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You may have seen Macy Miller hinting about something a few weeks ago. The time has finally come for me to be able to share that with everyone! Even though tiny house festivals are starting up again, I thought it would be great to put on an online event that anyone worldwide can attend without having to travel. It’s called the Tiny House Summit and it’s a completely free 3-day online event. In this excerpt from the Summit, Macy shares why tiny houses are important and I thought it was too good not to share with the podcast audience. If you’re feeling unsure about your choice to go tiny, this interview will help you feel more confident and be a better advocate for yourself and your own lifestyle. You can see the lineup and register for the Summit at tinyhousesummit.co.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/233 In This Episode: Overview of the tiny house movement Understanding your reasons for living tiny Why legalization matters Overview of building codes and housing types Benefits of living tiny This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

This is a great real conversation about what it’s like living tiny. Megan Lockhart doesn’t try to hide the things that are struggles for her and her family and she’s also great about advocating for the benefits of tiny living. We talk about the pros and cons, trials and tribulations, and the immense benefit Megan feels she and her family get from the tiny house lifestyle. Stick around after the credits to hear a bonus session where Megan shares how her builder forgot to install the furnace in her tiny house and how it wreaked havoc in their first winter!Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/232 In This Episode: Questions you should ask about your tiny home The never-ending process of tidying up Pros and cons of compost toilets Creating more spaces for children Tips for working from home in a tiny house How did the builder forget to install the furnace? This week's Sponsor: Tiny House ConsiderationsTiny House Considerations is an 8-week interactive course to plan your tiny house with Ethan Waldman and Lina Menard as your guides. Includes: Weekly Lessons and Assignments Weekly Live Zoom Q&A Sessions with Two Pro Instructors Comprehensive Templates An Amazing Community Learn more and register: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thc

This has to be the most unique tiny house living situation I’ve ever seen! Sarah, Brandon, and their dog Iko live in a 225-square-foot tiny home that floats on a lake in The Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They live fully off-grid with no cell service and they are only accessible by boat. In this conversation, Sarah and Brandon graciously and openly share why and how they live this way, plus how much it costs and some of the unique challenges that present when you live on a lake in a temperate rainforest.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/231 In This Episode: How the floating house is set up What happens during storms? Legal requirements unique to floating homes Rent and utility costs The biggest logistical headache of this lifestyle How they deal with gray water and sewage Positive changes that came from their lifestyle

 We’re changing it up a little bit this week! Lucy Lich interviewed me on her podcast, Tiny House Conversations. We had an in-depth conversation about some of the most important decisions you need to make to plan and build a tiny house successfully. We also talked through my best-selling resource, Tiny House Decisions. Lucy is a great interviewer and it was a pleasure to be on her show!Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/230 In This Episode: Ethan’s tiny house-building experiences A common misconception about living in a tiny house Which decisions are actually covered in Tiny House Decisions? Thinking of a tiny house as a puzzle of systems Trailers, zoning regulations, and tiny house security

Although we’ve had skoolie owners and builders on the show before, this week’s guest is our first short skoolie dweller. Stefanie Wenceslao talks to me about what it’s like to be new to the tiny lifestyle, how to get to know other tiny house nomads, and what she’s learned so far through trial and error. Short school buses are in the same class as vans, U-Hauls, and ambulances, which means that this wonderful option for full-time tiny living is sometimes overlooked, but Stefanie explains why they make great rolling homes.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/229. In This Episode: One system for security and climate control The perks of traveling with your home Skoolie safety for solo travelers How to get to know other nomads Why a short school bus makes a great home on wheels This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

What is cohousing? Charles Durrett, who literally coined the phrase, explains what cohousing is, how it’s funded, and how the communities are set up. We also discuss how tiny house cohousing communities are a solution to homelessness and how any concerned citizen can use the cohousing model to solve the issue of homelessness in their own area.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/228 In This Episode: What is a cohousing community? Benefits of cohousing The magic number: why 50 is the ideal community population Challenges of maintaining affordability Tiny houses and homelessness How to get started planning your cohousing community This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $100 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Clutter affects us all, no matter how big or how tiny our houses are. Connie Ellefson believes that clutter ties up a huge amount of energy and creativity. In her new book, Clear The Space Feel The Rush, Connie offers tons of strategies for how you can get started with decluttering and organizing, and she shares some really good ones in this interview.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/227 In This Episode: Why is decluttering so difficult? How Connie handles old photos and mementos Games that make tidying up fun Sometimes clutter is a good thing Advice you probably haven’t heard about your old clothes How to break it all down into manageable pieces This Week's Sponsor: Tiny TuesdaysDid you know that I personally send a tiny house newsletter every week on Tuesdays? It's called Tiny Tuesdays and it's a weekly email with tiny house news, interviews, photos, and resources. It's free to subscribe and I even share sneak peeks of things that are coming up, ask for feedback about upcoming podcast guests, and more. It's really the best place to keep a pulse on what I'm doing in the tiny house space and also stay informed about what's going on in the tiny house movement. To sign up go to thetinyhouse.net/newsletter. I'll never send you spam and if you don't want to receive emails, it's easy to unsubscribe.

