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☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Financing a tiny home just got easier. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A change in housing finance policy will make it easier for people to build ADUs. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt just got easier for many homeowners to build a tiny home on their property. Ryan O'Connell and Jakota Rivas, a California ADU grant recipient, in front of her ADU in California. Cities across the country — in red and blue states alike — have passed legislation that makes it easier to build. Laws like this, and a similar congressional bill, will help middle class homeowners build an ADU with more financial ease.

Persons: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, It's, —, Fannie, Freddie, Ryan O'Connell, O'Connell, Jakota Rivas, Eric Santucci, he's, Bill Organizations: Service, Administration, FHA Locations: California, Los Angeles, . California , Vermont, New York

☆ California's first batch of 1,200 tiny homes to address homelessness crisis will be built in an abandoned lot in Sacramento — see what they could look like
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"We're just people who were trying to help these participants better their life," Priscilla Rodriguez, a case manager at the Chandler Street Tiny Home Village, told Insider in 2021. "They're not trying to harm the community in any way, they're trying to get themselves back into the community." The Chandler Street Tiny Home Village. Brittany Chang/Insider

Persons: Priscilla Rodriguez, They're, Brittany Chang Organizations: Chandler

☆ I downsized from my city apartment to a tiny house in the countryside to save money – but my cost of living increased instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Brooke Morton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is from an interview with Stacie DaPonte, 31, about living in a tiny house outside Toronto. That set me researching what it would take to downsize to a tiny house in the countryside. The benefits of living in a tiny house in the countryMy front yard is a river and I'm surrounded by ducks. AdvertisementAdvertisementI couldn't buy the tiny house all at once with cash, so I am paying off a line of credit. Tiny living is a reality I hope more people see and read about.

Persons: Stacie DaPonte, DaPonte, —, I've, It's, I'm Organizations: Service, Facebook, Gas Locations: Toronto, Ontario, Barrie

☆ Many of us want to work alongside others — just not all the time. The coworking startup Radious thinks it has the answer.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Moreau is CEO and cofounder of Radious, a startup that lets you rent out your house as a coworking space . She thinks many people want to work alongside others — just not all of the time. Companies can rent Radious homes, too, to bring their workers together somewhere other than an office but that's still private. They're all doing some combination of remote work with occasional in-person togetherness," Moreau said. When they occur, people can sign up to work for a day from one of the homes Radious lists.

Persons: Radious, —, Amina Moreau, Moreau, Amina Moreau She, Radious's, We've, It's Organizations: Area, Service, Homeowners Locations: RTO, PJs, Portland , Oregon, Milwaukee, People, WFH, Bay, Marin County, Santa Cruz, Northern California

In March, the Democratic governor announced a plan to gift several California cities hundreds of tiny homes by the fall to create space to help clear homeless encampments that have sprung up across the state’s major cities. More than 171,000 homeless people live in California, making up about 30% of the nation’s homeless population. The state has spent roughly $30 billion in the last few years to help them, with mixed results. Officials also pointed to a new law signed by Newsom in July to streamline construction of tiny homes. “It’s going to help thousands of people who are going to benefit because of the comprehensive nature of the approach here.”Sacramento and the state have also agreed to place the other 175 tiny homes at the California state fairgrounds.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom's, Newsom, it’s, ” Hafsa Kaka, “, We’ve, Darrell Steinberg, “ It’s Organizations: Gov, Democratic, Sacramento Bee, WellSpace Health, Sacramento, Transportation Authority Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, Sacramento, California, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, ” Sacramento, Santa Clara

☆ Tiny Homes Are the Hot New Homeowners’ Accessory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Nicole Friedman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/tiny-homes-are-the-hot-new-homeowners-accessory-71cc05a9

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Three Californians got $40,000 to build tiny homes in their backyards. They share how it's made their lives better and easier.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Some California residents got $40,000 in grant money to build tiny homes on their properties. AdvertisementAdvertisementThousands of California homeowners got a $40,000 check from the state to build a tiny home in their backyard last year. California is reviving the ADU grant program again, but details are being worked out. Altogether, we paid $124,000 out of pocket, got the $40,000 from the state, and a forgivable loan of $67,500. I paid for the majority of the project with my savings, and the rest with the $40,000 California ADU grant.

