If you’re curious about buying a tiny home in Seattle, Roy is here to share exactly what you need to know!
What do you need to know about buying a tiny home in Seattle? Living in a tiny home is both economical and more environmentally friendly due to their lower carbon footprints. Examples of tiny homes in Seattle include lofts, studio condos, townhouses, backyard cottages, Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Detached Additional Dwelling Units (DADUs as the builder community calls them). You can find tiny homes throughout Seattle, including in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Central District, Beacon Hill, Mt Baker, Ballard, and many more. Currently, you can expect a tiny home in Seattle to cost $500,000 – $900,000.
Tips on Buying a Tiny Home in Seattle
In this blog post, Roy will be answering these questions:
- Why is Owning a Tiny Home in Seattle Important?
- What Types of Tiny Homes Are Available in Seattle?
- Which Neighborhoods Can You Find Tiny Homes in Seattle?
- How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Tiny House in Seattle?
- What Are My Tips for Decorating a Small Home to Make It More Functional?
- What Is My Favorite Small Home on the Market Right Now?
Check Out My Video to Learn About Buying a Tiny Home in Seattle
< Video Coming Soon >
I’m Roy Powell with Team Diva at Coldwell Banker Bain, and thank you for checking out my video! Having lived here in Seattle for 20 years now, I have had quite a few experiences living in small, very small, and some might even say tiny homes AND I have loved every single one of them.
Today I’m here to talk about why owning and living in a tiny home in Seattle in 2024 is important for you, the environment, and the economy. I am also sharing what types of tiny homes are available, where are they located, and how much they will cost. I will also touch on how to go about living in a tiny home and what the future holds for Seattle’s tiny home communities thanks to some positive legislation at the state level.
Are You Curious About Buying a Tiny Home in Seattle?
If you are interested in tiny homes in Seattle, you are in the right place. Roy Powell is our resident expert on Seattle’s tiny homes, and he’s sharing what you need to know!
Why is Owning a Tiny Home in Seattle Important?
Living in smaller spaces is good for the environment and it is economical. Right now we are spreading our personal footprint way too wide. The vast majority of Seattle is taken up by large lots with one huge home that houses only one family. These homes are using up resources to stay heated, air-conditioned, etc.
Owning a tiny home is also economical. As a first-time home buyer, it is really important to buy the best home you can buy in the best location. For many of us, this means that our first home will be smaller than our “forever home.” A small first home allows us to build equity and minimize maintenance costs until it is time to jump to the next home for the next stage of life.
What Types of Tiny Homes Are Available in Seattle?
Right now the type of tiny homes that are available in Seattle are lofts, studio condos, townhouses, backyard cottages, Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Detached Additional Dwelling Units (DADUs as the builder community calls them).
However, all of this is going to change. This last legislature session in Olympia has completely changed what we can build in Seattle and the surrounding area. The primary goal is to increase density for the more than 240,000 new households that are expected to move to the area. Traditionally, in areas that were zoned for single-family homes, you were only allowed to build one residence. Now you can build up to 3 and in some cases 4 residences on the same lot.
This is a huge game changer to increase affordable housing options. It’s also a great opportunity that gives first-time home buyers options on what they can purchase for their very first home.
Let’s chat about the options you have now to buy a tiny home in Seattle.
Loft Style Condos
We here at Team Diva LOVE a loft! Lofts are a great way to repurpose older buildings. Loft condos are great for the environment because you are sharing energy and materials with your neighbors. By repurposing these spaces, we stop tearing down older buildings to build something new that lacks character. What I love about lofts is that in a small space, you have ceiling height for storage. And you can use the space very efficiently. It is a beautiful way to inhabit a space. Want more information about lofts in Seattle? Check out my video I did a couple of years ago.
Unique Tiny Townhomes
Townhomes are generally thought of as multiple homes built on one lot all touching each other. The nerdy real estate definition of a townhome is “zero lot line community.” For those of you on the east coast, these types of homes are called rowhouses. Their efficiency comes in sharing a roof and packing multiple homes into a space once held by one home. A general benefit is that they often have low or no homeowner dues to pay (here in Seattle). In California and parts of Oregon, these types of homes are considered condos.
The home that Roy just listed is just under 600sf and has so many dynamic elements you think you are living in a much larger space. More details here >
Classic Cottage Detached Single Family Home
One-bedroom detached single-family homes are probably the hardest category to find around the city. Just like in fairy tales, these cozy cottages are a bit mythical, sell rarely, and when they do get listed, they sell quickly. When you spot one it is something to behold. There are a few older developments around the city that were built as planned cottages. I adore it when I get the chance to check out one of these super special and unique tiny homes in Seattle.
One of our favorites was a Tiny Home in Ballard we sold way back in the day >
Which Neighborhoods Can You Find Tiny Homes in Seattle?
