Tiny Homes For Sale in California
With access to some of the best prefab home builders in the country, it is no surprise that there are multiple companies that offer tiny homes for sale in California, too. In addition to local companies with tiny houses for sale in California, there are many more tiny home builders in the Western U.S. that interested buyers can work with. Together, individuals looking to purchase a tiny home for sale in California have access to a wide range of companies with an even wider array of homes of differing styles and at different price points.
Whether you are looking for a tiny house to take advantage of the sunny weather in Orange County and San Diego or as an alternative to rising home prices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, there are a range of motivations for joining the tiny house movement. However, moving ahead with the decision to buy a small square footage home should be made carefully. Buyers should consider major components of the decision such as, where they will live, what type of house they will buy, and who they will buy a tiny house from. Below we break those questions down as well as share information on the best tiny houses for sale in California.
Overview of Tiny Homes in California
To help you assess your tiny house options in the Golden State, it is important to understand the key aspects of buying a tiny house. This includes answers to questions like “How small of a home should I buy?” Or, “What style tiny house do I want to live in?” California is home to tiny homes ranging from 100 square feet up to 1,200 sqft ADU-sized units & has styles ranging from modern tiny houses to small cottages. And once you understand what options are available to you, it is easier to choose the tiny house of your dreams.
Things to Consider When Buying a Tiny House
As California is home to a wide range of tiny houses for sale there a number of factors that you can use to narrow down your search. When selecting a tiny house, you should be prepared to decide on elements such as:
Foundation v. Mobile - How would you like to use your tiny home? Would you like to place it on a (semi) permanent foundation, in a tiny home community, for example? Or would you like the freedom to move your home around, in which case you might want to search for tiny homes on wheels for sale in California (THOWs).
Size - Just how “tiny” of a house are you looking to live in? California is home to many small home builders. Therefore, you can find companies that specialize in homes as small as 100 square feet or companies that build larger ADUs up to 1,200 square feet.
Style - In California alone, let alone the West Coast (which is still a feasible distance to purchase a tiny home & have it shipped), buyers can find a range of tiny home styles. This includes tiny cottages, modern tiny homes, and even custom tiny houses.
California Tiny House Market
For individuals looking to buy a new tiny house in California, it is important to understand the range of product offerings available. While we have only covered a few California-based builders, there are over 30 companies located throughout the U.S. that are able to ship their homes to the Golden State. This means you have access to over 400 unique floor plans, with the average cost of a newly-built tiny home in California ranging from $268 - $405 per square foot.
California Tiny House Regulations & Building Code
Like many other states, California refers to Appendix Q building codes for outlining the requirements for tiny homes on wheels. This applies to all tiny homes under 400 square feet and outlines basics for things like ceiling height and access points.
For individuals considering a larger house, particularly one on a foundation, in most instances, ADU-specific rules will apply. It is worth noting, however, that for both small and large homes, there may be local regulations such as in the areas below:
Purchasing a Tiny House
Buy an existing home
If you are looking to move into a home quickly or you are looking for a second-hand home at a reduced price, you might want to consider purchasing an existing tiny house. Several online marketplaces exist for buying and selling used tiny homes in the Golden State.
Alternatively, you can buy an existing home in a tiny home community. In California, some options include:
Buy a Newly Built House
If you would like the option to personalize your home, you might also want to consider buying a new tiny house. In California, some options to consider include:
Sierra Tiny Houses (Sacramento)
Sierra Tiny Houses specializes in designing and building tiny houses on wheels with traditional designs. In addition to fully-custom projects, they offer 4 pre-designed tiny homes which feature either contemporary ranch or cottage aesthetics. Their homes are designed with numerous tiny-home specific design elements in mind like sleeping lofts, storage stairs, and options for off-grid living
Turn-key Cost Estimate: $223 - $304 per square foot
For a full list of Sierra Tiny Houses’ tiny homes with information on size and cost estimates see our list of Sierra Tiny Houses’ floor plans.
Example of work: Beach Bungalow
The Little House on the Trailer (Petaluma)
The Little House on the Trailer specializes in building and selling home care units. Their fully-mobile tiny homes are designed to be used as temporary housing where a caretaker can live on the same property as a patient but in two distinct residences. Even though their 30+ models are built on trailers, they are not intended for frequent travel and must be moved by a transportation company.
Turn-key Cost Estimate: $71 - $125+ per square foot
Example of work: Loft Model
Tiny Heirloom (Portland, Oregon)
Based in Portland, Oregon, Tiny Heirloom offers 10 models of modern tiny homes. Their tiny houses often feature a modern cabin aesthetic and come with the option for upgrades like off-grid capabilities. Tiny Heirloom also has a history of working on fully-custom designs. They also specialize in designing unique floor plans with tiny house-specific living areas like sleeping lofts and compact bedrooms.
Turn-key Cost Estimate: $247 - $494 per square foot
For a full list of Tiny Heirloom’s tiny homes with information on size and cost estimates see our list of Tiny Heirlooms’ floor plans.
Example of work: Majesty
Handcrafted Movement (Portland, Oregon)
Handcrafted Movement offers over 20 models of modern farmhouse-style tiny homes on wheels. Their tiny homes typically have unique design elements like Lofts, fireplaces, and apartment-sized appliances.
Turn-key Cost Estimate: $338 - $417 per square foot
For a full list of Handcrafted Movement’s tiny homes with information on size and cost estimates see our list of Handcrafted Movement’s floor plans.
Example of work: Malibu Beach
Wolf Industries (Battle Ground, Washington)
Wolf Industries designs and builds 4 pre-designed tiny homes. While they do not offer floor plan customization, buyers can personalize select design elements. Their tiny homes largely feature traditional design elements although they also offer more contemporary aesthetic choices.
Turn-key Cost Estimate: $150 - $250 per square foot
For a full list of Wolf Industries’ tiny homes with information on size and cost estimates see our list of Wolf Industries’ floor plans.
Example of Work: Model B
Financing Your Purchase
While the option exists to pay for your THOW using cash, for many individuals, that is not the most realistic. Therefore, you must consider financing options. And because tiny homes, particularly THOWs, don’t qualify for traditional mortgages, available financing options include:
Personal Loans - In addition to traditional banks, specialty lenders like SoFi, LightStream, and Figure offer personal loans of up to $100,000
Company-Backed Financing - Depending on the builder you choose, they may offer in-house financing options for the purchase of a newly built tiny home
Conclusion & Alternative Living Options
If you are looking to build a home and aren’t certain the tiny house movement is for you, be sure to read our list of companies that build prefab homes in California, modular homes in California, container homes in California, as well as our lists for ADU builders in the ADU builders in the San Francisco Bay Area and ADU builders in Los Angeles. And for buyers looking for more affordable options, you might be interested in manufactured homes in California.
