Would you live in a tiny carfree home? (Portland, OR)
#1
Sophomoric Member
Thread Starter
Would you live in a tiny carfree home? (Portland, OR)
A major housing developer is putting together a project to build 29 "micro-homes" on just one-third acre in Portalnd. The developmant is being pitched as "carfree housing."
https://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/...ee-micro-homes
https://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/...ee-micro-homes
Their pitch sounds like it's right out of a Portland Plan wet dream: "Homes sized just right for Portland. And just right for you. Where it’s easy and convenient to live car-free. Where you can get to know your neighbors in friendly, relaxed outdoor spaces." It's interesting to see a mega-developer (DR Horton has built over 18,000 homes in the US, including plenty of cookie-cutter suburban McMansions) recognize that there's a market in small, green homes. It would be great to see companies like theirs shift away from building sprawl and instead invest in building dense urban developments. Of course, there are local architects building smart, dense projects in Portland, too, but getting giant developers to recognize the value of building small could create a lot more options
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#3
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Sounds like a great way to beat the high cost of housing too.
Personally, not sure if I'd like these, but at my age downsizing would be great. I'd also like to live in a community where I don't have to bike 5 miles to go to just about every social or work event. Losing about 80% of the lawn would be a bonus too.
#4
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"ranging from 364 to 687 square feet" Geez! MANSIONS! Due to "Red-Tag" (unsafe building) I was forced out to an eficiency apartment- 300' : do Portlandians know what 'small' is?
#5
Senior Member
About 10 years ago, I was going to buy a 1 bedroom co-op for about 80K. That buidling did have parking but this is actually a house! If these homes are detached, it would be worth the money. However, if you're all living on top of each other than it's nothing more than a condo.
I think these are going to sell out fast. There a plenty of young people paying rent when they can buy a home for 120K. I estimate the mortgage on a 120K home would be less than 1,000.00 dollars a month. Not bad.
I think these are going to sell out fast. There a plenty of young people paying rent when they can buy a home for 120K. I estimate the mortgage on a 120K home would be less than 1,000.00 dollars a month. Not bad.
#7
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I'd do it if my kids were grown. The first place we lived after we got married was just over 300 sq ft. The only drawback was a half-size oven. Our place now is right about 750 sq ft, perfectly comfortable for the four of us.
120K for anything in Portland, no matter how small, is a good deal. The cost of housing there is insane. I'll settle for living car-free about 50 miles to the north of Portland.
120K for anything in Portland, no matter how small, is a good deal. The cost of housing there is insane. I'll settle for living car-free about 50 miles to the north of Portland.
#8
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Note the generous two-bike rack for guest parking.
And there's almost as much space devoted to trash storage as there is to bike storage.
It shows where bikes rates in the developer's mind--one step above trash, but useful for marketing.
And there's almost as much space devoted to trash storage as there is to bike storage.
It shows where bikes rates in the developer's mind--one step above trash, but useful for marketing.
#9
Banned.
I already live in a tiny almost carfree (my sister prefers to drive) home. This present one at 2 bedroom/1 bath is about 675 square feet. Before that I lived in an apartment at about the same size and bedroom/bath offering. When I was growing up, the substandard condition house was a far more cramped 1 bedroom/1 bath crammed with various freeloading adult friends and relatives of my parents-plus my brother, sister, and myself. I know how to make it work anywhere, not just Portland OR-don't have an open house for "visitors" and park on the street.
Last edited by folder fanatic; 05-07-11 at 09:58 PM.
#10
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A few blocks away.
https://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/22.../home/26587868
Size and price just isn't in line with the area, especially for the smaller which have shared walls and/or upstairs neighbors.
Pearl condo (keep in mind the dues are certainly higher, however)
https://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/41.../home/26372135
https://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/22.../home/26587868
Size and price just isn't in line with the area, especially for the smaller which have shared walls and/or upstairs neighbors.
Pearl condo (keep in mind the dues are certainly higher, however)
https://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/41.../home/26372135
#11
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I currently live in a 950sf house previous one was 640sf. I probably would buy one if I were in the market. My biggest problem is that I like to collect/accumulate bicycles and would need an additional 300SF space for them
Aaron
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"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
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Another thought..I am glad to see someone like DB Horton getting into this. They build these massive neighborhoods in the middle of nowhere and then wait for the infrastructure and retail to catch up. We have a DB Horton neighborhood going up behind us, the prices are starting at $140,000 for a 1900sf house on an 1/8th acre (approximately) lot. It will be another 4-5 years before the roads will be upgraded to handle the added volume.
A buddy of mine looked at building a similar pocket neighborhood in an older part of town (nearest large town) and was soundly voted down by the planning and zoning board. The area was mixed use, some commercial, a single mid rise apartment building, single family ranging from 1,500sf to 3,000sf+. His plan wasn't as dense as the Portland plan. The property ended up with six 3200 sf houses on it that sold for around $300k each. He was figuring 15-18 >1000sf houses for ~$90k each with a community center and off street parking. Based on some of the comments during the public part of the meeting all anyone was concerned with was "protecting" their property values and keeping the "wrong" kind of people out.
Aaron
A buddy of mine looked at building a similar pocket neighborhood in an older part of town (nearest large town) and was soundly voted down by the planning and zoning board. The area was mixed use, some commercial, a single mid rise apartment building, single family ranging from 1,500sf to 3,000sf+. His plan wasn't as dense as the Portland plan. The property ended up with six 3200 sf houses on it that sold for around $300k each. He was figuring 15-18 >1000sf houses for ~$90k each with a community center and off street parking. Based on some of the comments during the public part of the meeting all anyone was concerned with was "protecting" their property values and keeping the "wrong" kind of people out.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 05-08-11 at 08:33 AM.
