they plan to relocate, those who haven’t might want to consider one of the 10 places that were named as being the best for American expats in a recent InterNations survey.Those places in question include Panama City, Budapest, the French countryside, Belize, and Phuket, Thailand, which all offer low housing rates and easy ways to gain residency by proving small incomes.In addition to housing, many of these spots have a strong economy, an expanding tourism industry, and universal health care.But in addition to moving to a country or city where the politics are better aligned with your personal views, what other advantages can be gained from relocating? One upside is that many countries are more affordable than the U.S.As for how to secure your entry into another country, there are a few means by which Americans can go about it, including securing a visa, procuring a “golden visa” (which is given to those who invest in real estate in exchange for residency), and relying on ancestry links.According to immigration attorney Jean-Francois Harvey, of Harvey Law Group, inquiries about relocating abroad have spiked this year. And even a small budget can be enough to purchase a home in Spain, Portugal, or the Netherlands.
3 Cities Where Mortgage Payments Are Less Than $1,500 a Month
Canva (3)Housing affordability, or lack thereof, emerged as a key issue in last week’s presidential election, and many homebuyers continue to search for markets that won’t strain their budgets.But here’s some promising news: Three affordable Midwest markets—Rockford, IL, Akron, OH, and Canton, OH—have secured prime spots in the top 20 of the October Realtor.com® Hottest Housing Markets report, ranking No. 4, No. 9, and No. 12, respectively.These cities feature median home prices around $250,000, a hefty $175,000 below October’s median home price of $424,950. The Midwest has consistently ranked on the top 20 hottest markets list since February 2022, thanks to its budget-friendly prices—and hefty monthly mortgage payment savings.“The typical [monthly] mortgage payment, assuming a 10% down payment, would be $1,455 or less in these areas,” says Hannah Jones, Realtor.com® senior economic research analyst, in her report.“Including tax and insurance costs, the minimum recommended income to afford this payment is roughly $73,000, which is about 10% less than the national median household income,” adds Jones.Since February 2022, the Midwest has consistently ranked on the hottest markets list, and it’s easy to see why.Beyond the appealing price range, Rockford, Akron, and Canton offer quality living and convenient proximity to major cities.Read on to find out why this trifecta of cities attracts so many budget-minded homebuyers.Rockford, ILMedian list price: $242,000Homebuyers are flocking to Rockford, and one reason is free college tuition.All students who live in Rockford, attend Rockford public schools, and maintain a 3.0 GPA are eligible to attend Northern Illinois University tuition-free through the Rockford Promise Northern Illinois University Scholarship Program.Additionally, the region hosts several hospital systems, a thriving aerospace industry, and a robust manufacturing workforce, which attracts even more house hunters.“Inventory levels are still low in Rockford,” says local real estate agent David Dale Johnson, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate. “Some areas of the Rockford market still see full price or greater offers. Bidding wars still occur when homes are priced appropriately and in good condition.”Rockford is located 90 miles southwest of Milwaukee and 90 miles northwest of Chicago.“Many buyers are migrating from the Chicago area and its surrounding suburbs,” says Johnson.It doesn’t hurt that homes in the Rockford area are around 28% less expensive than in Chicago, where the typical home cost $340,000 in October.And the Rockford market could become even more competitive now that the presidential election is over.“It seems like sellers and buyers tend to hold off during the three months leading to an election, then make their decision to move,” says Johnson.This incredible Rockford, IL, home is 2,222 square feet and available for $247,500.Realtor.comAkron, OHMedian list price: $228,000Climate resilience is a major reason why buyers are attracted to Akron. Just 1.8% of Akron properties are at severe or extreme risk of experiencing a natural disaster over the next 30 years.“Greater Akron is an exceptional location that blends urban excitement with natural beauty,” says Gregg Mervis, president and CEO of the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau.The city has scenic hiking trails, a fantastic culinary scene, and great shopping at local, one-of-a-kind stores.“Greater Akron is overflowing with fun for everyone,” says Mervis, who lists the Akron Zoo, the Akron Art Museum, and the Akron Civic Center as must-sees.Houses in the area spent just 36 days on the market in October, 22 days less than the national average.“High demand and scarce inventory conditions drive views per property higher, upping the competition for homes in the hottest markets and leading to snappier home sales,” says Jones.This two-bedroom, one-bathroom Akron, OH, charmer is just $175,000.Realtor.comCanton, OHMedian list price: $252,000Last month, Canton ranked No.1 in the Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com® Housing Market Ranking.What makes Canton so desirable? According to Ohio real estate investor Paul Gabrail, who grew up in Canton, one of the area’s biggest draws is its low cost of living.Many home shoppers search for Canton properties from nearby bigger cities such as Akron and Cleveland.“As you get closer to Cleveland going north, the cost increases substantially,” explains Gabrail.Canton, known as “America’s Playing Field,” is the birthplace of the NFL and is the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, “which garners a lot of national exposure,” Gabrail says.For real estate investors looking for an up-and-coming housing market, Canton is a safe bet, he says.“In terms of ROI, if you can buy a property for a relatively low price while the nation’s income goes up, you’ll probably do better in cities like Canton versus bigger cities in the West like Los Angeles,” he says.This three-bedroom, two-bathroom Canton, OH, cutie is listed for $159,900.Realtor.com
Categories
Recent Posts
