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☆ I've stayed in Airbnbs around the world by myself. My top tip for solo travelers is to book for 2 people — even if it costs more.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewCozy cabins, unique tiny homes, luxury apartments — I've booked them all through Airbnb. As a travel reporter, I've stayed in accommodations around the world, from the US and Canada to Western Europe. Usually, I travel solo. AdvertisementWhen it comes to staying in Airbnbs solo, my best tip is to book accommodation for two peopleThe author stays at a tiny-home hotel in Germany that she booked through Airbnb. But after all my unique Airbnb experiences, I think it's worth booking them even when I'm alone.

Persons: —, I've, I'm, Joey Hadden Organizations: Service, Business, Quebec City, Airbnb Locations: Airbnb, Canada, Western Europe, Airbnbs, Switzerland, Europe, Niagara Falls, Montréal, Quebec, Germany, Rome

☆ A 24-year-old spent $140,000 buying and converting a Mercedes van. Take a look inside the luxury home on wheels.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

So, she set out to do just that for her most recent van conversion. AdvertisementFor the next nine months, she designed and built a space that's just as much functional as it is artistic. By the end of the conversion, Minor said she spent $140,000 on the build. For example, Minor used liquid fiberglass — a material that's typically used on the exterior of automobiles — inside her van. "In which case, it just turns into a regular business that's complicated, that's restricted."

Persons: —, Abbe Minor, Minor, Autoevolution, Noovo, I've, I'm, she'd, Diego's, Minor's van, van isn't, Abbe Minor's van, she's Organizations: Service, Business, Minor, Overland Locations: San Diego, Pennsylvania, Washington

☆ I made $20,000 in 5 months by renting out extra apartments in my Sacramento backyard
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

My wife and I live in a century-old home in Sacramento, but also own 13 investment properties spread throughout Texas and California. In 2004, we bought a $300,000 investment property, a duplex in Midtown Sacramento, which we rent out. AdvertisementLast year, I built two cottages on the duplex's lot and began renting them out as ADUs. After several months of collaboration with the company's design team, we submitted an application to the city of Sacramento. AdvertisementWith Sacramento allowing up to 1,200 square feet per ADU, I chose to build two 600-square-foot cottages on the lot.

Persons: —, George Warren, I've, Warren's ADU, Kevin Craig, ADUs, they're, it's, Warren Organizations: Service, Business, Tiny Homes, YouTube, Sacramento State University Locations: Sacramento, Texas, California, Midtown Sacramento, Warren, it's, ADUs, Warren's, Atlanta

☆ I downsized to an ADU I built in my Sacramento yard. I pay only $520 toward my mortgage and am saving up for my next home.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One of them sent me an advertisement for CalHFA's ADU grant program that gives eligible Californians $40,000 to cover blueprints, permits, and closing costs to build an ADU on their property. In 2022, I began the process of getting approved for the CalHFA's ADU grant, which was pretty easy. As a result, my mortgage, including my main house and ADU, increased by $1,500 a month — from $1,200 to $2,700. There are two renters living in the main property and my son and I moved into the ADU. Living in the ADU with my son, I only pay $520 of the $2,700 mortgage.

Persons: —, Blanca Barragan, They've, Barragan, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Habitat, Humanity, Tiny Locations: Sacramento, Blanca, California

☆ The hottest hotel rooms right now are luxury tents and RVs. They can cost more than $2,700 a night.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Both are adding glamping resorts to their booking channels, where their members can earn and redeem points. Interest in high-end camping has remained strong since its boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. No word yet on whether it will include the high-end hotel brand's 12 other luxury camping resorts. But the addition of these glamping resorts to its booking channels isn't Hyatt's first venture into glamping. Alongside the Caribbean property's existing traditional hotel, Hyatt plans to deploy modular tiny-home-sized hotel room units directly on the beach.

