The Housing Crunch

The tiny house movement is growing rapidly, for more reasons than one. For starters, there’s the “Gen Squeeze” issue, explained here by the organization who coined the term.

“We all know housing prices have gone way up. It’s great news for some. Since many of our parents and grandparents bought homes decades ago, far higher housing prices mean far more wealth for them. 

But what’s been good for our retiring parents is generally bad for younger Canadians. High home prices squeeze generations in their 40s and under with crushing debt, which they must pay with wages that have fallen compared to a generation ago, and in jobs that rarely contribute pensions” . 

Because of this generation squeeze, we’re seeing a rise in young Canadian families downsizing to tiny houses to reduce their debt, or simply be able to afford a home of their own.

Another reason for the rapid growth of the tiny house movement is sustainability. Canadians are familiar with the effects of climate change and depletion of nonrenewable resources and are taking steps to insure a future for generations to come. Tiny Houses offer sustainable housing solutions from re-purposed building supplies, to recycled glass counter-tops, to solar powered appliances.

Finally, according to the Tiny House Alliance of Canada, the chief reason people downsize to a tiny house is a “desire to slow down and simplify living”. They share that smaller housing and less consumption can often represent a 30-40% recovery of household gross income. People new to the tiny house movement have proved time and time again that living tiny doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your quality of life. In fact it is often reported that living the tiny life reduces consumerist debt and leaves home-owners mortgage free with plenty of spare income to put toward adventures.

We’re convinced the Tiny House Lifestyle is the future. Try it for yourself, and let us know what you think.