Persons: —, Los Angeles —, Dan Romo, Daniel Romo, Kristin Romo, Dan, Kristin, Jakota Rivas, Eric Santucci, Rivas, shutdowns, wasn't, it's, we're, Rosario Organizations: Service, Housing, HPP, California ADU Locations: California, Orange County, Napa, Los Angeles, Whittier , California, New Hampshire, Napa , California, Northern California, Napa County, Rosario, Los Angeles , California

☆ Want to build a tiny home in your backyard? Here's how you can finance it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Backyard tiny homes, called ADUs, are becoming increasingly popular. AdvertisementAdvertisementBackyard tiny homes, called accessory dwelling units or ADUs, are becoming more popular as some state and local governments roll back zoning restrictions. That's because government-backed mortgage providers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set the strict standard for all other mortgage lenders. Sometimes, when financing an ADU loan, programs like RCUs may consider the property's worth after the ADU is constructed when underwriting the loan. Clark and her husband moved into the main home, and Sandoval-Clark and her family live in the ADU.

Persons: —, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Freddie, Ryan O'Connell, you've, Peter Bohler, Suszi Lurie McFadden, O'Connell, RCU, RenoFi, it's, Katie Sandoval Clark, Marshall, Barbara Clark, Mother Barbara Clark, Katie Sandoval, Clark, Sandoval Organizations: Service, CAST, —, Denver Post, Redwood Credit Union, ADUs, Area Locations: California, — New York , California, Vermont, Denver , Colorado, Napa County , California

☆ A couple left Miami and downsized to a tiny home in a Georgia forest. They found happiness through building more tiny homes in their backyard and renting them on Airbnb.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

John and Fin Kernohan are Airbnb hosts who rent out eight units in their backyard in Georgia. They live in a tiny cabin on the property and built a community around tiny living. The tiny firehouse, tiny houses, yurts, and domes that they rent out range from $99 to $148 a night. They went on to build a tiny firehouse on wheels to take to fundraising events to raise money for firefighters. "What I love most about living in the Beloved Cabin is how simple your life is," she said.

Persons: John, Fin, —, Fin Kernohan, wasn't, John Kernohan, They'd, didn't, they'd, Rocco, they've, who's, They're Organizations: Service, Tiny, Tiny House Association, United Tiny, Facebook Locations: Georgia, Miami, London, Lake Oconee, Zillow, Thailand, Moroccan, Atlanta, Vietnam, South Korea

☆ Boxabl acknowledges SEC inquiry in updated filing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In a filing, Boxabl acknowledges it is the subject of an SEC inquiry. AdvertisementAdvertisementBoxabl has acknowledged that it is the subject of an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission in an updated financial statement. Two of those people were subpoenaed, a step the SEC typically takes when it is conducting an investigation. "The SEC does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation," Cory Jarvis, an SEC spokesman, wrote to Insider in an email. AdvertisementAdvertisementBoxabl has been delayed in filing financial information, disclosing its full-year financial performance for 2022 in August.

Persons: Boxabl, cofounders, —, Greg Ehlers, Ehlers, Casitas, countersued, Boxable, Cory Jarvis, Galiano Tiramani, Tiramani, Paolo Organizations: SEC, Service, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: North Las Vegas, Nevada, Portland , Oregon

☆ In wealthy Colorado ski towns, teens are building tiny homes for teachers who can't afford a place to live
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

High school woodworking students in Colorado are building tiny homes for their teachers and staff. Teachers, already underpaid, face a mounting housing crisis in some wealthy Colorado cities, reports say. In a ski town with ultra-rich residents, high schoolers in Aspen High School's woodshop program are building a 200-square-foot tiny home for one of the district employees, The Colorado Sun reported. Aspen School District and Summit School District, both of which include resort towns, have both turned to student-built tiny homes for district employees – amid what state officials have called an affordability crisis. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn Aspen School District, over a third of its 280 staff members live in school district housing, the Colorado Newsline reported.

Persons: Jared Polis, Dave Baugh, it's, Baugh, John Fisher, Fisher Organizations: Service, The Colorado Sun, Aspen School District, Summit School District, Colorado Newsline, Aspen High School, Colorado Sun, Sun Locations: Colorado, Wall, Silicon, Aspen

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