A new tiny home community near Tampa where units under 400 square ft start at $95k is nearly sold out — take a look around

Fri, 07/21/2023 - 05:00

Tech Insider

The Escape eBoho XLS and Escape eOne in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — The 33 tiny homes generally ranged between $95,000 to $160,000.
Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Tiny home builder Escape Homes has built a community of its own units in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Of the 33 homes, only one $249,550 property is left for sale.
Take a look around the gated neighborhood complete with homes under 400 square feet, a pool, and a park.

A tiny home manufacturer's not-so-tiny community could sell out any day now. But there's a catch — the final buyer will be paying almost $250,000 for under 400 square feet.

Tiny homes have been the dark horse darling of the real estate world for a while now as more homeowners continue to seek out accessory dwelling units — also known as ADUs. Demand in the US has been so high, even overseas companies like prefab tiny home maker Nestron are now looking to quickly expand into the American market.

But not everyone wants these backyard tiny homes to use as a guest home, backyard office, or home gym.

An aerial view of in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks with trees, hourses. — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Some want to trade their homes to live in these little living units full-time. And now, there's a community dedicated to people who want to do just that.

Who better to run a neighborhood of tiny homes than a company that specializes in building them?

The interior of the Escape Classic in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Wisconsin-based tiny home manufacturer Escape Homes builds modern tiny homes on wheels with the same amenities as any typical home. Its lineup of dwellings includes this sleek $82,400 loft-style Japanese-inspired tiny home that can sleep a family of eight.

Now, it's not only building homes — it's also building neighborhoods.

The Escape eTraveler in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Escape Tampa Bay is its nascent collection of four adjacent neighborhoods, two of which have yet to be built. The one we'll be focusing on today is The Oaks, a soon-to-be-completed collection of 33 tiny homes.

The Oaks community is located less than five miles from the University of South Florida, 20 miles from the Tampa International Airport, and under an hour's drive from Walt Disney World Resort.

Two Escape eTraveler XLS next to each other in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Dan Dobrowolski, the founder of Escape Homes, has owned a home in Tampa Bay since the late 1970s, he told Insider. His familiarity with the city, combined with its rapid growth rate, made the area a no-brainer for this neighborhood.

The team began construction on the gated community about a year ago.

The Escape eOneXL in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

The 33 units run the gamut of Escape Homes' designs. So if you're interested in one of the homes but don't want to move to Tampa Bay, Florida, you could just order the home from Escape.

Reservations opened about four months ago.

Inside a tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Dobrowolski says the first few homes were purchased that same day — "immediately" — from people who had been waiting for the announcement. Within two months, almost all of the homes were sold out, according to a release.

Now, there's only one unit left with many interested buyers still on the waitlist, the company said.

The deck with furniture of the Escape N1 tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

Because these buyers are only interested in specific models, they'll have to stay on the waitlist until Escape's next tiny home community opens up.

The first few residents moved into their tiny homes in mid-spring and early summer.

The current residents run a wide gamut of personalities, careers, and ages.

Some are local while others have moved in from states like Oregon and California.

One resident is a 50-year-old executive who decided to exchange her life in Washington, DC and Virginia for a tiny home in Florida, according to a release from Escape. Another is a 70-year-old general manager at a restaurant whose Fort Myers, Florida home was demolished by Hurricane Ian.

But they all share one apparent quality: The desire to live in a community where all of the homes are under 400 square feet.

The Escape N1 in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

According to Escape, the homes all have driveways, large windows, tall ceilings, outdoor decks, and enough space for up to four people depending on the model.

If it weren't for the square footage, these homes could have the same list of amenities as any suburban dwelling.

Some come with lofted sleeping spaces as well.

"This is 21st-century living," Dobrowolski said. "You're not trying to get into a mansion where 90% of the building is empty every day."

The homes all have wheels to function as certified RVs.

A wooden tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

This means they can be financed and easily moved.

Like a typical master-planned neighborhood, there are several shared spaces for the residents.

The communal pool in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

These include a pool, a miniature "Central Park," a community office, and additional storage.

About 20% of the units are being used as rentals.

A view from Central Park in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

But people who have purchased their tiny homes aren't allowed to use their units as short-term rentals on Airbnb or Vrbo.

"If we wanted to do that we would've done it ourselves," Dobrowolski said. "This is not a money-making scheme. It's affordable housing."

As of now, the only remaining unit is the "N1" on lot 26, a one-off $249,550 build with mid-century modern-inspired sensibilities and a large glass wall overlooking its deck.

The N1 living room in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

This is the most expensive unit in the community, and the purchase price only includes the structure. On top of the base cost, owners have to pay a monthly "lot fee" between $575 to $725.

Most of the homes were sold between about $95,000 to $160,000.

Residents who are renting generally pay between $1,450 to $1,650 a month.

About $250,280 for an under 400-square-foot home could be a shocking cost.

A deck of a tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

To compare, data from Redfin shows the median sales price of homes in Tampa hit $440,000 in June 2023, albeit it's fair to say most of these units probably aren't literally tiny homes.

But at this price, Dobrowolski says Escape is "trying to combat" rising rent as more people flood into Tampa Bay and housing becomes more scarce.

The living room and deck of the N1 in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

As he puts it, "This is a fast alternative housing for people who need some place to live. It's affordable. And it's not the back of a van."

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Real Estate, tiny home, tiny home community, Business Visual Features, Florida, Florida real estate

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A new tiny home community near Tampa where units under 400 square ft start at $…