Americans spend billions of dollars each year shopping on Amazon for their homes, but a new wave of buyers is now turning to the online retail giant for the homes themselves — tiny homes that start at just $10,000 each.
With the median home price in the US now at $424,950, many people feel that the American dream of owning their own property is an impossible feat.
Enter Amazon’s DIY tiny houses — compact properties that can be assembled in less than a day and cost a fraction of the average house or apartment.
Some of those who have already bought one of the tiny apartments have shown the process on social media, revealing the truth about what it takes to put them together and how comfortable they really are.
Social media user and proud Amazon home buyer Nathan Graham was full of praise for his new property, which he bought online for just $38,999.
Graham, who is known as Unspeakable online, shared a video of himself unboxing his new flat, expressing his shock at how “legit” the house looked when he first opened it.
“There’s a whole bathroom! And a shower!” he and his friends exclaim as they tour the property, before expanding it to its full size, revealing that the house basically just “unfolds” and snaps into shape.
“I’ve never folded a house together,” he notes, before adding: “This thing is so easy to build, you just unfold it. It didn’t come with instructions and we built it.”
Another influencer, Jeffrey Bryant, 23, of Los Angeles, also took ownership of Amazon, to the tune of $26,000, explaining that he worked with one of the company’s specialists to purchase several home “improvements,” including two free sofas.
Like Graham’s home, Bryant’s tiny abode also came complete with a workroom featuring a toilet and shower.
He notes that the ceilings are “very low,” but adds that, overall, he’s thrilled with his new apartment.
“I’m 23 and I just bought a house on Amazon!” hey miracle
He added in an interview with the New York Post: “People my age are told we can’t afford to buy houses, but I’m proof that it is possible.”
While it may seem like a novel concept to buy a home online from Amazon, real estate agent Douglas Bendt, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in New York City, says otherwise.
“This concept is really quite old,” he notes.
“Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold homes from its catalog in the early 1900s.
Be smart before you “add to cart”
Before you hit buy now on a home on Amazon, it’s essential to do your homework—and a lot of it.
New York broker Nikki Beauchamp of Sotheby’s International Realty says she would have some major concerns if a client were to do that — namely, “zoning, where to put it and — most importantly — the quality of the construction.”
However, real estate agent Chantay Bridges of EXP Realty in Los Angeles says, “Depending on the circumstances, I might not be against the idea. I have a client who loves tiny houses and it is her dream to buy one.”
Before realizing your tiny house dream, it’s essential to do your due diligence, especially when it comes to figuring out where exactly you’ll be building your new property.
“Check zoning laws, as it can be challenging to get permits and licenses even if you already own the land,” advises Bridges.
“You don’t want to buy a tiny house only to find out your town doesn’t allow them or has extremely strict restrictions.”
Connecting to the city’s sewer and water system can be another big hurdle, according to Sam Fitz-Simon, a real estate agent with Compass in Danville, CA.
He advises meeting with your local planning and development department — as well as checking insurance and financing — before adding one of these home kits to your cart.
Others caution that you should only consider buying from reputable sellers whose listings have legitimate reviews.
If you’ve done all your research and still want your “home, sweet, home” to be delivered by Amazon Prime, take a look at these five homes that are just a click away—and all priced under $50,000.
Price on Amazon: $13,078
This modern retreat is offered fully assembled, allowing for “seamless setup and relocation.”
It has one bedroom downstairs, and a second bedroom upstairs in the attic.
It has an open, airy room along with a kitchen and bathroom.
But it’s the cabin’s incredible floor-to-ceiling windows that really steal the show.
Click to buy this Modern A-Frame Cabin on Amazon.
Price on Amazon: $49,899
This two-story house is approximately 25 meters long and 20 meters wide.
It makes ultra-efficient use of space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The tiny house also boasts a full kitchen, a combined dining-living area and an additional living room upstairs.
A review of it on Amazon says, “The craftsmanship is outstanding and the customer support throughout the process was fantastic.”
Click to buy The Bunk House on Amazon.
Price on Amazon: $24,750
With its 20-meter expandable design, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny house is surprisingly spacious.
It features PVC double glazed sliding windows and security doors made of aluminum with broken bridge.
It is pre-wired for electricity and plumbing and has an insulated roof with flame-resistant foam panels.
The listing even claims it’s “typhoon and wind resistant.”
Click to buy Two-Story Container House on Amazon.
Price on Amazon: 35,000 dollars
This unique residence is described as a “space capsule house hotel designed for modern living at its best” that “has a lifespan of more than 50-60 years”.
The one-bedroom unit is 40 feet long, with wall-to-wall windows.
It comes pre-wired for electrical and plumbing.
Click to buy Pod Mansion on Amazon.
Price on Amazon: $23,000
The structure of this tiny house is made mainly of galvanized steel and is available in a variety of colors including white, blue, gray and brown.
The listing says it only takes two hours to install, “greatly reducing labor costs.”
The house also features an anti-rust and waterproof design that is said to be “anti-seismic”.
The all-in price includes furniture, kitchen and bathroom equipment, electrical equipment and decorative materials.
Click to buy Expandable Prefab Tiny House on Amazon.
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Image Source : nypost.com