A new generation of prefab homes is challenging the stigma associated with trailer homes and catering to customers interested in sustainability and low costs. "We have demonstrated you can live in smaller spaces without compromise," IdeaBox principal Jim Russell said of the company's 400-square-foot prefab abode.
The tiny size makes for low power bills and, in theory, forces a family to cut clutter. Just for fun, a wine cooler is built in. The house also features bamboo floors, nontoxic paint, outside siding with high fly ash content, Energy Star appliances, dual-flush toilets and a tankless hot-water heating system.
IdeaBox homes in various sizes cost between $75,000 and $97,000, not including the land. Five IdeaBox homes are currently inhabited from Utah to the Oregon coast.
Home Phone and Internet $60/mo
