Is the Boxabl Casita ACTUALLY Affordable?

[@christopherbeddoe406]

$12k for a building permit is INSANE. For a what is essentially a fancy shed.

[@BiggMo]

The building permits in Battleground Wa are even worse because of insane impact fees.

[@John-uk1xv]

It's really 54k and a shipping container home is more environmentally friendly and cheaper

[@cubswin101]

NO kidding ... no wonder people are leaving Seattle in droves.. According to the Seattle times and data from the USPS 43,350 households requested moves into the city in 2020, and 69,432 moved out. That means the net migration out of the city was more than 26,000 households. In a city with about 351,000 households, that’s a big exodus. With Antifa, riots, looting, the massive increase in crime, and as you point out $12,000 for a building permit you can't blame people for leaving for states like Texas and Florida where the populations are surging.

[@DanielGruber-gt3mk]

People want this else they would rebell :)

[@sharonlaliberte8010]

i found that shocking.

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

I’m thinking: Solar + Septic + Water tank = Winning 😎

[@TophoriMusic]

New start up idea? Sell an off grid module to connect to the casita.

[@HernanHH95]

@@TophoriMusic you’re onto something hold up

[@TophoriMusic]

@@HernanHH95 I looked into it. Having a strong enough pump for the toilet, plus big enough tank of water + strong enough battery would make it quite big and would not look so compact and would have to connect to solar panels or else where would the Casita get power?

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

🤣

[@offwiththefairiesforever2373]

Yes.

[@CostantinoPipero]

For those wondering, I found in other videos that the Casita is ~50K if you buy outright. Saying 250$/month doesn't really tell you what the final cost of the box is.

[@finalform11]

wonder what the 2.0 one outright cost will be.

[@TaverenTech]

Well, we all know realtors always focus on monthly cost and ignore the total cost and financing costs.....

[@lonestarstatechris]

Biggest issue is obtaining financing. Get a conventional home, you can secure financing with average credit. I imagine it’s not quite that easy with an alt option like this.

[@mistyblue526]

@@TaverenTech so do car salesmen. It's a little irritating because they think we do too. Lol.

[@creatingwithlove]

It doesn't cover the land or the setup so it's likely to be higher than $50k in the long run.

[@trishagrabert6391]

You covered all the questions that an experienced appraiser gives thought to before arriving at the house. Hats off to you for giving such an impressive advisory service here!!

[@irinadeee]

Thank you so much Trisha, I appreciate that! Happy to hear that the video was helpful!

[@jaxkman]

Obviously I’m prepared to buy land, water, electric, septic, build foundation, etc etc. I’m in South Carolina, was interested in this but being based in Vegas I’d be paying $15-20k for shipping. Such a large unnecessary expense for me that I’m just gonna build a shed home instead, that money will go further elsewhere. Good informative video!

[@WackyPossum]

Pole barnhouses are pretty freaking awesome

[@jaxkman]

@@WackyPossum I’ve been looking into it seems fairly reasonable as far as cost, inflated a little bit given the economy but still better option than spending 200-250k to be in the middle of a neighborhood in a house that I don’t even want to stay in long term. I have about 60k in savings, hoping I can find a patch of land to finance and buy materials. Shit is stressful as hell

[@astyanax905]

yeah, I'm in the Toronto area and likewise this is a huge deal breaker. maybe if it was a 1500+ sq ft unit i'd consider it.

[@allenh7835]

Check out the 20 x 24 basic cabin with gable roof in Time Life Books - Cabins and Cottages (1997 edition) Simple to build and the book also has info on wells and rain water supply. edit I'm sure you already know to monitor lumber prices and take advantage of quality salvage lumber from tear downs etc. Good luck with your project. Important to research the county before land purchase for taxes before /after building. Before prices can be very low and then sky rocket. Their building codes and restrictions are extremely important. Varies from almost none to outright ridiculous.

[@chelo2626ify]

Other companies will follow and be in east west south north and Central

[@tiporari]

Good info, well researched. We ran power 1700 feet. $10,000. Water, 1700 feet. $2,500 Septic, $4,000 Internet, 1700 feet. $2,600. Driveway, 1700 feet. $10,000 Land, $35,000. That's without a house. Boxabl is a cool concept. Housing is only one of the costs. Homes are expensive.

