Housing Crisis in Denver – Local Organizations Promoting ADUs

The housing crisis in Denver has escalated, but things are looking brighter for Denverites as they can now build tiny houses in their respective backyards. In an attempt to quell the area’s housing shortage, commencing on July 5th, the city has approved zoning laws allowing them to build tiny homes or ADUs more prolifically all over Mile High City. This move was made because the place and its adjacent areas face a housing shortage of about 70,000 houses.

With the law in place, homeowners can build tiny homes large enough to make their families live comfortably. As per the City of Denver, people can now turn prevailing buildings like garages into separate and new living quarters. In the more populated areas of the city, homeowners will have permission to construct two-storied units. About these changes, Denver Councilman Chris Herndon said in a release that these modifications would help make the accessory dwelling units a more impactful and attainable solution and give the residents of Denver more choices to live in the place.

Similar kinds of laws and regulations in California have generated more housing solutions

The zoning revisions that were done in California have created a huge influence. After the rolling-back of numerous statewide restrictions in the year 2017 and beyond, the tiny homeowners in California have built ADU units and rented them out, collecting thousands per month. Other people have used the tiny homes to house their elderly parents or an older child that might have been priced outside the location.

California, the Golden State, has an estimated housing shortage of around two million, and since the year 2018, it is estimated that around 60,000 tiny home units have gained approval throughout the place. California has often been mentioned as a case study claiming how effective tiny housing methods can resolve the problem related to the housing crisis.

 

This step can slow gentrification

Denver has now witnessed the influence of ADU units on its inhabitants, and this method of addressing the housing crisis could be a boon for localities in West Denver. This place has an inclusion of new and wealthy residents, and in recent years, the prices have gone up, making it tough for moderate- and low-income inhabitants to pay for housing in West Denver.

West Denver Renaissance Collaborative, an organization, is providing information about ADUs to help residents in that region understand the process of securing financing for tiny homes and the necessary permits. Serving as the Director of Planning at the Denver Housing Authority, Renee Martinez-Stone has addressed in a video that they are providing as many tools as possible in West Denver due to the displacement and existing housing crisis. She also says that to enable housing for medium – and lower-income families, the need to lift the ceilings on ADU needs to be done.

ADUs keep families together

A Spanish Speaker, Alonso Carrillo- Muñoz who lived for the past 20 years in West Denver, was a part of the pilot program of WDRC ADU. With assistance from WDRC, he applied in Spanish and secured financing for the tiny home project from FirstBank, that provided service in the Spanish Language.

This means that Alonso would have a house to retire in, just as significant as staying in the same area with Miriam Carillo, his daughter.

Denver is doubling one of the tiny house villages

It is said that the site at Monroe St. is estimated to grow from 24 to 44 homes, which is a response to the city’s homelessness crisis. The 4001 Monroe St. tiny home community is going from 24 to 44 houses and is gaining plenty of site infrastructural improvements. A contract of $500,000 with Colorado Village Collaborative was approved by the City Council recently.

In May, Colorado Village Collaborative reopened one of the villages to serve women, non-binary people, and transgender people. Once an experimental program, this expansion shows that homelessness has grown in Denver in recent years, and tiny homes and camping sites are helping people find shelter.

 

Here are a few trusted tiny home builders to connect with:

Colorado Yurt Company – Manufacturers tipis, tents, and yurts for customers all over the U.S. The competitively priced structures start from $11,000.

Colorado Yurt Company

Western Colorado Tiny House – The models are 100% ready to move in and are competitively priced. Designed for full-time living and easy to upgrade, the structures are furnished with a lifetime care warranty.

Western Colorado Tiny House

Colorado Timberframe – Th exquisite ranch-style tiny homes come at prices as low as $10,000. The structures are built to last and are customized to meet your expectations.

Colorado Timberframe

Colorado Modular Homes – Being one of the leading suppliers of Custom Modular Homes, the builders have been building tiny homes since 2005 and have built over 30 million dollars of customized modular structures.

Colorado Modular Homes

If you are looking forward to connecting with any of these builders or want to contact multiple builders like Custom Container Living, American Tiny House and the like, sign up at TinyHouseMe. We connect you with the best-matched builder per your preferences and set up an appointment as soon as possible. We ensure priority service from the builders by placing you at the front of the line for the builders.