Persons: —, Getaway's, AutoCamp, Airstream, Brittany Chang, Hilton, Jason Brannan, It's, Hilton hasn't, they'll, Smith's, Hyatt, Smith, Dunton , Colorado —, KOA Organizations: Hilton, Hyatt, Service, Business Locations: America, Sri Lanka's Yala, Dunton , Colorado, Sri Lanka, glamping, California, Punta Mita, Mexico

☆ You can soon book luxury Airstream campgrounds through Hilton. I've stayed at 2 of the 'glamping' resorts and loved them more than traditional hotels.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Travelers can soon use Hilton Honors points at AutoCamp's popular "glamping" resorts. The rapidly expanding luxury camping chain has seven locations, many near national parks. As someone who's stayed at two of AutoCamp resorts, I think the mutually beneficial partnership is a great idea. AdvertisementLike other "glamping" and campgrounds, AutoCamp experienced a windfall in bookings during the COVID-19 pandemicTravelers will soon be able to book AutoCamp's resorts through Hilton's website. The glamping company's properties are the perfect compromise between the invigorating seclusion of camping and the indulgences of a traditional Hilton hotel.

Persons: Hilton, —, It's, who's, Brittany Chang, AutoCamp, Airstream, they'll, Joshua Tree, I've, it's Organizations: Service, AutoCamp, Hilton Locations: Zion , Utah, New York, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Texas, Sequoia, America, glamping, Brittany

☆ These nature-inspired tiny homes starting from $58,000 are now available in the US — check them out
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Portugal-based carpentry company Madeiguincho began building tiny homes for European customers in 2016. Take a look inside a variety of their tiny homes, ranging from $58,619 to $74,535 in price. AdvertisementSo far, the company has built 25 tiny homes, with prices starting at €55,000 (about $58,600). In 2019, Madeiguincho, which constructs the tiny homes in Portugal, collaborating with local builders and architects, began shipping to the US. AdvertisementTake a look inside some of Madeiguincho's tiny homes.

Persons: Madeiguincho, —, Marrote Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Portugal, Queens , New York, Berlin , New York, India, Nepal

☆ Hyatt is set to use modular tiny homes as hotel rooms at a new all-inclusive Caribbean resort — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The expanded property is set to use modular, tiny home-sized units as hotel rooms. The 52 units are scheduled to open in June at Hyatt's Dreams Curaçao resort in the Caribbean. Soon, they'll be dropped onto the sunny and sandy beaches of tourist-beloved Curaçao in the Caribbean — not as housing, but as hotel rooms. Hyatt is expanding its all-inclusive Dreams resort on the Caribbean island. But instead of building another typical highrise hotel, the hospitality giant is taking a page out of the glamping resort playbook with plans to deploy 52 tiny home-sized modular units as hotel rooms, set to open in June.

Persons: —, they'll, Curaçao Organizations: Hyatt, Service Locations: Caribbean, backyards, California, Florida

☆ It took an Austin developer 4 years to build 4 small homes that he made no money on as the city struggles to bridge the gap between tiny apartments and pricy houses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementFor decades, the city's restrictive zoning and land-use policies have made missing-middle housing almost impossible to build. But there aren't many options, particularly for homeownership, between mostly high-end apartments and prohibitively expensive single-family homes. But he's concerned the law won't do enough to shorten the permitting process for missing-middle housing construction. The HOME Act will encourage the construction of smaller single-family homes and promote density, making housing — particularly homeownership — more affordable. Turner just wants the city to "level the playing field" for developers who are willing to build missing-middle housing.

Persons: —, Scott Turner, Turner, Austin's, Austin, Eliza Relman, that's, he's, Brennan Griffin, Joe Sohm, Brandon Bell, Greg Anderson, Anderson, there's, It's, Nicole Nabulsi Nosek, I've, townhomes Organizations: Service, Business, Riverside Homes, Austin, Austin Business, Texas, HOME, Austin Habitat, Humanity, Texans, Reasonable, Democrats Locations: Austin, Austin , Texas, Texas, Manor, Georgetown, City Hall

☆ I spent years considering van life and finally embarked on a 2-week trip last fall. 5 months later, I'm still dreaming of the lifestyle.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The concept of van life has intriqued me for years. I've interviewed dozens of nomads who encouraged others to try van life with shorter trips. AdvertisementThose desires could be answered with van life — especially since the version of van life I saw scrolling on Instagram and TikTok seemed to fit my outdoorsy lifestyle. Related storiesI knew two weeks wasn't enough to experience every aspect of van life. Plus, the company's vans were what I dreamed of when I pictured van life.