[@jasonjames4254]

So true!

[@siniarch]

You did a 1700ft driveway for $10,000. Nice. I thought driveways were more expensive than that. What city/state?

[@mutiny_on_the_bounty]

Septic $4,000🤨 Is this just to connect to already existing system? 4k seems about right for piping, pump, grade, and (maybe) permit.

[@luissinsin]

@@mutiny_on_the_bounty I just did my septic inspection on a new property. The tank is 1500 gal which is rated for 5 bedrooms and the leech field is only rated for 2 bedrooms. The guy said we would need 2-3 more lines on the leech field. I asked how much that would cost. He said 3-7k per line. So according to him, it would be 5 lines for a 5 bedroom system and apparently 3-7k per line. Let's assume it's only 4k per line, that is still 20k just for the leech field. I immediately thought this was way high. So I will investigate more, but man, that is much more expensive than what I hear a new system costs. I was under the impression a full new 1500 gal 5 bedroom system would be between 5-10k fully installed if conditions are favorable.

[@mutiny_on_the_bounty]

$18,000 - $26,000 is what I've seen. Edit: Prices like that I'll just identify as a bear and $HIŤ in the woods. 😉

[@VigilantServant]

I think part of the affordability factor is the durability of the home. It sounds like it is made from durable materials like steel and concrete that are fairly leakproof, fireproof, mold resistant, bug resistant etc. It won't need as much maintenance as a traditional stick frame home. That really appeals to me.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Please look up the NY Times article on these at Guantanamo Bay. 9/17/22 They're already getting moldy inside. The stoop is flush and it's not supposed to be. This is why you step DOWN outside of any decently made house. It's called "rain" and "snow." Lol You raise the house up to prevent that. Clearly climate control is an issue, or you wouldn't have mold growing on cabinets.

[@YouFeudTV]

It sounds like is different to it is

[@williamdecker3989]

Not fireproof, but fire resistant. I won't own a home with foam insulation. Fiberglass insulation is the only option that won't catch fire.

[@nancymichaels2815]

They aren't fire resistant

[@PunditKING]

Only thing fire proof is water and that turns to steam. But I get you meaning, fire resistant. I would like to see test on the homes, how insulated it is from sound, heat and cold. Not just hearing it "can" "possibly is", show it.

[@waltturner1970]

I'm a Realtor in Pahrump NV about 45min outside of Las Vegas. You can get an acre of land with electric, well and septic for about 50k , permits only a couple hundred. We're loving this and expecting this to become a popular ticket. You do an amazing job by the way, very impressed with how much detail and info you provide all while explaining it so newcomers to the new build process can easily understand! If anyone watching lives in her area, make her your real estate agent! She knows her stuff!!!

[@mickhoover8050]

You live in the town where Art Bell lived. Unfortunately I never got to actually hear him on the radio. But I often play his archived shows from YT and some are on podcasts as well.

[@jasonarcher7268]

What happens to that property value after lake mead runs dry?

[@cryptoking7093]

Walt, get in touch please...

[@david_lawrence_h2703]

I get what you are saying but issue is 99% of the population would never live in Pahrump. Deathly hot and they really need to stop building communities in the desert where there is no water.

[@shenkichin6295]

@@david_lawrence_h2703 deathly hot? No problem I already live in Texas

[@dantousuo1302]

I like the fact that your specializing on boxable and the dynamics behind it. Doing a breakdown of the 5 major cities and cost to build one says a lot

[@simokojamesphiri7924]

Watching this from Zambia, holy moly housing is expensive in the USA. 55K for a simple parcel of land is 🤯🤯🤯. That's enough to get a friggin ranch over here. My thoughts and prayers are with y'all.

[@nicoleheisel7456]

That isn't really that expensive. They're selling 0.5 acres in my town out in the midwest for that price. If you move to a large city, the land prices can easily double. Right now a bunch of investment companies are buying up the land and houses to manipulate the housing market here. They are making homes unaffordable for most people and making them rent at high prices. They also sit on a bunch of their houses to cause a shortage and to keep their investments value to keep going up. I hope the market crashes on them, they deserve to lose their shirts.