#13
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I'd like if I may give a non-American view on this.
I've lived with my wife and one child for the past 25 years in our 1050sf mid-terraced house. Not large by Irish standards but a lot of people have raised more kids in a lot less space. These houses were built in 1905 and have a lot of decorative features modern houses lack.
For me living in a house of character close (walking/cycling distance) to a city centre is more important than living in some boring suburb with more space.
Would I live in one of these 'micro' houses? probably not in the smaller ones but certainly in one of the larger ones if the location was right.
I've lived with my wife and one child for the past 25 years in our 1050sf mid-terraced house. Not large by Irish standards but a lot of people have raised more kids in a lot less space. These houses were built in 1905 and have a lot of decorative features modern houses lack.
For me living in a house of character close (walking/cycling distance) to a city centre is more important than living in some boring suburb with more space.
Would I live in one of these 'micro' houses? probably not in the smaller ones but certainly in one of the larger ones if the location was right.
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I don't have a problem with the size as much as the cost. I am not sure I see the advantage over a manufactured home and they can be had for considerably less. I also don’t see this as being all that different from the old California bungalow apartment concept. When I was growing up there were plenty of these in LA and Orange County. So I am not sure I would be interested in paying that kind of money for a small home that has no more guarantee that it would be car free than any other home. But it really all comes down to the cost being too high for west coast real-estate.
Just my opinion but I don't see a big advantage here.
Just my opinion but I don't see a big advantage here.
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I think it is a great project but the price point for such square footage is too high for the average folk unless water is to be recycled and solar panels installed. Also, I wonder how they will be constructed (metal, wood, composite or unused shipping containers for framing), one or two story and will they offer an area for laundry. Anyone can live in a small space, including myself but it is a matter of downsizing. Currently I live alone in a 1400+ sf home while my father lives out back in the granny house that is less than 380 sf. He is self contained with kitchen, fire place, bathroom, dining area, office and sleep space. He is very happy there and wishes he lived that was for years prior. As much as I want to live in such space, it would be difficult for me because I have a lot of bikes and fitness equipment that I keep indoors.
#17
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Meh.
I live in a 900sq ft shotgun house in Louisville. I'm renting, but market value is probably about $120,000. I have a basement and attic for storage. It's a walkable, bikeable neighborhood.
I also own a 1200sq ft home about 20 miles away. I moved out, but can't afford to fix it up enough to rent or sell it. So I get to pay for two homes.
I could live in 600sq ft... if I divorced my wife. She has a lot of stuff.
I live in a 900sq ft shotgun house in Louisville. I'm renting, but market value is probably about $120,000. I have a basement and attic for storage. It's a walkable, bikeable neighborhood.
I also own a 1200sq ft home about 20 miles away. I moved out, but can't afford to fix it up enough to rent or sell it. So I get to pay for two homes.
I could live in 600sq ft... if I divorced my wife. She has a lot of stuff.
#18
In the right lane
I'd like if I may give a non-American view on this.
I've lived with my wife and one child for the past 25 years in our 1050sf mid-terraced house. Not large by Irish standards but a lot of people have raised more kids in a lot less space. These houses were built in 1905 and have a lot of decorative features modern houses lack.
For me living in a house of character close (walking/cycling distance) to a city centre is more important than living in some boring suburb with more space.
Would I live in one of these 'micro' houses? probably not in the smaller ones but certainly in one of the larger ones if the location was right.
I've lived with my wife and one child for the past 25 years in our 1050sf mid-terraced house. Not large by Irish standards but a lot of people have raised more kids in a lot less space. These houses were built in 1905 and have a lot of decorative features modern houses lack.
For me living in a house of character close (walking/cycling distance) to a city centre is more important than living in some boring suburb with more space.
Would I live in one of these 'micro' houses? probably not in the smaller ones but certainly in one of the larger ones if the location was right.
So it's more a cultural thing more than anything else. You certainly could live as a single person in a 300-400 sq ft home and it would probably be much more comfortably than a home 3 times the size that you couldn't afford.
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Just an example: https://realestate.oodle.com/portland-or/mobile-homes/
#20
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My only concern would be having enough room for about three bicycles indoors, and having room to work on them. Other than that, I could live in a small room if need be. However, at this point in my life I'd rather rent than own. I currently own a 1000 square foot house and I'm wanting something smaller, more efficient, and with less hassle than home ownership.
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Home ownership is not for everybody...and I currently own more than one, thankfully all paid for so I can wait out the downturn. All new residential construction is struggling to sell right now due to the glut on the market and there is no way they can even come close to competing on a per sf price. We have a fair bit of new construction going on, but that is due to living near a very large military base that is getting a huge influx of people (60,000+) due to the BRAC.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#22
Senior Member
Luckily my house is paid for, and I got it extremely cheap, though it had to be completely remodeled. I'll make a profit unless I have to practically give it away. Overall, owning this house has been good for me, despite the stress. It's made me realize I want to live a much, much simpler life. As soon as the house sells, my brother (who lives with me) and I will be leaving TN for Washington state, and we're hoping to find a very small, simple apartment to rent. It's funny, most people I know consider my 1000 square foot house to be tiny, but to me it's just a bunch of extra space I have to clean!
#23
In the right lane
Luckily my house is paid for, and I got it extremely cheap, though it had to be completely remodeled. I'll make a profit unless I have to practically give it away. Overall, owning this house has been good for me, despite the stress. It's made me realize I want to live a much, much simpler life. As soon as the house sells, my brother (who lives with me) and I will be leaving TN for Washington state, and we're hoping to find a very small, simple apartment to rent. It's funny, most people I know consider my 1000 square foot house to be tiny, but to me it's just a bunch of extra space I have to clean!
#24
Senior Member