A popular tiny-home community near Tampa just added rentals under 400 square feet starting at $1,300 a month — take a look around

Wed, 11/01/2023 - 05:00

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay and the inside of a unit — The new Palm Court extension of Escape Tampa Bay, Escape Home's neighborhood of tiny homes, includes six new rentals.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

Escape Homes added six rental units to its popular tiny-home community near Tampa, Florida in mid-October.
These rentals, which include a duplex, are between 200 to 390 square feet and go from $1,295 to $1,800 a month.
Its founder says they were all claimed within 36 hours, some before they were listed.

Escape Homes' popular tiny-home community near Tampa, Florida just got a little bit bigger. And this time, there's no need to shell out over $95,000 to call this tiny slice of tiny paradise home.

Throughout 2023, the Wisconsin-based company has been building out Escape Tampa Bay, a neighborhood of homes mostly under 400 square feet. As of several months ago, almost all of these units have been claimed. But in mid-October, Escape Homes finished the latest extension of this community: Palm Court, a collection of six tiny homes that are only available to rent.

Most of the homes in the previously completed section of this community, The Oaks, were sold for between about $95,000 to $160,000.

The Escape eBoho XLS and Escape eOne in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — There's only one unit left in "The Oaks" section.
Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

But there's no need to spend this kind of money to live here anymore: Palm Court's tiny-home apartments are being rented for at most $1,800 a month.

Escape Homes wasn’t always a landlord: The company got its start building and selling modern tiny homes on wheels.

ESCAPE One XL. 5 — The Escape One XL is 388 square-feet including its two lofts.
ESCAPE Homes

This includes a sleek $82,400 Japanese-inspired lofted tiny home that can accommodate eight people.

With this background in tiny-home building, the company is now conveniently using its own units to build out Escape Tampa Bay.

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay Palm Court neighborhood of tiny homes. — The new Palm Court extension has six units.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

The neighborhood is located in Thonotosassa, Florida about 20 miles from Tampa International Airport.

Expanding its real estate portfolio in the greater Tampa market is a no-brainer.

Many millennials and Gen Zers have been moving to Tampa, Florida.
littlenySTOCK/Shutterstock

Over the last few years, the Florida hotspot has exploded in popularity as one of the most popular cities for US workers to move to.

But with this influx of people has inevitably come an increase in local rental and home prices.

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay duplex — Rent for these apartments starts at $1,295 a month for this duplex unit.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

The median rent in Tampa is $2,200 a month, according to data from Zillow.

To combat this, this tiny-home community’s goal is to be affordable to both buyers and renters.

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay's Palm Court neighborhood — This Palm Court extension was completed in mid-October.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

"This is fast alternative housing for people who need some place to live. It's affordable. And it's not the back of a van," Dan Dobrowolski, the founder and CEO of Escape Homes, previously told Insider.

Here in the new Palm Court extension, rent starts at $1,295 a month for the smallest option — the 200-square-foot half of a duplex unit.

Inside the duplex of Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — Up to four people can sleep in each half of the duplex.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

The most expensive 390-square-foot tiny-home will set renters back $1,800 a month.

“This is how you create a 21st century neighborhood,” Dobrowolski said.

Streets of Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — There's a park on the Escape Tampa Bay property.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

At Escape Tampa Bay, people aren't stacked on top of each other inside towering apartment buildings. Instead, because these homes are small (or as the CEO says, "anti McMansions"), there's plenty of room for green space in a neighborhood of "very little acreage."

This ironic promise of space in a community that's proud of its small homes has caught the attention of many eager buyers and renters.

An aerial view of in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks with trees, hourses. — Homes in The Oaks started at about $95,000.
Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

When the homes in The Oaks were listed earlier this year, Dobrowolski said the first few units were purchased immediately. All but one of the remaining units were claimed within two months.

Apparently these six rentals were snatched up even faster: These six were claimed within 36 hours of being listed, the CEO said.

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay's Boho XL — This rendering shows a tiny home equipped with almost all of the same amenities of a traditional apartment.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

Some were even rented before Escape could publicly advertise them: "We already had people who said, 'Tell me in advance if you have something coming."

The neighborhood’s residents now include people like a retired nurse, a radiologist, and a retail manager.

Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay's Palm Courts — Palms surround this new extension.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

Several tenants have already moved in while the remainder will arrive in November. Most have signed 12 month leases although there's also the option for nine months.

Despite their size, these homes have many of the same comforts of a typical apartment.

Interior of Boho Duplex in Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — The duplex has comforts like a washing machine, small stovetop, and under-bed storage.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

The smallest homes still have a washing machine and a full-size refrigerator. In the largest tiny-home, there's a dishwasher.

But unlike the average apartment, they all have their own deck.

Tiny home in Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — All of these units have their own private outdoor space.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

As Palm Court's name suggests, these apartments are surrounded by rows of palms, which must be a stark contrast for people who have moved to Escape Tampa Bay from cities like Washington, DC.

Two of the six units technically exist under one roof in what Escape is calling the US’ “first all-electric duplex tiny-home.”

Bathroom of duplex in Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — Escape Homes says this is a first for the US.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

This 42-foot-long dwelling combines two homes on one trailer (all of these homes are technically permitted as RVs).

Renters also have access to the neighborhood's amenities.

The communal pool in Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks — Renters have access to amenities like the pool.
Escape Tampa Bay The Oaks

This includes a pool, small park, community office, and additional storage. Within the next year, Escape Homes plans to finish up the property's landscaping and add an extra storage facility.

If you weren't fast enough to claim one of these apartments, you could try again in the near future.

Inside the Boho duplex at Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay — The duplex apartments come with a two-panel flip table.
Escape Homes' Escape Tampa Bay

Escape Homes also owns the property across the street, which likely will be built out with more Escape duplexes, the CEO said, mentioning the possibility of continued expansion by building down the road.

"This is for people that want to live in a place that's quiet, safe, has a feeling of community and respect for space and nature."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Real Estate, finance, tiny-home, business-visual-features, tiny-home-community, escape-homes, real-estate, affordable-housing, florida-housing

Source