Are tiny homes popular on Long Island?
Could you live in a tiny home?
According to a recent nationwide survey by financial company IPX1031, 73% of Americans would consider it. And 65% of the respondents cited the housing market as their reason.
A tiny home is categorized as a house that is 500 square feet or less. While there aren't many houses like this on Long Island, the trend may be on the rise, said Noreen Graham, of Paul Gold Real Estate.
"It is not here yet, but it is definitely coming," she said. "Even builders now are considering doing these smaller, efficient houses."
Graham is the listing agent of a tiny house in Long Beach with an asking price of $888,000. The Long Beach listing is 500 square feet and has one full bathroom, with no bedrooms. The setup is a two-car garage on the lower level, with a studio-style living area on top. The property also includes an in-ground saltwater pool.
This 500-square-foot Long Beach home is listed for $888,000. Credit: Greenroom Photography/Mike Nelson
The area is pricey overall, Graham noted. And she's never sold a property like this — the closest comparison would be the bungalows of Long Beach, which tend to include three bedrooms and one bathroom.
But as for a house of this elevation and size, "it is the only property like this in the west end [of Long Beach]," Graham said.
As for sleeping arrangements, she recommends installing a Murphy bed in the main living area. She sees the efficient, low-maintenance lifestyle that comes with tiny homes as a selling point.
The house doesn't have a bedroom, but it sports an inground pool outside. Credit: Greenroom Photography/Mike Nelson
Constance Porto, of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, recently listed a tiny house in Hampton Bays for $549,000. Built in 1930, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom property comes to just under 500 square feet.
"It's done to the nines," said Porto. The backyard includes a trellis and built-in benches, she added, saying the house is "romantic and cozy."
The house, which has cathedral ceilings, was on the market for about three weeks, starting in late April. The first open house drew about 20 people and five offers, with the owners accepting one.
"It's a great alternative to buying a condo, because you get your own private backyard," Porto said. "It's close to the ocean, close to town and it has an outside shower."
This Hampton Bays home under 500 square feet was on the market for roughly three weeks before selling. Credit: Jump Visual
The tiny house Graham is listing was built in 2022. The house has been shown, but there isn't an offer yet, and she feels that there are a couple reasons why.
"When people come in, they think, 'I'm coming from a five-bedroom, three full-bathroom home, and this is too small for me,'" she said. "Or people are thinking, 'I can't downsize enough to fit here.' "
But the property is expandable, Graham said. And a buyer moving from New York City might find the current layout comparable to their own. Overall, the growing consideration for tiny houses isn't surprising to Graham.
"I think now people are getting away from all of this extra space," she said. "I think people want to cash in now, on the skyrocketing prices of houses, and live comfortably and be able to do other things, like travel or give money to their children."
Rachel Weiss joined Newsday in 2016. As a real estate/living multimedia reporter, Rachel writes feature stories and contributes to and appears in on-camera video packages. She was the lead reporter on Newsday’s LI Acts of Kindness series.
