There are currently more than 10,000 tiny homes in the US, most of which are being utilized as live-in residences.

One increasingly popular method of building these homes is by using shipping containers. They’re easy to customize inside and durable on the outside. A shipping container tiny home is an excellent option for anyone considering the ‘minimalist lifestyle’.

However, scaling down your belongings to that size isn’t for the faint of heart. Sure, minimalism and the freedom of tiny living can be a huge advantage—but some things prove to be a bit more challenging. So, if you are steering in that direction, we wrote this guide for you. Here are the pros and cons of owning this type of dwelling in an area like Houston, Texas.

Pros

One of the top pros of a shipping container tiny home is the price.

In 2019, the average new home cost was fairly hefty—coming out to an astounding $329,750. If you think buying used must be cheaper, the truth is, it’s not by much. The average previously-owned home for sale came to about $245,000.

On the other hand, a full tiny home build-out typically costs about $60,000, on average. That’s not a small difference! Additionally, almost 70% of tiny homeowners don’t have a mortgage.

This cost difference makes owning a home more realistic for people with smaller budgets.

Another fantastic benefit is the reduction of your carbon footprint. After all, with such a small space to maintain, your your energy emissions will be significantly downsized. If you consider buying a used container to build your tiny home, you could quite easily reduce your financial footprint that much more.

Tiny homes are an excellent way to practice minimalism. They force you to take a hard look at your belongings—what do you need? What is weighing you down?—and boil them down to the necessities. Many individuals find a lot of freedom in this process.

Cons

One con that many tiny homeowners cite is storage and space.

Tiny home living is certainly not ideal for packrats. If you find yourself hanging on to every souvenir, ticket stub, and your massive t-shirt collection from high school, you may find the space a bit messy and cluttered. It takes some ingenuity to make the container work in an organized, efficient way.

Additionally, traveling with your tiny home may not be as accessible or affordable as one might think. To do so, you’d need a vehicle that can tow—one of your own, or one you’ve rented—and gasoline goes much quicker, causing you to fill up more often than you might expect.

Is a Shipping Container Tiny Home Right for You?

The good news? These cons aren’t exactly dealbreakers. If you’re prepared to deal with the admittedly complicated parts of living in a container tiny home, you’ll reap the benefits, too.

Life’s all about balance, right? With the tiny home mindset on your side, you’ll be able to view any cons as ways to overcome challenges and make it better.

If you think that a shipping container tiny home is just what you need, we can help.

We have the most extensive collection of new containers for sale in Texas, as well as a fantastic spread of used containers for those who want to be as sustainable as possible.

Click here to explore our many options and receive quotes. We look forward to hearing from you soon.