Persons: I've, —, Monica Humphries, Maddy Garrett, Ram Organizations: Service, Valley Music, Arts, Gatorade, Allied Market Research, Business, Subaru, Walmart, Costco Locations: Bryce, United States, RVs, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Denver, New Mexico, Las Vegas

☆ Check out the tiny-home village a millennial built, where 29 units priced as low as $190,000 sold out in less than 2 months
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Micro-home community South Park Cottages offers locals an affordable alternative to renting. Homes in the community start at $190,000, and the typical monthly mortgage payment is around $1,500. South Park Cottages is so popular that its developer is building another community in Georgia. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Compare that to the typical home sold in Atlanta, which Redfin found cost $431,250 as of February 2024.

Persons: —, Booker Washington, Redfin Organizations: Cottages, Service, Business Locations: Georgia, Atlanta

☆ An Airbnb cofounder's new startup wants to drop factory-made tiny homes into California backyards — see inside its $324,000, two-bedroom unit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Samara, cofounded by Airbnb's Joe Gebbia, is selling modular accessory dwelling units. See inside its most expensive unit, a $324,000 two-bedroom tiny home. AdvertisementA new startup wants to drop tiny homes into your backyard. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you might recognize one of its cofounders, Joe Gebbia. Quite the opposite: It's manufacturing factory-built accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or tiny homes, that can be dropped into Californians' backyards.

Persons: Airbnb's Joe Gebbia, —, Oz, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Joe Gebbia, Brian Chesky Organizations: Service, Airbnb Locations: Samara, Mexico, It's California

☆ Tiny home sensation Boxabl welcomes investors in as its founders plan to cash out $10 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As the company has sought a financial lifeline by inviting more investors in, its cofounders are cashing out. The Tiramanis together previously sold off about $10 million of their shares in a 2022 fundraising round and have awarded themselves annual salaries of close to a million dollars each. "Maybe they're afraid that if they don't sell shares now they will walk away with nothing." A spigot of cash running dryBoxabl is seeking to raise $64 million in the share offering, an additional $10 million for the Tirmanis, and $1 million for other insiders at the company. AdvertisementAmong the insiders in the company seeking to sell shares in the funding round are Darryl and Lucille Maslak, the parents of Shawna Maslak, Galiano's wife.

Persons: —, Paola Tiramani, Galiano, Chad Cohen, Erik Gordon, Cohen, Darryl, Lucille Maslak, Shawna, Gordon Organizations: Service, Business, Scala Advisors, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Securities and Exchange Commission, University of Michigan Locations: North Las Vegas , Nevada, Canada

☆ Boxabl customers tired of waiting for their tiny homes ask for their deposits back as a cash crunch looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

While most of those customers say they have received their money, some said their refund requests were disputed or ignored. Two-thirds, or 23, of those people said they had asked to be refunded, or were going to ask Boxabl for their money back. Boxabl said it recently received approval to sell its homes in Arizona and is close to receiving similar clearances in California and Nevada. Amid its own dwindling cash supply, Boxabl has recently appeared less willing to grant refunds to some depositors who want out. When he sent an email in January to Boxabl asking for a refund, the company declined his request.

Persons: —, Boxabl, Dan Pena, Pena, Chris Armbruster, Gary Palmer, Palmer, He's, Galiano Tiramani, Zach Punnett, Punnett, Tiramani, What's, Paolo, Boxabl Galiano, Paolo Tiramani, Peers, Helene, Ali Faraji, Faraji, wouldn't Organizations: Service, North Las, Business, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Oklahoma City, Archdiocese, Regulators, Tesla Plaid Locations: North Las Vegas, California, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, Fort Worth , Texas, Riverside , California, Guantanamo Bay, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, California , Virginia , Nevada , Arizona , Utah, Hawaii, Canada, Atlanta, Aptos, Santa Cruz

☆ California plans to build 1,200 tiny homes for the homeless. Here's what they look like.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

California plans to build 1,200 tiny homes for the state's homeless community. The state selected six contractors to build different models of shelter homes. Here's what the homes look like. That's the case for some of California's unsheltered homeless community, which hopes to benefit from a promise by state officials nearly a year ago to provide over a thousand tiny home shelters free of charge. Gavin Newsom committed $1 billion in March to address the state's homelessness crisis with tiny homes in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

