tiny house news

Texas is a top state for luxury tiny homes, says Architectural Digest

Texas luxury tiny homes, tiny homes for sale

This little lake house near Lake Buchanan is on the market for $435,000.

A new report by Architectural Digest magazine has revealed a small but mighty trend rising in Texas: luxury tiny homes.

The report, titled "Which States Have the Most Luxury Tiny Homes?" ranks Texas in the top three states that currently have the most luxury tiny homes for sale. California comes in at No. 1, while Texas has the second-highest number of luxury tiny homes on the market. Oregon is No. 3.

For the purpose of the study, a luxury tiny home is defined as a "freestanding home with a for-sale price of $75,000 or more" that was listed on Tiny Home Builders and Tiny House Listings.

The report found 81 houses specifically labeled as "luxury" tiny homes for sale in Texas in late January 2024, along with 252 non-luxury tiny home listings.

California had the highest number of luxury and non-luxury tiny homes, at 135 and 318, respectively.

Big return on investment
To get a better look at what the typical Texas tiny home looks like, AD concluded the average tiny home for sale in Texas spans 358.7 square feet with fewer than two (1.3) bedrooms, and one bathroom.

With or without the appealing luxury tagline, tiny homes can be financially advantageous real estate option for many Texans, AD says. Texas' return on investment for a tiny home ranked No. 15 out of all 50 states, putting it on a much better track than North Dakota, which had the worst return on investment for tiny homes.

"When buying one of these small homes, consider whether it’s a worthwhile investment," the report said. "If the typical rental income is far higher than the average cost of the state’s tiny homes, they’re considered good investments."

New York has the highest return on investment in the U.S., with a rent/price ratio of 0.0046, compared to 0.003 in Texas. Meanwhile, North Dakota has the worst return on investment for tiny homes, at 0.0015, closely followed by Montana and South Dakota.

"This suggests that while tiny homes can be an affordable entry point into homeownership, their investment potential varies significantly by location," the report said. "The ROI disparity between states also highlights the importance of considering geographical and market factors when evaluating tiny home investment opportunities."

The most expensive Texas luxury tiny home
Just because tiny houses are small doesn't mean they can't get expensive.

AD found the most expensive tiny home listing in Texas as of January 2024 is a 399-square-foot, one-bedroom, two-bathroom home for $435,000. The home is located just minutes from Lake Buchanan in the Hill Country. It currently serves as an Airbnb, but it can be turned into a single-family home with ease.

The home also has a fenced and covered back patio with outdoor furniture and an inflatable above-ground pool.

Luxury tiny home in Texas, tiny homes for sale This tiny home has less than 400 square feet.tinyhomebuilders.com/

The Texas house is the third most expensive tiny home in the U.S., behind tiny homes in South Carolina and Oregon listed for $827,000 and $695,000, respectively.

"Despite their compact sizes, each of these homes offers a unique blend of luxury, efficiency, and innovation," the report said.

The full report can be found on architecturaldigest.com.

real estate texas tiny homes housing

farm for sale

Unusual ultra-modern Grapevine ranch is on the market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning 10-acre property in North Texas that looks like it was made for an ultra modern cowboy family has just hit the market for $7.2 million.

Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, this one-of-a-kind equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northeast from downtown Fort Worth.

The ranch is an extraordinary combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the farm includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

Upon entering the front door, guests will notice unparalleled views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor contains a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, which contains one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

real estate grapevine dallas fort worth ranches home for sale