What this November’s vote means to California’s affordable housing market
October 30, 2018What is a Tiny Home?
Part 1 in the Q & A with Matt Davies seriesMatt Davies, president of Harmony Communities, has made it his mission to create attractive and affordable manufactured home communities in California and Oregon. At the top of his priorities is reconsidering the most elemental aspect of a planned manufactured housing community: the homes.
Davies imagines Harmony Communities consisting of well-tended, appealing, and modern tiny homes. More than just a trend, Davies sees tiny homes as both an affordable and functional solution to California’s housing crisis. Davies explains why he feels tiny homes are worth his ongoing investment of time and money at Harmony Communities.
What is a tiny home?
A tiny home is between 100-400 square feet and built no more than 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet high, and 40 feet long. Most of ours are in the 400 square foot range. Some tiny houses may be initially mobile, and others have a permanent foundation. They are the property of the homeowner, who rents the land from us.
Why are tiny homes an ideal investment in a manufactured housing community?
A tiny house is a fantastic investment. They are constructed of quality materials, contain updated fixtures, and are energy efficient. Every architectural element is evaluated for its functionality and no space is wasted. They can vary in price, but generally, the cost is under $40,000. There is no need for a building permit because they are classified as a type of vehicle. And because they are not considered a real estate purchase, a tiny home offers flexibility in financing. These options can literally open the door of homeownership to people who have not been able to purchase, or even rent, a home in the current market.
What exactly is Harmony Communities doing with tiny houses?
We are so excited to partner with our residents to create neighborhoods that look like, well, neighborhoods! Tiny houses are so attractive, with windows throughout and often a second story. Each tiny house can be a little different, just like in a typical planned housing development. We envision entire neighborhoods of tiny houses, where people can worry about living their lives and not living for a house payment. To that end, we’re aggressively updating two communities in particular: East Bay and Stockton, both in California.
So what has been the response to tiny homes in East Bay and Stockton?
People cannot get enough of them! Seriously, we have a waiting list and cannot put them up fast enough. The first group debuted at East Bay three months ago and were immediately occupied. The feedback on them is that our residents are, first of all, very satisfied with their purchase and happy with their new home. And second, everyone who comes to visit them wants to know how they can get one too. So you could say the response has been phenomenal.
What are your plans for the future?
In addition to continuing to install homes in East Bay, we’ve just broken ground in Stockton, and we’re slated to begin construction in our southern California community in about 4 months.
After that, we’ll keep following where the need takes us.
We at Harmony Communities feel strongly that each resident in our neighborhoods has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community.
Davies imagines Harmony Communities consisting of well-tended, appealing, and modern tiny homes. More than just a trend, Davies sees tiny homes as both an affordable and functional solution to California’s housing crisis. Davies explains why he feels tiny homes are worth his ongoing investment of time and money at Harmony Communities.
What is a tiny home?
A tiny home is between 100-400 square feet and built no more than 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet high, and 40 feet long. Most of ours are in the 400 square foot range. Some tiny houses may be initially mobile, and others have a permanent foundation. They are the property of the homeowner, who rents the land from us.
Why are tiny homes an ideal investment in a manufactured housing community?
A tiny house is a fantastic investment. They are constructed of quality materials, contain updated fixtures, and are energy efficient. Every architectural element is evaluated for its functionality and no space is wasted. They can vary in price, but generally, the cost is under $40,000. There is no need for a building permit because they are classified as a type of vehicle. And because they are not considered a real estate purchase, a tiny home offers flexibility in financing. These options can literally open the door of homeownership to people who have not been able to purchase, or even rent, a home in the current market.
What exactly is Harmony Communities doing with tiny houses?
We are so excited to partner with our residents to create neighborhoods that look like, well, neighborhoods! Tiny houses are so attractive, with windows throughout and often a second story. Each tiny house can be a little different, just like in a typical planned housing development. We envision entire neighborhoods of tiny houses, where people can worry about living their lives and not living for a house payment. To that end, we’re aggressively updating two communities in particular: East Bay and Stockton, both in California.
So what has been the response to tiny homes in East Bay and Stockton?
People cannot get enough of them! Seriously, we have a waiting list and cannot put them up fast enough. The first group debuted at East Bay three months ago and were immediately occupied. The feedback on them is that our residents are, first of all, very satisfied with their purchase and happy with their new home. And second, everyone who comes to visit them wants to know how they can get one too. So you could say the response has been phenomenal.
What are your plans for the future?
In addition to continuing to install homes in East Bay, we’ve just broken ground in Stockton, and we’re slated to begin construction in our southern California community in about 4 months.
After that, we’ll keep following where the need takes us.
We at Harmony Communities feel strongly that each resident in our neighborhoods has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community.