Persons: Gavin Newsom Organizations: Gov, Business Locations: California, Los Angeles , Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose

☆ I was thrilled to live in a tiny home. But it got too expensive, and now I'm moving out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elizabeth Illing moved into a tiny home believing it was a long-term solution to Austin's high rents. Illing said her rent and utility bills went up during the two years she's lived in the tiny home. I thought moving into the Casata tiny home community was a good idea for my family due to the affordability. I'm paying $600 to $700 more each month than I was before moving into the community. AdvertisementFor others considering moving into a tiny home, I would advise paying attention to your lease and definitely knocking on doors to talk to current residents.

Persons: Elizabeth Illing, Illing, she's, —, I've, It's, rollerblading, we've, it's, that's, we're Organizations: Service Locations: Austin , Texas, Pest

☆ My secret to traveling on a budget costs $129 a year. I've used it to stay in waterfront homes and mansions for free.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Courtenay Rudzinski | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I got my gigs with Trusted Housesitters, an international house-sitting platform that's $129 a year. The answer came to me when several avid travelers in my online groups suggested I try Trusted Housesitters, an international house-sitting and pet-sitting platform. Joining seemed like a great travel hack to stay almost anywhere for free. Now that I've done over 20 successful sits, owners often skip this step and book me based on my application alone. AdvertisementI'm thrilled I discovered Trusted Housesitters, and I plan to use it well into my retirement years.

Persons: —, Housesitters Courtenay Rudzinski, I'd, they'd, Courtenay, Courtenay Rudzinski, Jack Russell Terrier, I've, Courtenay Rudzinski I've, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: East Coast, penthouses, Texas, Maine, Houston, Freeport, East, Asheville, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, Vermont

☆ A backpacking millennial discovered he craved a slow and simple life, so he built a tiny house in France for himself and his cat
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Geoffrey Celard, 29, lives in a DIY tiny house with his pet cat in Valence, in southeast France. The tiny house took over a year to build and he estimates he spent $21,000 on the project. AdvertisementWhen Geoffrey Celard returned to France in 2020 from a six-month-long backpacking trip in Colombia, he needed a place to live. Geoffrey Celard/La Cabane — Mini Habitat"I built it in a warehouse-like place, which is shared with other builders of tiny houses. Tucked away in the countrysideCelard's tiny house is parked on a piece of land he rents with another friend who also has a tiny house.

Persons: Geoffrey Celard, Celard, — Organizations: Service, They're Locations: Valence, France, Colombia, Drôme, Paris

☆ I regretted buying a home and now live out of 2 suitcases in a $60-a-night Airbnb. I've finally found my freedom, but it's not for everyone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I had to resort to an iBuyer to sell the house quickly and get out, which meant I lost $100,000. There's an account called Living Big in a Tiny House that I always found fascinating. I always just thought, "That's a nice idea, but I'm not really into the RV lifestyle." I'm staying here for 30 days, and then I have another Airbnb lined up on the west side of Los Angeles. If you're someone who's able to work remotely and who loves freedom, I think this is really the way to go.

Persons: Stella Guan, Guan, —, I've, I'd, I'm, it'll, hasn't, It's Organizations: Service Locations: Los Angeles, LA, Washington, New York City, Europe, Asia, Balkans, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro

☆ See inside a 3D-printed tiny home being built to help address LA's housing crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Woodbury University School of Architecture's students and faculty are 3D printing a tiny home. AdvertisementLos Angeles could soon welcome its first permitted 3D-printed tiny home being built by an unexpected team. AdvertisementWoodbury University School of Architecture's 3D-printed tiny home will be topped with solar panels, according to its rendering. Woodbury University School of ArchitectureWhen finished, the unit will be Los Angeles' first permitted 3D-printed home , according to Woodbury's architecture school. Woodbury University School of ArchitectureBut nobody's lining up to move in despite its desirable location less than a 10-minute drive from Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Persons: —, Brittany Chang Organizations: Woodbury University School, Service, Futures, Solar, Architecture, US Department of, Woodbury University School of, Woodbury University School of Architecture, Solar Futures, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Business, Woodbury University, University of Maine's Locations: Los Angeles, Woodbury, Burbank , California

☆ A Gen Xer got $30,000 to build an extra apartment in her backyard. Renting it out makes paying her bills 'financially possible.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She received a total of $30,000 from the state to build an ADU in her backyard to rent out. The program provides grants to eligible homeowners to build an additional housing unit on what was a single-family lot. Advertisement"I definitely needed that extra income that a rental unit provides," Leiken told Business Insider. Courtesy of Marni LeikenDespite the cost, Leiken said she's happy, noting that the additional rental income helps cover her monthly expenses. Beyond the rental income she's receiving, Leiken is pleased that she's also helping provide housing to locals who need it.

