I bought a 204sq foot tiny home with no savings – now I own a whole village and people pay $75 a night to stay
AFTER moving into her own tiny house to save money, one woman built a tiny home village to offer others the same experience.
Divorcing Michelle Boyle left her with no savings, two children, and a livelihood from paycheck to paycheck.
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It was the early 2000s and she lived like this for twelve years until her kids went to college.
With no children left at home and a remote job, she decided to move into a tiny house to start saving for retirement. She was so short on cash that she looked for a sponsor who could support her and eventually found 24.
She paid for less than a quarter of the house with her own money and completed about 70 percent of the renovations with her boyfriend’s help.
The companies sent her “dented, damaged, or over-ordered inventory in exchange for social media content,” she told Insider.
When all was said and done, Boyle owned a 204-square-foot home on a three-acre lot.
People followed the journey on social media and they caught the eye of House Beautiful, who named their house one of their top 10 most loved homes.
She had become a bit of a superstar and realized there was money to be made from it.
SMALL HOUSE, BIG EXPENSES
After attending 14 tiny living festivals both as a guest and as a speaker or presenter, she knew what she had to do.
“In short, I can design and build a tiny house that I can sell and make a few thousand dollars, or I can design and build a tiny house that I can rent and I can make a few thousand dollars a quarter forever.” and earn per house.” she said.
Boyle built a second tiny home in 2018 and made it available on Airbnb.
“I got Airbnb superhost status, it was almost 100% booked in its first summer, and within six months it has actually returned every penny I invested,” she said.
Boyle continued to build tiny homes and now runs My Tiny Creekside Retreat.
The retreat is nestled in the hills of Longview, Washington and features 11 homes.
The houses have different designs suitable for larger groups, including a cottage that sleeps up to eight people.
Guests also have the option of renting four houses at the same time to enjoy a vacation for up to nine people.
Rates start at just $75, but some cabins have a minimum stay requirement.
Boyle also started renovating RVs “out of boredom” and also offers these for rent.
“My story assumes this is intentional, this is convenient, this is doable. It literally changed my life and my future,” Boyle said of her business venture.
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
Guests love Ellicottville, the first small ski resort town in western New York.
It opened in February and has 11 cabins ranging in size from 260 to 800 square meters, which can accommodate from two to six people.
Nightly rates start at $150 and each home features a kitchenette, washer and dryer, and full bathroom.
The village is surrounded by the ski slopes of Sky High Adventure Park and Holiday Valley Resort.
While it’s obviously a winter holiday magnet, it’s just as enjoyable in the warmer months due to the tranquil natural setting.
A Tiny House Village in New Hampshire offers people a taste of tiny living for as little as $135 a night.
Plus, check out the “Most Beautiful Tiny Houses in the World” in an upscale community.