[@todddunn945]

Yes it varies a LOT from place to place. Where I live in Maine the minimum lot size is an acre. For an undeveloped plot of land you will pay about $150K. Then you need road access (culvert and the part of your driveway on the right of way) and your driveway. You will also need to clear the land. Clearing and installing a driveway will come to $10K-$15K depending on how long your drive and how much stone you have to bring in. You can add several thousand if you want the drive paved. So you would be looking at $160K to $165K before you can even start building. Then as you noted you will need water and sewage. Locally that means a well and septic system. There is a new house going in next door to me and they paid about $18K for their well and septic system. Note that local ordinances required a minimum 3 bedroom capable septic system. Then there is electrical. The big costs for that are poles or underground and if the power company will have to install a transformer. Poles cost about $3K each. Underground utilities can be very expensive depending on the substrate. The same house I mentioned above is spending about $15K for underground electrical. So that brings the cost to about $175K-$180K. Then there is the foundation. Ground prep will cost a couple $K and then a slab will run an other $4K-$5K minimum. So lets say $180K-$185K before you install the casita. Permits here are cheap and will likely only run about $1K. You do have to make sure that the casita meets the local building and electrical codes. Locally I would say that you could figure on $200K outlay before you put the casita in. That will add about $1,250 per month to your mortgage over a 30 year loan at 6.5% (you would need very good credit to get a 6.5% loan now). So all up your Boxable casita would likely run about $300K here. With 20% down that is a $1,600/mo mortgage payment. When you consider property taxes and insurance you are looking at more like $1,950/mo.

[@MsElke11]

50K the BOXABLE box 5K shipping 12K land permit 5K water 5K electrical 5k foundation I think it's time to move to SPAIN for 50K an entire apartment!!

[@Fele221]

Is that the price in Spain?

[@1rider3bluee31]

Is that the price for that box home really . Because I can do that u can move

[@MariE-go7ol]

California has a $40 k grant to help with permits and solar panels,etc. You must already be a home owner. I am going to look into it.

[@henrison]

Portugal 🇵🇹 even better climate, better quality of life, better experience overall

[@gorgeluis]

You can get a whole ass mansion in Mexico for 100k

[@cristina_k]

An additional cost that needs to be factored in is real estate/property taxes. Since this could be used as an accessory dwelling, but on a fixed foundation, property tax will definitely be impacted.

[@irinadeee]

Absolutely! Thank you for mentioning that!

[@Rzn8B58]

Oof! Would that trigger a reassessment of the entire property's value in the current market? I think it's perfect to throw on a cheap piece of land right down by da beach booooyeeeee.

[@ceeceety2320]

@@Rzn8B58 Use solar power and you're all set!

[@iloveoklahoma6592]

Wow!! You answered all the questions I had about this particular home! I had thought about getting one, however, all of the extra costs scared me. Now I am thinking it could be more affordable than I thought. Thank you so much for all the information! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍!!!!

[@irinadeee]

You're welcome! I'm so glad the video was helpful! 😊

[@WealthGambit]

This was a great informative video! We're actually looking into Boxabl as well and this company has so much potential. Thank you for making this 👍

[@JayStoic]

I saw you pop up and I clicked so so fast haha thank you for this! Just confirmed they're coming out with a 20x20 floor plan later this year! Plan on connecting that to the other Casita I'll recieve 😊

[@irinadeee]

Haha, thank you for watching! I'm so happy the video was helpful! And that's so cool, I haven't yet heard about the 20x20 floor plan - it will definitely be awesome to connect that to the Casita! You've got a good plan 😊

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Don't do it. Neved jump on a bandwagon. Ask old people. It's a bad idea to get very invested in such. It's untested. They're having serious problems with these at Guantanamo Bay already. NYTimes 9/17/22. Mold. Weather coming inside. Just dumb. You step up into a house for a reason. It's called "weather." And if they don't know building 101, it's a major issue and you haven't even walked inside yet. What else is wrong/stupid? Lack of climate control issues. If you have mold growing inside. Just, no Bad idea.

