The Tiny Home That Cut Her Bills by $2,000 a Month
Pat walked away from a 2,400‑square‑foot house and chose tiny on purpose.
A condo stopover proved just as expensive thanks to HOA and association fees.
Now she opens a side‑entry door and welcomes you in .
A Side‑Entry Welcome — Layout, Dimensions & RV Classification
The front door sits on the side, a choice some parks don’t allow.
Step in and the flow is simple: living room, kitchen, then bathroom.
Down the hall, you hit the stairs to the loft, the washer and dryer, and the bedroom.
The footprint runs 11.3 feet wide and 33.3 feet long.
A 12‑foot deck stretches the living outside.
Inside is 399.9 square feet, which classifies the home as an RV.
She worked with a Platinum dealership that was open to custom changes.
Think an extended countertop, more windows, extra woodwork, and non‑standard cabinets.
Living Room Details — Windows, Wood Trim & Repurposed Furniture
She’s rearranged the living room three times, and now it just works.
The windows are standard, but the wood trim is an upgrade from Platinum.
Most of the furniture is repurposed from her old place — even the movable island/tea cart.
After 25 years in a four‑bedroom, three‑bath house, staying put no longer made sense.
The condo’s HOA and association fees kept costs high anyway.
Kitchen Upgrades She Prioritized
There’s no range; a microwave convection oven handles cooking — including air frying — and skips only broiling.
For the stovetop, she uses portable induction units that heat only under the pan while the edges stay cool.
She also opted for a dishwasher; the standard is an 18‑inch model, two‑thirds the size of a regular one.
The builder plumbed the cabinet, and she installed a full‑size dishwasher herself.
For the fridge, she skipped the side‑by‑side so a turkey could actually fit.
Bathroom & Bedroom — Downsizing with Practical Storage
The bathroom is about the size of her old powder room, yet it fits a full 4‑by‑3‑foot shower.
There’s a bench inside, and she even placed the towel rack in the shower.
She hardly used her old bathtubs anyway and doesn’t miss having one now.
The bedroom holds a full‑size bed with two nightstands and deep drawers under the frame.
Built‑ins add four very deep chest drawers and closets for everyday storage.
Loft Office, Stairs & Bonus Space
Upstairs, the loft doubles as an office — and yes, the sewing machine lives here too.
Across the way is a bonus area that’s actually larger than the bedroom.
She shortened the loft so the hallway below wouldn’t turn into a tunnel.
The stairs are steep, but they hide storage drawers in the steps.
The upstairs isn’t counted as living area, which means it doesn’t count toward taxes.
Community, Costs & Why Downsizing Worked
She and her sister secured lots before their houses were even built.
Lot rent is $750 a month.
Electric runs around $125 and there’s no property tax, so the math finally favors small.
She’s saving at least $2,000 a month.
The home itself cost $125,000.
The cedar back porch is fully screened with rebar and all cedar.
She spends most of her day out there.
Park owners here welcomed customizations like her wraparound deck and side entry.