15 Best States in the US to Live in a Tiny House

The tiny home movement has gained a lot of traction over the past few years. While some people love residing in big houses occupying acres of land, some prefer residing in highly affordable, compact, tiny homes. You can now connect with established builders like Custom Container Living, Kubed Living, American Tiny House, BOSS Tiny House, and others by joining TinyHouseMe. We are an online directory connecting trusted tiny home builders with potential buyers. But for all this, you need to ensure which are the best US states to reside in tiny houses. 

It must be pointed out here that only some US states embrace the minimalist lifestyle, with some imposing stringent guidelines concerning land use, unit size, and even door dimensions. The definition of a tiny house varies from one state to another. So, it becomes extremely important to understand the regulations governing tiny houses before renting or purchasing one. 

Want to know which US states would be the best fit for tiny house living? This is exactly what we will be shedding light on here. 

 

The Best US States for Tiny Houses 

California: If you want to move or build a tiny house in California,you should first perform location-specific research. Here you should note that the conditions that govern owning tiny homes in one jurisdiction vary greatly with another. What is considered legal in one city can be illegal in another. 

Florida: Florida has become a haven for tiny house enthusiasts. Just like in California, here, too, the housing rules differ from one county to another. So, we suggest going through the zoning ordinances particular to your local jurisdiction.

Orange, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg counties always welcome tiny homes. Although these three counties have individual necessities, the directives wouldn’t be hard to adhere to. 

 Arizona: Houses less than 400 square feet are considered tiny in Arizona. You should carefully go through the numerous building codes that are in place. For example, tiny homes on wheels shouldn’t be smaller than 160 square feet, while those on foundations should be larger than 400 square feet. 

Colorado: Colorado has limited tiny house-on-wheels opportunities. But still, the state is no less than a haven for people who want to embrace the minimalist lifestyle. With the help of local advocates, community developers have forced the local authorities to zero in on their land-use regulations. 

Georgia: Georgia is one of the most sought-after states for embracing the minimalist lifestyle.Atlanta is crowned as the most tiny-house-friendly state in Georgia. Many tiny house communities in this city promote downsized and simplistic living. 

Indiana: Indiana permits its counties to set individual building and property codes. Consequently, get ready to witness varying tiny house ordinances in different counties, towns, and cities. 

Idaho: Idaho has certainly transformed into a professional tiny living state. The state has progressed greatly regarding tiny house regulations over the last few decades. However, the rules that govern the properties are still decided by local governments. 

Nebraska: Nebraska is another good tiny-house-friendly state. This state has already defined the types of tiny houses permitted, making it a breeze for tiny home enthusiasts to draw the line between legal and illegal tiny homes. 

 Maine: Maine is another good state for tiny living. Any structure below 400 square feet and perfectly designed for living is defined as a tiny house in this state. You will be astonished to know that Maine is the only state that allows sleeping lofts accessible with the help of ladders. 

New Mexico: The concept of tiny house living has taken New Mexico by storm over the past few years. The state in 2015, released the New Mexico Residential Building Code to acknowledge tiny houses. 

Oregon: Oregon is ranked as the most progressive state regarding tiny house regulations. Portland, Eugene, Monroe, and Lakeview are some popular cities most welcoming to tiny house owners. 

 Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania might not be the most preferred state for tiny houses. However, this state is known for having some of the greatest tiny living communities. Elizabethtown is thought to be the largest tiny home community in the country. 

Texas: This state is home to Spur, the first tiny-house-friendly town in the country. Owning a tiny Texas house primarily depends on whether the house is on wheels or a permanent foundation. 

Kansas: Kansas warmly greets tiny houses, especially those on a foundation. It must be pointed out here that tiny houses on wheels are not allowed.The government of that particular county mostly supervises the Kansas construction regulations. However, there are common laws all over the state. 

Kentucky:Most of Kentucky’s tiny homeowners prefer residing in Louisville, primarily because of its massive size.Although tiny houses are permitted in the cosmopolitan area, you must be extra cautious as individual restrictions are in place. 

For instance, site-built or permanent tiny homes are permitted only if set up on foundations. You must also get your construction request rubber-stamped by the concerned authorities. 

 

Final Take: 

Tiny house living is no longer a trend and has become a lifestyle. This is because reducing living costs helps one lead life to one’s heart’s desire. 

However, procuring a tiny home is more challenging than it seems. So, it is essential to adhere to the various regulations that are in place in different states. 

Before building or purchasing a tiny house, it is highly advisable to clearly understand the codes and zoning ordinances governing tiny houses in your preferred state. 

