Tiny Home Tours

Is tiny living still worth it?

In this special Open House Q&A episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, host Cindy Schroppel shares her honest experience of moving with her husband, Joe, from a 2,400-square-foot house into a tiny home under 400 square feet.

Cindy opens up about the life change that led them to downsize, the emotional process of letting go, the realities of community living and what it actually costs to live tiny. She also discusses the everyday challenges of sharing a small space, the freedom they gained and what she would do differently knowing what she knows today.

Throughout this interactive episode, Cindy answers viewer questions about costs, communities, downsizing, storage, financing, floor plans and the realities of tiny-home living.

Tiny living has been worth it for Cindy and Joe—but is it the right choice for you? This conversation will help you look beyond the size of the house and consider the life you want your home to support.

What if choosing the right tiny home is only half the decision?
Where you place that home—and the people and spaces surrounding it—can determine whether tiny living feels freeing, connected and fulfilling.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy talks with Darin Dinsmore, an urban planner, landscape architect, tiny-home resident and founder of TinyCamp. Darin shares how his work in community planning led him into tiny living, what TinyCamp guests taught him about small-space living and how those lessons influenced the design of Gather.
Together, they explore what separates a thoughtfully designed tiny-home neighborhood from a traditional RV park, the intentional design choices that help relationships form and what people can gain by living smaller.
You’ll also learn who is most likely to thrive in a tiny-home community and what to consider before choosing one.
If you’re considering tiny living and wondering whether private land or community life is right for you, this conversation will help you look beyond the home itself—and think about the life you want to create around it.
Subscribe to Tiny Home Tours and share this episode with someone dreaming about a smaller home and a greater sense of community.

Check out our Podcast episodes here: https://bit.ly/tinyhometourspodcast
Join our newsletter for all things living tiny: https://bit.ly/THT-Newsletter

Gather Cottages: https://www.gathercottages.com/welcome
Tiny Camp Sedona: https://www.tinycamp.com/

Alaska Wagoner was working in real estate and building a successful life—but behind the scenes, she felt burned out and trapped. Ready for a change, she left that life behind, bought a secondhand tiny home, and started over.

Even with her real estate experience, Alaska quickly discovered that buying a tiny home was far more complicated than she expected. Today, as The Tiny House Concierge, she helps others navigate the process with greater confidence.

In this episode, we discuss the lessons Alaska learned, the costly mistakes buyers should avoid, what to consider before purchasing a tiny home, and how the tiny-home market is evolving. We’ll also explore why she believes living smaller can create greater freedom—and may even help change the world.

Live/Podcast Title: Before Buying a Tiny Home: The Untold Truth

Live/Podcast Links to Share: 

TinyhouseconciergeThe Tiny House Concierge

Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com/tinyhouseconcierge

Email: [email protected]

When Nadia’s husband passed away suddenly, the five-bedroom home where they had raised their family no longer fit the life she wanted—but she wasn’t ready to leave the property she loved.

Her solution was to build a small home in her own backyard and rent out the larger house. That decision allowed her to remain rooted, create rental income, travel, and begin a new chapter.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy talks with Nadia’s builder, Brad Jones, founder and owner of Tiny Homes of Tucson. Using Nadia’s project as our guide, Brad takes us from the first property evaluation to the day she moved into her completed ADU.

We discuss:

• How to determine whether your property qualifies for an ADU

• The differences between an ADU, tiny home, casita, and guest house

• Zoning, setbacks, access, and utility connections

• The costs and complications homeowners may not anticipate

• Designing for accessibility, privacy, storage, and changing needs

• Questions to ask before hiring an ADU builder

• What to determine before spending money on plans

Could an ADU help your property continue serving you as your life changes? Tell us in the comments what you would use a backyard home for.

