It's a Small House After All

Jay Shafer lives in a 97-square-foot home and he's perfectly happy about it. No, he's not a leprechaun, participating in a reality television show or the resident of a not-so-spacious New York City loft. Shafer, a designer turned architect, has been living the tiny life since 1997 and doesn't plan on changing any time soon.

His concept became so popular that he started his own business, the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, and helps others create tiny homes across the country. The models, which range from 65 square feet (about US $37,000) to 117 square feet (about $47,000), contain areas for eating, sleeping and grooming. However, the home does not come assembled, so plan on spending some extra time or money to put one of these together.

Tumbleweed owners save money even after the initial cheap price tag purchase. Shafer says that his heating bill costs $60 a year and that he never goes shopping for home furnishings because he has no place to put them.

Would you consider buying a tiny home? What design elements would you need in order to survive? [National Post]