The definition of tiny homes changes with states. Therefore, when looking for a top-notch state to install your tiny house, check whether tiny houses on wheels are permitted or whether the rules and regulations prefer other tiny house types, like ADUs. Whether you are looking for ADUs, tiny houses on wheels, or other tiny structures of a similar kind, TinyHouseMe is the one-stop solution for all your tiny house requirements. Here, you will find numerous exquisite tiny home models showcased by multiple certified tiny house builders like Custom Container Living, Forever Tiny Homes, Alternative Living Spaces, and others located all over the US and Canada. Connect with the builders via us to get priority service and quick responses from the builders. Ask for a quote now

What Should A Blueprint Of A Container Home Include, And What’s The Price?

Every building structure that adheres to the local building codes must have a set of blueprints to ensure the builder knows exactly what needs to be done. A good architect or structural engineer can offer you a good blueprint, but you might need to pay for the tiny home plans and blueprints. However, getting connected with a trusted builder like Custom Container Living is ideal, as they will provide you with floor plans and offer customized container homes that cater to your requirements. Connecting with a good builder can help you get customized floor plans and a set of blueprints to kickstart the tiny home project immediately. However, if connecting with established tiny home builders is tedious, sign up at TinyHouseMe. We help you book a quick appointment with the tiny home builder at the earliest.

Nevertheless, if your county has specific building codes, a blueprint might be necessary before starting with the tiny home build. Here are a few things that the container home blueprint should include.

 

What the container home blueprint should include?

Blueprint is a detailed plan of a tiny house showing the layout of different rooms, dimensions, and other important details. If you want the construction process to run smoothly, then a well-designed blueprint is essential so that the final structure meets the local building codes and caters to your expectations.

Floor plans

This is the most important part of a container home blueprint. It includes a view of all the rooms of the tiny home, the layout, and the sizes. In addition, the floor plan blueprint shows the location of windows, doors, and other fixtures like built-in bookshelves and fireplaces. A well-designed floor plan blueprint is easy to understand and clearly shows the entire design and flow of the tiny house container.

Elevations

These are drawings that help to show the house exterior from various angles. Elevations are crucial as you get an idea of what the structure will appear once the house is built. It should include the height of the container house, the roofline, and the manufacturing materials used on the exterior.

Sections

The detailed drawing shows all the vertical cuts throughout the container house. In addition, the sections show the depth and height of every floor and the location of doors, windows, and other fixtures. All these are important as they provide you with a sense of the internal structuring of the tiny house container.

Electrical planning

With this detailed plan, you will get the location of switches, outlets, and other light fixtures. You need a blueprint for this, as it’s essential to understand all the electrical components in the house so that you can plan furniture placements accordingly.

Plumbing plan

If you have the blueprint of the plumbing plan, you will know all the locations of the plumbing fixtures, including the showers, toilets, and sinks. A clear understanding of the plumbing layout is important to ensure that the plumbing fixtures are properly installed and do not get in the way during furniture placement.

HVAC Plan

With the blueprint of the HVAC plan, you can find the location of ventilation, heating, and air conditioning components. Again, a clear understanding of the location of HVAC components is important to ensure they are installed properly and you can plan the furniture placements properly.

Foundation plan

A foundation plan will show you the location of footings, foundation walls, and other structural components necessary for supporting the weight of the container home. Understanding the foundation layout ensures that the house that is built is in a stable condition.

Construction notes and other details

Blueprints with construction notes and other details include additional interior and exterior walls, foundation, and floor information.

How much do container home blueprints cost?

A drafter is a qualified person who can help you with tiny house blueprints as the person is trained to create the prints that the team can use. With numerous tools and software programs, a drafter can draw different plans for the tiny house. A draftsperson has architectural, civil, electrical, electronic, and mechanical skills, and the draftsman cost is very complex. They charge on an hourly basis, and the charges vary according to the skillset of the draftsperson. 

As the majority of tiny home builders offer blueprints with floor plans, you do not have to worry about paying the draftsperson. At TinyHouseMe, we connect you with established builders like Custom Container Living, who will have floor plans ready for you to choose from. The builders also offer customized plans for their customers. However, you might have to bear the blueprint printing cost of the pages. 

The only glitch is connecting with these established and trusted tiny home container builders. At TinyHouseMe, we help you connect faster with the builder by placing you at the front line for the builder.