Are you curious about how to live tiny with children and pets? This week’s guest, Alexis Monkhouse, is a single mom who has been living in her tiny house for four years, along with her “Boss Baby” and their two dogs. She has a strong sense of what works and what doesn’t regarding tiny living and she talks to me about all the things that have gone right and some that haven’t during this fun conversation.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/226 In This Episode: Showing the real tiny life on YouTube Why the composting toilet didn’t work out Thinking of a washer/dryer combo? Listen up! When your builder gives you great advice The one feature Alexis wishes she had and why Popular tiny house cons debunked This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

How do you renovate a vintage Airstream in two months when you have no building experience? Allison and James not only made their vintage Airstream livable in two months while working full-time, but they also taught themselves how to do carpentry and electrical work - and found a parking spot! In this interview, we talk about how and why they worked on such a short timeline, how they approached learning, and what design choices they made in order to make the Airstream fully functional for their lifestyle.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/225. In This Episode: Developing a taste for life in motion Have you ever heard of too much storage in a tiny home? The surprising reason they chose fiberglass for the shower Working full-time while building How to get started when you have no building experience This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about this company Wilderwise, so I decided to invite one of the founders, Arya Mazanek for an interview. Wilderwise is taking a custom approach to just about every aspect of their tiny home builds- from the custom aluminum trailer that doubles as the floor foundation, to the aluminum and SIP frame, what really sets these tiny homes apart is the fact that they expand to have a full height second floor once they are parked in place. In this interview, I’ll ask Arya how the homes are built, how the second-floor expansion works, and what makes them modular. Stick around!Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/224 In This Episode: How they seal up the moving parts The difference between a loft and a story Benefits of a taller trailer Aluminum vs steel: what makes a better trailer? Who is buying tiny homes? What’s in the works for Wilderwise This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Yes, a tiny home can qualify for a traditional mortgage! Aubrie Gibbons works for Atlas Cottage Homes, a company that has developed a modular small home, or cottage as they call it, that can be traditionally mortgaged. They can even help you roll the cost of the land into that loan, along with the cottage. We also dispel some of the common myths about modular building, along with what modular building can and can’t do.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/223 In This Episode: How does one mortgage a tiny home? The differences between a cottage and other tiny homes All about the mortgage process Modular does not mean low quality This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House EngageCalling all future tiny house dwellers! I want to tell you about something that I created a few years ago that is the secret sauce for so many of my readers and listeners to get the motivation and the support they need to follow through on their tiny house dreams. It's an online community that I created called Tiny House Engage and it's like a small private social network with just tiny house enthusiasts. We have members of all stages in their tiny house journeys sharing advice and experiences. It’s a very unique online space that I love to hang out in. If you’re truly hoping, currently planning, building, or currently living in a tiny house, I know that you’re going to love Tiny House Engage and look forward to meeting you in there. Find out more about Tiny House Engage at thetinyhouse.net/engage. 

 Are you interested in listing a tiny house on Airbnb? I’ve been doing just that and I wanted to share my experiences with you. In this episode, I’ll cover what it’s been like turning my tiny house into an Airbnb, things I would have designed differently if I knew I was going to turn my house into a rental, and what it’s like to be an Airbnb host. Thank you to everyone who submitted their listener questions for the episode. For those of you who asked (and a lot of you asked), I do talk about what we do with the poo. Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/222 In This Episode: Why and where Ethan moved his tiny house How he prepared the site Covering guest expectations and liabilities What we do with the poo: all about the compost toilet Making the tiny house an easier rental Your amazing questions answered Podcast episodes full of Airbnb information This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

David Friedlander has been an advocate for the widespread adoption of minimal and tiny/low-impact living for over a decade. He’s been featured in the New York times, Minimalism documentary, and more. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore micro-living, hotel living, and what needs to change in our culture to more fully support a sustainable future living on the planet.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/221 In This Episode: Why David thinks the “American Dream” is a nightmare What is the cost of ownership? When and where social housing models work Has it become difficult to be a good person? The real housing crisis Cultural and regulatory hurdles to leading a low-impact life David’s advice for low-impact living This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