Watch Nadia’s complete tiny-home tour:

YouTubeHow She Lives for Free Using Her Backyard Tiny Home

Learn more about Tiny Homes of Tucson:

BitTiny Homes of Tucson - Tiny Home Builders In Arizona

Subscribe to Tiny Home Tours and join Let’s Talk Tiny live every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Central. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

#ADU #TinyHome #TinyHouseLiving #BackyardHome #TinyHomesOfTucson #Downsizing #AgingInPlace #MultigenerationalLiving #LetsTalkTiny

Chris steps in to host this episode of Let's Talk Tiny and sits down with James, who built a $39,000 off-grid passive solar home with his wife Doreen in just 9 months, doing about 90% of the labor themselves. Their handcrafted home sits on 35 acres in rural Colorado, and it's a masterclass in building affordably, intentionally, and to last.

James walks through how they pulled it off after years living in a converted bus: the real cost breakdown, the mistakes that cost them (including a $3,000 concrete color lesson), and the passive solar design that keeps the house warm through the night with almost no monthly bills. After 46 years of marriage, a lot of their story comes down to learning to trust each other's strengths to get the work done.

In this episode:

• How they built a full off-grid home for around $39,000
• The passive solar layout and thermal mass that heat the house for free
• Reclaimed and repurposed materials, from shou sugi ban charred siding to a homemade masonry heater pizza oven
• The honest cost of the land, the well, and ongoing expenses
• Hard-won DIY advice: plan your materials early, shop local salvage and auctions, and live in the area before you build

Whether you're dreaming of building your own tiny home, curious about off-grid living, or looking to cut housing costs and live debt-free, James's story proves it's possible with grit, planning, and patience.

As James puts it: "It's kind of like running a marathon. You'll question it at times, but one little step at a time, the house gets built."

I kept it dash-free per your house style and pulled the strongest hooks (the $39K, the 9-month DIY build, passive solar, the pizza-oven masonry heater) up top since Search drives most of your podcast discovery.

Could your backyard be the solution to your family's biggest housing challenge?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are one of the fastest-growing housing trends in America—but they're also one of the most misunderstood.
In this episode of Let's Talk Tiny, Cindy sits down with Jessica Charlesworth, founder of Rocky Mountain ADUs and the National ADU Builders Coalition, to explore how backyard homes are helping families create housing for aging parents, adult children, rental income, home offices, and more.
But here's what surprises most people...
Not everyone should build an ADU.
Jessica shares the stories behind the families she's helped, explains who makes a great ADU candidate (and who doesn't), clears up costly misconceptions, and offers a look at where housing is headed over the next decade.
Whether you're considering an ADU, exploring tiny living, or simply looking for smarter housing options, this conversation will help you think differently about what's possible with the property you already own.
In this episode you'll learn:
• What an ADU is—and how it's different from a tiny home
• Who benefits most from building an ADU
• Common myths that could cost homeowners thousands of dollars
• When an ADU is the wrong solution
• How ADUs are changing the future of housing
• Why more families are choosing to stay together while living independently

Let us know in the comments where you're watching from and join the conversation!

🎙️ Listen to Let's Talk Tiny wherever you get your podcasts:
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with someone who's exploring alternative housing or wondering what's possible with their own property.

Rocky Mountain ADUs Website:  https://rockymtnadus.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rockymountainadus
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rockymountainadus
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-adus/

Contact Main office: 720-807-5445 
Western Slope: 970-780-4235 
Email: [email protected]
National ADU Builders Coalition Website (Coming Soon!): https://nationaladubuilderscoalition.com

Are tiny home communities really a path to lower living costs and a simpler lifestyle? In this episode of Let’s Talk Tiny, Cindy sits down with Mark Agnew, Sales Manager at Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community, to talk about the realities of tiny living from both a professional and personal perspective.

With more than 45 years of experience in hospitality and sales — and firsthand experience living tiny himself — Mark shares what buyers should know before purchasing a tiny home, the biggest surprises people experience when touring communities, financing challenges, monthly costs, and what “lot rent” actually includes.