House plan checklist:

  • The number of bedrooms you want in the container home
  • Number of bathrooms you want
  • Size of bathrooms inside the tiny home
  • Number of rooms in the living space
  • Dedicated office space or study room
  • Kitchen space
  • A single- or two-story house

Final Words

You can find many tiny home blueprint examples online, but it’s better not to follow them blindly. Instead, connect with a trusted container home builder like Custom Container Living. The established builder will help create a good structural plan that meets your needs and adheres to the local building codes. So, why wait for so long? Sign up at TinyHouseMe and allow us to book your appointment with the builder today.

Everything You Needed To Know About Container Home Insurance

If you plan to buy a container home, you need to ensure it’s protected. Floods, fires, and other disasters can badly affect the container structure, and you need to be fully prepared for any adversities. That’s why you need to know everything about container home insurance to get the best insurance protection for the structure. Insurance is specialized, and customizing the policy is essential to ensure you get the most coverage. At TinyHouseMe, you will get useful information about tiny home insurance and financing and connect to established and trusted container home builders like Custom Container Living, Alternative Living Spaces, and Kubed Living. 

 

Types of container house insurance

There are many kinds of container house insurance. While many prefer the basic coverages, there might be better options. You must ensure your structure is covered for every eventuality, and good insurance will make it possible.

Homeowners Insurance

Standard homeowner’s insurance is the most important kind of container home insurance. You get a homeowners policy for container homes similar to a traditional house. However, you must take care of the expenses and keep track of your expenditure while building the container home. In addition, you will likely need to get the property and home appraised by an expert appraiser.

The homeowner’s insurance will cover the structure in the event of any adversity when there is no fault of your own. For example, if floods, wildfires, and natural calamities might befall the structure, then having this insurance will help to rebuild or make repairs when the container home has been destroyed or damaged. This insurance policy will also provide money for alternative living when you have to wait to move back.

Specialty Insurance

Sometimes, you will need to get specialty insurance for the container home. Some specialty insurance policies cover unique container homes but are expensive. Nevertheless, this expensive specialty insurance is worth the money if you want the ultimate container home insurance, especially when there is a possibility of your home getting damaged.

Finding a good container home insurance agency depends on your chosen specialty policies. Getting references from other container homeowners, builders, and experts might help determine what specialty policies you should have in place. This knowledge will help you ascertain what’s best for your container home.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance isn’t necessary, but it’s a crucial element. This insurance protects you from liabilities if someone is injured on your property. Although this seems unlikely, it’s something that you need. If someone is hurt on your property or injured, the liability insurance comes to use to pay off the medical bills and additional expenses.

However, liability insurance for container homes is a personal choice, but if you regularly have visitors, then it’s a good idea to have your house insured with this policy. Even if you don’t entertain guests in your container home, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and having liability insurance might be worth the extra money.

Things to consider while looking for container home insurance:

Location – Depending on the area, you must cover the structure from potential disasters and rigorous weather patterns. For example, if the place is susceptible to wildfires, the policy should cover this aspect, even if you must pay extra.

Value of contents – The container home insurance should also cover the stuff inside the house, like electronics, furniture, and other valuables. Remember the inventory, as this will determine the amount you must pay for the customized insurance plan that works best for you.

Limitations and exclusions – All insurance agencies have certain limitations and exclusions. Based on how much you are willing to pay monthly, you should decide whether you can deal with certain things that might not be covered. A comprehensive insurance policy will keep you covered by almost everything. Still, certain clauses will be there that are excluded in the policy for which it’s essential to keep a vigil.

Additional coverages – Personal injury coverage, earthquake coverage, and other specialized policies should be purchased. If you know your lifestyle needs, you should choose these policies wisely. Take expert opinion before choosing these policies, and TinyHouseMe can offer helpful resources. Sign up now for professional assistance and meet with trusted container home builders like Custom Container Living, Kubed Living and Alternative Living Spaces.

Cost of container home insurance

Here are the main factors that determine the insurance premium you can ask for:

  • Age, size, and condition of the container home
  • Location of the house with regard to perils (both natural and man-made criminal activities)
  • Your planned usage of the home
  • Additional factors like having a swimming pool, pets, security systems, and so on
  • Your claim history
  • Your credit score and financial health
  • Your desired coverage limits and other deductibles

Final Thoughts

Builders like Custom Container Living,Kubed Living, and Alternative Living Spaces can help if you plan to buy a container home. Connect with any trusted builders via us for a quick response and priority service. Join our platform to book an appointment at the earliest, and additionally, our experts will discuss the financing and premium insurance plans in detail.