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Tiny Homes for Sale in New Jersey

Matt Knigge

Given rising home prices in the Garden State, individuals willing to downsize to a small square footage home can benefit from significant cost savings when shopping for a tiny home for sale in New Jersey. In exchange for large, several-bedroom homes with thousands of square feet of living space, tiny houses give buyers an affordable housing option often complete with 1-2 sleeping areas, creative features like sleeping lofts or hidden storage compartments, and quite often, the freedom of mobility.

Determining whether or not New Jersey’s tiny house movement is a good fit for you and your lifestyle is most likely a question only you can answer yourself. However, buying a tiny home- either a tiny house on wheels (THOW) or on a foundation -  must also make logistical sense. To help with the second part, we have created a guide covering the most important aspects of buying a New Jersey tiny home including cost, regulations, where to buy, and key things to consider.

Overview of Tiny Homes in New Jersey

As you begin to research whether joining the tiny house movement is a good decision for you, one big question you may ask is, “Does it make sense for me to buy a tiny house in New Jersey?” And whether you live in Princeton or Edison, Sussex County or Cape May County, or somewhere in between it is helpful to see the big picture of NJ’s alternative housing market. That way - you can begin to determine your budget, preferences, and eligibility, all of which are key criteria for selecting the best tiny home for your project.

Things to Consider When Buying a Tiny House

When planning your tiny home purchase or build, there are a few factors that should guide your search. Some important decisions regarding your home include:

  • Mobile vs. Fixed - Are you looking for a THOW that is built on a trailer chassis and can be moved? Or, are you looking for a compact home built and connected to a permanent foundation?

  • Size - Homes come in a range of sizes with the smallest units starting at around 100 square feet and going up to 250+ square feet (including sleeping lofts & fold-out decks). If you are looking for something slightly larger, you might want to consider companies that specialize in accessory dwelling units (ADUs) which typically range from 400 - 800 square feet or manufactured homes

  • Style - What is your desired design aesthetic? There are a range of tiny home builders in the Northeastern U.S. that specialize in styles like modern tiny homes, tiny farmhouses, tiny cottages, and tiny cabins. Alternatively, you can opt to build a custom tiny house.

Garden State Tiny House Market

Even though New Jersey is not home to any tiny home companies, buyers have access to many different builders and tiny houses for sale. To date, we have reviewed over 30 builders that sell tiny homes in New Jersey. Together, they offer over 380 unique floor plans, plus the option to build a custom home. Among these builders, tiny homes in New Jersey typically cost between $287 - $420 per square foot, making them more affordable than modular or kit home construction. When working with an out-of-state builder, shipping a THOW typical costs between $1 - $6 per mile.


New Jersey Tiny Home Regulations & Building Code

As is the case in most of the U.S., New Jersey does not have specific building codes for tiny homes. Therefore, to determine what you are (and are not) able to build, you must distinguish between THOWs and homes built on a foundation. In NJ,

  • Tiny Homes on Wheels are considered recreational vehicles and must abide by state RV regulations.

  • Tiny Houses on a Foundation must be built by Appendix Q building codes. This applies to all homes under 400 square feet (excluding loft space) that are built as dwelling units and are placed on a foundation. Important distinctions include:

    • Lofts & Living Spaces must have a ceiling height of at least 6’8”

    • Lofts must have an approved emergency exit hatch

When determining where you can place your New Jersey tiny home, you must refer to your city or town’s local zoning regulations.

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 Garden State. 

Alternatively, you can buy an existing home in a tiny home community, though there are still limited options.

Buy a newly built home

Another option is to work with a builder who specializes in building tiny homes and purchase a new house. Some options worth considering include:

Modern Tiny Living

Modern Tiny Living (Columbus, OH)

Liberation Tiny Homes

Liberation Tiny Homes (Leola, Pennsylvania)

  • Design and build 3 series of tiny homes

    • "Rumspringa" series is their most affordable and smallest-footprint tiny home.

    • Signature" offers the highest degree of customization as some models include features such as a first-floor bedroom, built-in workspace, single or double lofts, exterior storage shed.

    • Offer structural shell kits for DIY buyers.

  • Turn-key Cost Estimate: $222 - $368 per square foot

  • List of Liberation Tiny Homes modular home floor plans with cost info

  • Example of work: Belvedere

Maverick Tiny Homes

Maverick Tiny Homes (Eaton, OH)

Jamaica Cottage Shop

Jamaica Cottage Shop (Londonderry, VT)

  • Sell a variety of alternative building solutions packages including floor plans, 3-season structural kits, and 4-season structural materials kits.

  • In addition to sheds and cottages, they also offer tiny living options.

  • Turn-key Cost Estimate: $155 - $450 per square foot

  • Example of work: Harvester

Financing Your Purchase

Because tiny homes are not eligible for traditional mortgages and paying all cash is an unrealistic option for many buyers, there is a question of how can you finance the purchase of a tiny house. Common options include:

  • Personal Loans - In addition to traditional banks, specialty lenders like SoFi & LightStream (Tiny Home Loans) offer loans of up to $100,000.

  • RV Loans

  • 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

Whether you are looking for a unique, small square footage home or you an affordable housing alternative to traditional housing, tiny homes can be a great option for New Jersey buyers. There are several quality options available to you allowing you to choose between standard & custom plans, new construction or pre-owned, and a mobile home on wheels or a stationary home built on a foundation.

If after reading our guide, you would like to learn more about other prefabricated housing options in the Garden State, be sure to check out our resources on:

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