If you’re looking for inexpensive raw land you won’t want to miss this episode. Dave Denniston is a sort of raw land broker. he finds inexpensive land, makes sure it all checks out, finds out what can be done with it, and offers in-house financing. He explains the basics of raw land, gives us the scoop on some of his favorite tiny-home-friendly counties in US states, and lets us know which episodes of his own podcast will be most beneficial as you’re searching for that perfect plot.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/220 In This Episode: How (and why) they buy land to resell What you need to know when you look for land Who to talk to find out what’s allowed on a piece of property Is land a good investment? Tiny-friendly places that David loves  Mohave County, AZ Cibola County, NM Apache County, AZ Park County, CO St Louis County, MN Land Stories podcast episodes you need to hear This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Can a relationship survive a DIY tiny house build? Cassie and Richard Saude of Lionheart Homes built their own tiny home and took their passion for the tiny house community to start their own tiny home building business. They now build houses for others, using their knowledge and insights as tiny home dwellers to provide additional insight to their clients in the design and construction process.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/219 In This Episode: Making tiny comfortable for full-time living How consultants are helping tiny house builders scale What to ask your builder before you sign the contract The perspective their DIY build gave their business Financing options for tiny homes This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Today I am joined by a group of three friends to solve the problem we’re all facing today: the housing crisis! They decided to start a company called Tiny Easy that provides affordable tiny house plans with beautiful designs, SketchUp courses, and a lot more in the works. This is an impressive group of young entrepreneurs who I think will go a long way in the tiny house world.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/218 In This Episode: A one-stop-shop for everything tiny Helping people customize their tiny house plans An easier way to design with SketchUp How to design a tiny house in 10 minutes Why tiny homes are huge in New Zealand New Zealand’s tiny house regulations This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

Would you believe me if I told you that it was entirely possible to record an album on a sailboat? Alli and Gaylen are the Sail Bums, a musical duo from Maine who live on their 37-foot Endeavour sailboat. In addition to explaining how they manage their music business while traveling the eastern seaboard, they also give some great advice to nomads on both land and sea and talk about why the nomadic lifestyle is so appealing to them.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/217 In This Episode: How they afford to work less than full-time Boondocking for boats? It’s possible! Managing a musician’s life onboard Storage tips to stay stocked, clean, and dry Marinas are helpful for all types of nomads This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!

Sabrina Bosserman is a professional skoolie builder, and she's here to tell us all about the ins and outs of converting a skoolie into a beautiful rolling tiny home. Sabrina is also a former Naval nuclear engineer who now builds skoolies full-time, and we chat about how her experience in the Navy helped to inform her desire and some skills for living tiny.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/216 In This Episode: Military training helps with the tiny lifestyle What a professional skoolie builder offers Is a skoolie cheaper than an RV? What to look and ask for on your bus hunt How to turn a school bus into a rolling home This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Say you build a tiny house on wheels but you want a legal place to park it. You fall in love with a piece of land and decide to buy it and create a legal tiny house community. Would you believe me if I told you that would take nearly two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars? My guests today, Callie Brauel and Nathan Huening did just that. They certainly didn't expect it to take so long or be so challenging, but they’re here to tell the tale and share what they’ve learned along the way.Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/215 In This Episode: A creative way to finance your tiny house build Custom designs that fit their lifestyle The search for a perfect piece of land Advice about working with a planning department Important points about the due diligence period How Cranmore Meadows is run Are heated floors worth it? This Week's Sponsor: PrecisionTempPrecisionTemp is making one product to solve two issues that I know everyone deals with in a tiny house: running out of hot water and heating your tiny house. PrecisionTemp has made the amazing TwinTemp Junior propane tankless water heater, which provides unlimited hot water for your tiny house and hydronic heating. This means you get warm heated floors, so there are no cold spots. It's designed specifically for tiny houses and features whisper-quiet operation as well as high efficiency. If you want more information on how PrecisionTemp can help make living tiny easier and more comfortable visit precisiontemp.com. While you're there, use the coupon code THLP for $50 off of any PrecisionTemp unit plus free shipping.

Today, you’ll get the inside scoop on what it’s like to live in AND to be a founding member of an intentional community. My guest, Mike Moore, has lived in his community for over 25 in a ground-bound tiny house designed by Jay Shafer. Full show notes and images at thetinyhouse.net/214In This Episode: Breakups: Who stays and who has to go? Cluster zoning is a mutually beneficial arrangement An informal but effective selection process What is a legacy clause? Considerations for ADA compliance and aging in place Thinking about living in (or starting) an intentional community? Listen up! This Week's Sponsor: Tiny House DecisionsTiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. And it comes in three different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. If you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what you're going to build it out, then tiny house decisions will take you through the process systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions for podcast listeners. Head over to https://www.thetinyhouse.net/thd and use the coupon code tiny at checkout!