Persons: Marni Leiken, —, Marni, Leiken, she's Organizations: Service, Housing Authority, Business Locations: Montpelier , Vermont, Vermont, California, New York, Leiken's, Montpelier

☆ See inside a tiny-home village that gives homeless people $200-a-month houses — and has a waiting list of 700 people
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Millionaire Marcel LeBrun is building a tiny-home village in Canada, just north of the Maine border. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's been nearly two years since 12Neighbours, a tiny-home village in Canada, welcomed its first resident. Marcel LeBrun at the 12Neighbours tiny-home village. Take a look inside the 12Neighbours tiny-home village. A resident of the 12Neighbours tiny-home village.

Persons: Millionaire Marcel LeBrun, —, Marcel LeBrun, LeBrun, " LeBrun, 12Neighbours, Marcel LeBrun LeBrun, Marcel LeBrun Every, Randy, Mark Osborne didn't, Marcel LeBrun Samantha Seymour, Marcel LeBrun 12Neighbours, who've, we're, Seymour Organizations: Residents, Service, Fraser Institute, Brunswick, Marcel LeBrun Village, Canadian Broadcasting Company, CBC, New, New Brunswick Housing Locations: Canada, Maine, Fredericton , New Brunswick, Maine , New Brunswick, Fredericton , New, New Brunswick, overpriced, 12Neighbours

☆ Renters 'almost instantaneously' claimed these 200-square-foot duplex tiny homes on wheels near Tampa for $1,300 a month — see inside the units
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Escape Homes has fit two tiny homes into one 42-foot-long duplex on wheels. Escape Homes' CEO said all of the rentals in this tiny-home community near Tampa were claimed within 36 hours of listing. Escape Homes' Escape Tampa BayThe options in the neighborhood's latest extension can't be purchased. Escape Homes' Escape Tampa BayAt this small square footage, space-saving hacks are necessary: They also have flip-up tables, elongated shelving, and a washer and dryer in the kitchen. Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay"Because the reaction to them was so positive," Dobrowolski says this won't be the last tiny-home duplex we'll see.

Persons: —, Dobrowolski Organizations: Homes, Service Locations: Tampa, Tampa , Florida, Wisconsin, Thonotosassa , Florida, Palm, Zillow

☆ I live in a tiny home mansion and fell in love with it — it's the only way I could afford to live in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Fortesa Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She moved to California to live in what she calls a "tiny mansion" and has no regrets. AdvertisementAdvertisementMy tiny mansion allowed me to move to an expensive areaThe living room of Murphy's tiny home. I now live in Ramona, California, about 45 minutes from downtown San Diego, in what I call my "tiny mansion." It's 550 square feet total, and I'm part of a tiny home community that has a mix of tiny homes on wheels, park models, and manufactured homes. I'm having a hard time with cell reception in my tiny mansion, but that will be worked out.

Persons: Stacey Murphy, —, It's, Lindsay Wood, I'd, Murphy, Stacey Murphy I'm, I'm, it's, you'd Organizations: Service Locations: California, Brooklyn , New York, Florida, Ramona , California, San Diego

☆ Take a look at a new 28-unit tiny home community near Austin where rent for a 2-bedroom is $1,375 a month
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A 28-unit tiny home community is now open near Austin, Texas with a monthly rent of $1,375. Tiny homes are increasingly used as an alternative to traditional housing. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementA city about 20 minutes north of Austin, Texas opened a new tiny home community in June. But unlike some of the pricey ones that have recently popped up , rent for these 28 units is capped at $1,375 a month.

Persons: —, Austin Organizations: Service, Apple Locations: Austin , Texas, , Texas

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