Americans spend billions of dollars each year on Amazon purchases for their homes, but a new wave of shoppers are now turning to the online retail giant for the homes themselves—little houses that start at just $10,000 each.
With the median house price in the U.S. now at $424,950, many people feel that the American dream of owning their own property is an impossible feat.
Enter Amazon’s DIY tiny homes—compact properties that can be assembled in less than a day and cost a fraction of the average house or apartment.
Some of those who have already purchased one of the diminutive dwellings have been showcasing the process on social media, revealing the truth about what it takes to put them together and how comfortable they really are.
One social media user and proud Amazon homebuyer, Nathan Graham, was full of praise for his new property, which he purchased online for just $38,999.
Graham, who is known as Unspeakable online, shared a video of himself unboxing his new abode, voicing his shock at how “legit” the home looked when he first opened it up.
“There’s a whole bathroom! And a shower!” he and his friends exclaim as they tour the property, before expanding it out to its full size, revealing that the home essentially just “unfolds” and clips into shape.
“I’ve never folded a house together,” he notes, before adding: “This thing is so easy to build, you just unfold it. It didn’t come with instructions, and we built it.”
Another influencer, Jeffrey Bryant, 23, from Los Angeles, also took the Amazon property plunge, to the tune of $26,000, explaining that he worked with one of the company’s specialists to procure several “upgrades” to the home, including two free couches.
Just like Graham’s home, Bryant’s tiny abode also came complete with a working bathroom that features a toilet and shower.
He notes that the ceilings are “very low” but adds that, on the whole, he’s thrilled with his new dwelling.
“I’m 23 years old, and I just bought a house off Amazon!” he marvels.
He added in an interview with the New York Post: “People my age are told that we can’t afford to purchase homes, but I’m proof that it is possible.”
While it may seem like a novel concept to purchase a house online from Amazon, real estate salesperson Douglas Bendt, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in New York City, says otherwise.
“This concept is really quite old,” he notes.
“Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold kit homes from its catalog in the early 1900s.”
Be smart before you ‘add to cart’
Before you hit “buy now” on an Amazon house, it’s crucial to do your homework—and lots of it.
New York broker Nikki Beauchamp, of Sotheby’s International Realty, says she would have some major concerns if a client was going to do this—namely “zoning, where to put it, and— most importantly—quality of construction.”
However, real estate agent Chantay Bridges, of EXP Realty in Los Angeles says, “Depending on the circumstances, I may not be opposed to the idea. I have a client who loves tiny homes, and it’s her dream to purchase one.”
Before making your tiny-home dream come true, doing your due diligence is critical, particularly when it comes to figuring out where exactly you are going to build your new property.
“Check the zoning laws, as it could be challenging to obtain permits and licenses even if you already have the land,” advises Bridges.
“You don’t want to purchase a tiny house only to find out your city does not allow them or has extremely tight restrictions.”
Connecting into the city’s sewage and water system could be another big hurdle, according to Sam Fitz-Simon, a real estate agent with Compass in Danville, CA.
He advises meeting with your local planning and development department—as well as checking into insurance and financing—before adding one of these home kits to your cart.
Others warn that you should only consider purchasing from reputable sellers whose listings have legitimate reviews.
If you’ve done all your research and still want to have your “home, sweet, home” delivered by Amazon Prime, take a gander at these five houses that are only a click away—and all priced at less than $50,000.
Amazon price: $13,078
This modern retreat is delivered fully assembled, allowing “for hassle-free setup and relocation.”
It has one bedroom downstairs, and a second bedroom upstairs in the loft.
There’s an open, airy living room along with a kitchen and bathroom.
But it’s the cabin’s incredible floor-to-ceiling windows that truly steal the show.
Click to buy this “Modern A-Frame Cabin” on Amazon.
Amazon price: $49,899
This two-story house is approximately 25 feet long and 20 feet wide.
It makes ultraefficient use of the space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The tiny home also boasts a full kitchen, a combined dining-and-living area, and an additional upstairs living room.
Its one review on Amazon says, “The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the customer support throughout the process was fantastic.”
Click to buy the “Double-Story House” on Amazon.
Amazon price: $24,750
With its 20-foot expandable design, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom tiny home is surprisingly roomy.
It features double-glazed PVC sliding windows and security doors made of broken-bridge aluminum.
It’s prewired for electric and plumbing and has a roof insulated with flame-retardant foam panels.
The listing even claims it is “typhoon- and wind-resistant.”
Click to buy the “Double-Story Container House” on Amazon.
Amazon price: $35,000
This unique dwelling is described as a “space capsule cabin house hotel, designed for modern living at its finest” that “has a lifespan of more than 50-60 years.”
The one-bedroom unit is 40 feet long, with wall-to-wall windows.
It conveniently comes prewired for electricity and plumbing.
Click to buy the “Pod Mansion” on Amazon.
Amazon price: $23,000
This tiny home’s structure is primarily made of galvanized steel, and it’s available in an array of colors including white, blue, gray, and brown.
The listing says it takes just two hours to install, “greatly reducing labor costs.”
The home also features an anti-rust, waterproof design that’s reportedly “anti-seismic.”
The all-in price includes furniture, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, electrical appliances, and decorative materials.
Click to buy the “Expandable Prefab Tiny Home” on Amazon.