Great Tiny Homes for Retirement

If you're planning for retirement, downsizing is likely near the top of your to-do list.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're planning for retirement, downsizing is likely near the top of your to-do list. After all, it's a lot of work and expense to maintain the 2,426 square feet that makes up the typical single-family house.

Enter the tiny retirement home. Generally at under 400 square feet of living space, a tiny home requires much less upkeep and is much more affordable than a traditional house. That's an attractive combination for retirees on fixed incomes. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 45% of baby boomers would consider buying a tiny home.

Affordability is a compelling factor. On average, it costs $23,000 to build a tiny home yourself, according to TheTinyLife.com, a resource for the tiny home community. The average sale price for a single-family home is $384,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Just 3 out of 10 tiny home owners have a mortgage.

Despite the small size, tiny homes come in all shapes. Here are several great tiny homes uniquely suited to the needs of retirees. Take a look.

Andrea Browne Taylor
Contributing Editor

Browne Taylor joined Kiplinger in 2011 and was a channel editor for Kiplinger.com covering living and family finance topics. She previously worked at the Washington Post as a Web producer in the Style section and prior to that covered the Jobs, Cars and Real Estate sections. She earned a BA in journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is Director of Member Services, at the National Association of Home Builders.