[@donaloizzo]

I just saw your comment. Can u please tell me where I can order 1. I'm in KOMIFORNIA (cali) 😊 Thanks

[@DWMtukwila]

I love this for my situation. I live in an old house and I am getting as old as the house so, although I am athletic, my knees are giving out. I also love the idea of alternative material use as stick built houses are lacking in so many ways. Wood is poor quality now, subject to rot, pests and so forth. I plan on pursuing this avenue. All of the expenses she is talking about also apply to any other building, even a tiny house on wheels (maybe no in Texas)

[@ampp.8998]

Thank you for your video. One option for lots might be looking into towns or areas where fire has gone through. Our whole town and surrounding communities were burned to the ground in the Camp fire of 11/08/2018. We could no longer live on our property, but bought a different lot in a different part of town. We've just gotten back and the lots here are so much cheaper than what you mentioned....and we're in Paradise, California...... There are still lots with trees and landscaping but, you can always plant. Of course, there isn't much in town as yet and work could be a challenge unless you work from home. We're retired so that wasn't a concern Anyway, thanks again for this very informative video!

[@MandrakeDCR]

Main problem is, a lot of places have goofy regulations that don't allow for homes smaller than a certain size within city limits, or manufactured homes, etc. Regs really need to get updated for things like this. There are a ton of lots on the north side of town out here that the homes are old and dilapidated. Where the neighborhoods end, it's still farmland, so the crime rate is really low, the few homes that are still kept up are really nice (but small. This is early 1900's stuff) - So these would be perfect for those .5 acre lots. There's gotta be a thousand or more of them up there, I'd say half of them are up for sale at any given time. We were excited about these when we saw them, and thought about that very thing. Went to the city clerk to find out the details. No can do. What a bunch of crap. The whole lot with house about to cave in on itself (that's not much bigger than the boxabl) you can buy for anywhere from $8k to $15k some of them. Would be perfect. So sad they won't do it.

[@joelamont8585]

Well, if people are sheep this happens. You have to vote out the corrupt city council and mayor and police and change the laws to allow for any kind of dwelling you want. You get what you vote for.

[@MandrakeDCR]

@@joelamont8585 Simple minds create massive problems, yet to be undone.

[@lsmith1237]

they probably just want more tax $$$, so they don't want people to own small homes.

[@rayr6278]

You can't donate tiny homes on a private lot to homeless people, but they can setup a tent on a sidewalk in San Fransico.

[@vibeaimusic]

@@joelamont8585 That's interesting, because you are implying that people who actually do vote for change, run for their local council, etc. are somehow sheep because they aren't getting what they vote for. Even implying that they are voting opposite of what they are. Yet another non-participant full of platitudes in the peanut gallery.

[@richdilorenzo8145]

I was struck by you (Irina) saying 12k in permits was ALMOST aggravating. It is egregious. I was a builder for over 35 years and those fees went up NON STOP over the entire time through recessions and booms etc. NEVER a reduction. They talk about affordable housing and charge fees like that. A sick joke. There was almost no significant improvement in the safety of a home over that entire time frame. When I say safety I mean from earthquakes and fire. Those are the two most significant potential problems. 90+ % of prevention of fires and earthquakes were in place in the late 1970's. The contining code requirement were minimal in safety improvements and maximum in costs. Never mind the time they waste in approving permits in many areas.

[@KineticSymphony]

What are you even paying for anyways? The home is already built to inspection. It's ready to go. What reason is there to pay $12,000 to the local city? They aren't providing any service for it.

[@joywilkins9909]

Finding a loan that finances lot+home loan. That also can be challenging also. That is the 1st question I would ask myself. That was the one issue I had when looking for financing of a manufactured/modular home!

[@Amazing_Uriel]

One-Time close. Boxable wouldn’t apply, but there’s financing for that scenario.

[@vincentanguoni8938]

The key to the price is it's very small size. I am a builder of single family homes. I could build that house for less money in one week. The only holdup could be inspections. In some places they a nightmare. .

[@justin2997]

You could build it for less money but you would sell it for more money.

[@craigissod6027]

From what I see, the price is over $200 a Square Foot. In many places you can build any size home for that - including the foundation. Example - a 2K square foot house would be 400K - that includes everything. So the "deal" is more for those who want a "tiny house" and perhaps need the speed. Many places might not let you put this house on a lot (too small, code approvals, etc.) @@justin2997

[@czmax7652]

Add the yearly property taxes and that could make the monthly payments a whole lot more.