There is some really exciting smaller home development happening in and around the city to expand the types of tiny homes in Seattle. Here are a few examples of tiny homes, and which Seattle neighborhoods you can expect to find them in:
Loft Homes
Looking for a loft home in Seattle? Your best bet to find these awesome older tiny homes are in Capitol Hill, near Pike Place Market, and in Pioneer Square. This is where a lot of older buildings have been repurposed from factories and warehouses to now be loft living spaces.
Unique Tiny Townhomes
I would expect to see more and more of these developments in the coming years. If you are looking right now you can find a few of these developments in Capitol Hill, where my latest listing is located. You can also find some unique tiny townhomes in the Central District, South Seattle around Beacon Hill and the Othello Light Rail station, North of Ballard, and of course in West Seattle.
Classic Cottage Detached Tiny Single Family Homes
So many of these tiny homes have been developed. It will be interesting to see what stays in the coming future. Right now you can find these little gems in White Center/Highland Park (close to where I live), Capitol Hill, Mt. Baker, Ballard, Maple Leaf, and Northgate.
How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Tiny House in Seattle?
While the prices in Seattle are higher for homes across the board, I would suggest a budget for your tiny home purchase that is in the range of $500,000 – $900,000. Here are some quick numbers for the categories I talk about in my video (above).
Loft Style Condos
If you want to buy a loft style condo you will be paying on average $724,000.
Unique Tiny Townhomes
If you want to buy a unique tiny townhome you will be paying on average $494,500.
The home in my video above is an awesome option and priced at $655,000.
Classic Cottage Detached Tiny Single Family Homes
If you are lucky enough to find one of those classic cottage tiny homes here in Seattle, you will be spending on average about $600,000.
What Are My Tips for Decorating a Small Home to Make It More Functional?
When you get ready to decorate your small home, make sure everything you own has a purpose (or two). For instance, couches are often overlooked as doing double duty in a tiny home. Make sure it is not too big and make sure it doubles as a guest bed.
I like to shop at Ballard Consignment and The Furniture Guy. Buying second-hand minimizes your carbon footprint. Plus, you know exactly what you are getting without any shipping surprises.
A lot of small homes have weird tiny spaces that could benefit from having furniture made for the space. A couple of examples here is this custom storage that also acts as the rooftop access. Another would be these custom cabinets in the entry that hide away all of your clutter. If you want to see a cool custom piece a friend of mine made, check out this murphy bar!
What Is My Favorite Small Home on the Market Right Now?
While researching this blog, I did spend a bit too much time going through all of the available tiny home options in Seattle. This included some gorgeous floating homes. As you can imagine there are a ton available now that the summer is over.
My favorite small home is actually this one right here. Why? Well for one, it’s in the center of one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle, Capitol Hill! Every aspect of this home is well executed with custom cabinetry and high end appliances. Everything in this home has a purpose.
This home also maximizes the light coming in from the north and south and this patio is fantastic outdoor space that you can use any season. When it’s sunny, head up to the roof and take in that beautiful city view. And this spiral staircase creates a more spacious living room and bedroom. Everything about this home is truly unique and I would love to live here.
More information about this newly listed townhouse here >
Thank You For Learning More About Buying a Tiny Home in Seattle!
What do you need to know about buying a tiny home in Seattle? Tiny homes are both more economical and more environmentally friendly. There are several different types of tiny homes, including lofts, studio condos, townhouses, backyard cottages, Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Detached Additional Dwelling Units (DADUs as the builder community calls them). Many Seattle neighborhoods have tiny homes, including Capitol Hill, Central District, Beacon Hill, Mt Baker, Ballard, and many more. Right now, you should plan to have a budget of $500,000 – $900,000 to buy a tiny home.
Tips on Buying a Tiny Home in Seattle
In this blog post, Roy answered these questions:
- Why is Owning a Tiny Home in Seattle Important?
- What Type of Tiny Homes Are Available in Seattle?
- Which Neighborhoods Can You Find Tiny Homes in Seattle?
- How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Tiny House in Seattle?
- What Are My Tips for Decorating a Small Home to Make It More Functional?
- What Is My Favorite Small Home on the Market Right Now?
More Details About the Home in the Video
- Listing Brokers: Roy Powell and Kim V. Colaprete
- Offering Price: $655,000
- Address: 1623 14th Ave Unit D, Seattle, WA 98122
- MLS: 2189619
- Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
- More Information >
Want to see this home in all of its glory?
See It In Person – Call/Text The Diva Desk Phone 206-271-0264.
We are here to help. Our team understands that this process can take a year or two. Give us a call. And our team is more than willing to give you a personalized plan to get the ball rolling. Feel free to contact us directly at thediva@teamedivarealestate.com or call/text 206-271-0264.