Whether you’re curious about community living, looking to simplify your lifestyle, or wondering if traditional housing still makes sense, this episode offers practical insight and real-world experience for anyone considering the tiny-home lifestyle.

Can a family really live well in under 400 square feet? Is a tiny home a smart investment or just a trend? In this episode of Let's Talk Tiny, Cindy answers your most-asked questions about tiny home living, drawn from three and a half years of doing it herself.

She breaks down what actually counts as a tiny home today, from park models and tiny homes on wheels to ADUs, modular homes, and cottages. She talks honestly about the costs people never budget for, whether tiny homes hold their value, how insurance and warranties really work, and the maintenance surprise that caught even her off guard.

You will also hear:
Why she would choose a main floor bedroom over a loft every single time. What resort style communities offer, and why the lot rent runs higher. How to find tiny homes, communities, and ADUs in your state, even where zoning still gets in the way. Why mini splits are a total game changer for staying comfortable year round. And the one thing nearly every tiny homeowner says they wish they had done sooner.

Whether you are 55 plus and ready to downsize, a young family dreaming of more freedom, or just someone who loves a good tiny home story, this one is for you.
Got a question about tiny living? Drop it in the comments. Cindy answers them live on the show.

Subscribe for new tiny home tours every week, and sign up for our newsletter at tinyhometours.com.

New episodes of Let's Talk Tiny every week at 4pm Central.

Modular Homes: Another Option for Simpler Living w/ Ken Semler of Impresa Modular

https://impresamodular.com/

Have you ever found the perfect tiny home, secured financing, and found the perfect piece of land—only to discover you can't legally put your home there?

In this episode of Let's Talk Tiny, Cindy sits down with housing policy expert Amy Tomasso to uncover the hidden rules that shape where we live and why so many people struggle to find housing that fits their lifestyle and budget.

From zoning restrictions and land-use regulations to ADUs, cottage courts, tiny home communities, and missing-middle housing, Amy explains why housing challenges affect everyone—from retirees looking to downsize, to young families searching for their first home, to adult children hoping to keep aging parents nearby.

You'll hear real-world stories of people whose housing plans were stopped by unexpected regulations, discover communities that are successfully creating new housing options, and learn about innovative solutions that could change the future of housing in America.

If you've ever wondered why finding a tiny home is often easier than finding a place to put it, this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• Why housing has become a national challenge
• The biggest obstacles facing tiny home buyers
• How zoning and land-use rules impact your housing options
• What "missing middle housing" means and why it matters
• Success stories from communities creating more housing choices
• Innovative housing solutions shaping the future
• Amy's advice for anyone feeling stuck on their tiny home journey

Plus, stay through the end for a live audience Q&A with Amy.

Whether you're exploring a tiny home, considering an ADU, planning to downsize, or simply looking for more affordable housing options, this episode will help you better understand the forces shaping where and how we live.

#LetsTalkTiny #TinyHomes #HousingPolicy #ADU #TinyHomeLiving #AffordableHousing #Downsizing #MissingMiddleHousing #TinyHomeCommunities

Links to Share:

https://www.ivoryinnovations.org/the-little-book

And Ivory Innovations' https://www.ivoryinnovations.org/housing-innovation-database

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivoryinnovations/?viewAsMember=true

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ivory.innovations/

The https://www.zoningatlas.org/

https://accd.vermont.gov/current-initiatives/homesforall

Amy is Director of Policy Innovation at Ivory Innovations (University of Utah, David Eccles School). Background includes Stanford, Harvard GSD, Vermont state housing, and published research on missing middle housing. She leads the policy work at Ivory and is involved with national housing affordability conversations. Topic-wise, she will go deep on missing middle, ADUs, zoning reform, and where regulatory progress is actually happening (Vermont, Oregon, Long Beach, Texas). She has explicitly said she wants to make regulations come alive on the show, not put people to sleep.