Have you ever considered going tiny? A tiny home, that is. What is a tiny home, you ask? Are they legal in Texas? Are there rental tiny homes available?
A home is considered a tiny home if it is about 400 to 600 square feet. These can be mobile or stationary in design and are legal in some areas of Texas, depending on zoning and construction laws. There are vacation tiny home rentals to give you a taste of what tiny home living is like.
Read below for more details on these questions and a list of some relaxing getaways to get you started on your tiny home journey.
What Is Considered A Tiny House In Texas?
As mentioned above, a home is considered a tiny home if it is about 400 to 600 square feet. They usually consist of living space/dining/kitchen on the first floor with an attached bathroom. Generally, the sleeping portions or bedrooms are located in lofts up above. Some can be designed to have a first-floor bedroom, though.
What’s The Difference Between A Tiny Home And A Cabin?
Generally, the main difference is that most tiny homes are built on wheels and can travel fairly easily. They are great for families exploring the world or even traveling writers.
Cabins tend to be built on permanent foundations. These are great for seasonal retreats, whether it’s by the lake in the summer or in the mountains in the fall.
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Texas?
The answer to this depends on your city or county. To place a tiny house on the property you already own, you may need to submit a land use application. Some places, such as Austin, Texas, require something called a Residential Plan Review to be submitted. It’s important to find out the requirements in your city before you begin to build or purchase your tiny home.
3 Fun Tiny Home Rental Escapes Near San Antonio
Are you wondering what it’s like to live in a tiny home? Are you nervous about committing because you’re unsure what it will truly feel like? Why not try vacationing in one to get a feel for the lifestyle?
Below are links to a few different styles of rental escape ideas if you’re looking to try out the tiny home experience before fully committing to it. Just click on the provided links for a full description and to reserve the one of your choice.
The Rising Sun - Tiny Home Village And Campground
This campground is located at Medina Lake in the highlands of Lakehills, Texas. It offers tent pad sites and RV campsites in the Sherwood Forest section. The season for these sites begins in March. The Celestial Village section offers tiny home rentals as well. The season for these sites starts in June. Click here to view the tiny homes available to rent via Airbnb. They currently offer 3 models:
- The Sunshine
- The Moonbeam
- The Starlight
While staying there, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. You can kayak by walking or driving down to the bank to launch your kayak. Fishing is also something you can enjoy, catching largemouth or striped bass for recreational fishing. Hiking can be done as well on the ¼-mile hiking trail.
So make your reservation today and see what it’s like to truly live in a tiny home while enjoying the great outdoors.
Industrial Glam–Wimberley Accommodation
This home is perfect for two guests or a romantic getaway. This super spacious
Studio-style home comes with a choice of a cozy loft bed as well as a sleeper sofa that folds out to a queen-size bed. It comes with a fully-equipped kitchen with an apartment-sized refrigerator, a smart TV, and there is even WiFi. Linens and towels are provided for your convenience.
The sprinkling of fairy lights outdoors helps you enjoy the picnic area or the back deck well into the evening. You can also relax in the hot tub while gazing up at the stars.
Whimsical–Wimberley Accommodation
This whimsical tiny home is located inside of an actual chapel. The rental has an airy feel about it with large vintage windows that provide loads of natural light and lend to the panoramic view of the breathtaking nature surrounding you here. This home comes complete with a queen-sized bed, a vintage pew footboard, and a luxurious claw-footed tub, all decorated in a comforting farmhouse style.
Included for your stay are WiFi, TV, and breakfast, which can be enjoyed in the sunshine at the bistro set out on the deck. You’ll also have the convenience of enjoying shopping, dining, and local wineries nearby.
Final Thoughts on Tiny Home Rentals Near San Antonio
There are lots of benefits – and some disadvantages – to living a tiny home lifestyle. Some of the benefits of tiny home living and/or rental are less clutter and less time spent on cleaning. If purchasing or building, then the lowered expenses (such as heating and cooling) and easier maintenance are ideal, plus the ability to live mortgage-free. It is also conducive to spending more time outside breathing in the fresh air, taking in the warmth of the sun and the joys of nature.
There are a few disadvantages, though. Some are the simple fact that there is less room for living indoors. This makes a minimalist lifestyle ideal, hence the less clutter in the paragraph above. Another disadvantage is that smells from cooking tend to linger longer, as there is less room for them to dissipate. Also, if purchasing, it can be extremely difficult to get a mortgage. Most tiny homes are set up as personal property purchases, the same as an RV would be.
So, if you are on the fence about the tiny home life, try vacationing in one and see how it feels. If it fits then have fun not only in the creative process of building but in the lifestyle that comes with it!
