A popular tiny home community in Tampa, Florida, has opened up to renters willing to pay up to $1,800 a month to live there.
Escape Tampa Bay – owned by Wisconsin-based company Escape Homes – offers properties typically under 400 square feet, complete with kitchens, bathrooms and LED lighting.
Previously, anyone who wanted to occupy a home had to pay between $95,000 and $160,000 for the privilege. But last month, six rental units opened in a new extension, Palm Court.
Prices range between $1,300 and $1,800 per month. According to Zillowthe monthly average rent in Tampa is $2,200.
A popular tiny house community in Tampa, Florida, has opened itself up to renters. Pictured: A Palm Court rental unit at Escape Tampa Bay
Prices range between $1,300 and $1,800 per month. According to Zillow, the average monthly rent in Tampa is $2,200
And unlike typical apartments around the same price, tenants have their own terrace and garden space
Dan Dobrowolski, founder and CEO of Escape Homes, shared Business insider: ‘This is quick alternative housing for people who need housing. It’s affordable. And it’s not the back of a van.’
Throughout the community, even the smallest houses are equipped with a washing machine and a large refrigerator. The larger complexes also have a dishwasher.
And unlike typical apartments of around the same price, tenants have their own terrace and garden space.
Tenants also have access to neighborhood amenities, including a swimming pool, small park, community office and additional storage space.
The neighborhood is currently home to a retired nurse, a radiologist and a store manager, the company said.
Dowbrowlski added: ‘This is for people who want to live in a place that is quiet and safe, where there is a sense of community and respect for space and nature.’
Although the rental units have already been purchased, the company is considering building more later.
Tampa has experienced an explosion in popularity in recent years as more and more residents flee California and New York after growing tired of city life and the high cost of living.
According to a 2022 list compiled by real estate portal Redfin, Tampa was the third most popular place Americans wanted to move.
Tenants also have access to neighborhood amenities, including a swimming pool, small park, community office and additional storage space. In the photo: a public workspace that residents can share
Residents currently include a retired nurse, a radiologist and a store manager, the company said. In the photo: the neighborhood swimming pool
Previously, anyone who wanted to occupy a home had to pay between $95,000 and $160,000 for the privilege. In the photo: a building in The Oaks, the non-rented part of the park
Dowbrowlski told Business Insider: “This is for people who want to live in a place that is quiet and safe, where there is a sense of community and respect for space and nature.” In the photo: a building in The Oaks, the non-rented part of the park
Although the rental units have already been purchased, the company is considering building more later
Tampa has experienced an explosion in popularity in recent years as more and more residents flee California and New York, having grown tired of city life and the high cost of living.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows that overall, Florida gained 249,064 residents last year. By comparison, California and New York together lost 1.4 million residents.
Still, William Frey, a demographer at the think tank The Brookings Institution, said Americans are mainly traveling for money.
“Interstate movers are motivated by work, housing and family reasons,” Frey previously told DailyMail.com.
Major relocation trends in recent years have seen New Yorkers flocking to Florida and Californians choosing Texas, he noted.
“For example, higher costs of living in major coastal areas are helping to drive outbound movement, while job growth in Sun Belt metros has generated gains.”