[@Laurendoesflips]

Thank you so much! I am in the process of planning my Boxabl and figuring out the costs. This information was so valuable! :)

[@irinadeee]

I'm so happy to hear that it was helpful! Best of luck with your Boxabl purchase! :)

[@Laurendoesflips]

@@irinadeee thank you. I decided not to go with it though. Honestly the waitlist is so long now and it would tie up a big portion of my $$. It’s really cool though.

[@me1assassin]

Nice video. I do wish you had done an on screen summary showing each cost and totals range. Thanks again.

[@CollectiveConsciousness1111]

5.72k subscribers now. Congratulations. Great content, thanks for sharing 💚🌍 Sick of GREEDY councils/shire's. It's their fault there is so many homeless. Making simple building difficult. Rewrite building codes that apply to today not 100 years ago. I'm homeless 18 months in SUV & Australian gov restrictions have kept me that way. I have money for land but keep getting screwed. Earth integrated home and NOT ALLOWED.

[@LadyTreyah]

Going completely off the grid is a best option, especially with rural areas. It's most likely not as expensive as other fees. Solar, water collectors with a purifying system and a composable toilet can be savers.

[@vincentanguoni8938]

I don't know where you live but every house needs a septic system or sewer hookup. No system no building permit... Where is your gray water going? (Shower and sinks) going off grid is fashionable but it is much more economical to hook up to power lines and water and sewer

[@KineticSymphony]

@@vincentanguoni8938 Composting toilets are fine in most areas, just as environmentally safe as septic. Grey Water doesn't matter, drain wherever. Although best to use environmentally safe detergents and soaps.

[@iaintgonlie7858]

@@vincentanguoni8938 I think he means a mobile home. With rigs to live cheap

[@larryc1616]

How do I spell it, those outside toilets dug a hole in the ground with a shack? Out/Oat house? Like in the western days or that TV show, Alaskan bush people.

[@kristinabc1143]

I already have many acres, and would love to get a few of these to set up rentals, but I’m located in Texas so the shipping would be astronomical and would put the cost more than double 😰 so I’m looking at used large sheds here, and I can put in most of the elbow grease (electrical is out of my scope) to rehabbing them. Also, depending on where you are, digging a well can be closer to $6-7k, including water tank, but not the lines to your house. You also want to be no less than 250 ft down, because you want all those layers of dirt/sand to filter your rainwater, plus water sources that are shallower might not supply your house during dry weather times because they eventually filter down to lower sources, too, not to mention that any trees, grass, etc will suck it up during those dry times.

[@allenh7835]

To roofers, 2 kinds of flat roofs. One that is already leaking, and one that WILL leak. Most ,recognize that and highly recommend adding the cost of a pitched roof to the price.

[@raymondmcdonald7085]

I found your video to be very accurate. We are in the process of setting up an ADU and have encountered everything you have disclosed. "BOXABL" looks interesting!

[@beatrixbrennan1545]

It doesn't matter what you do, nothing is affordable. Everything is so taxed and regulated. They make sure to squeeze every last freaking dollar from you.

[@Rzn8B58]

Didn't we used to do something about that in this country? Seriously, though you gotta earn 10k/mo to boss it up nowadays.

[@beatrixbrennan1545]

@Rzn8958 I live in San Diego where you need to make a minimum of 150k a year JUST to afford basic living expenses.

[@spocksvulcanbrain]

You need to think about: - How you're going to pay since standard mortgages probably won't be available for these - Insurance since this isn't considered a "house" since it's too small for most insurance companies. Thus fewer companies to choose from and increases the cost - Will the city/county allow you to live in this year-round? Some don't consider this a "home" and thus only allow part-time living. - Maintenance since parts won't be readily available at a local box store. May have to order from Boxabl and have shipped. - Taxes. The government may tax these differently than a traditional home. These are in addition to what was mentioned in the video. These could add tens of thousands more than expected.

[@jasonjames4254]

Yes! These additional cost are why I think Boxabl and other foldable/modular housing concepts will be unable to fill the need for affordable housing. A micro condo concept would likely be a much more practical and affordable solution for the low income/working poor population. All the development costs you mentioned above would be shared by a much larger group of micro condo dwellers bringing those cost down drastically for each individual unit. This would be especially true in urban areas with high population density and corresponding high costs. In fact, many developers have complained that they are ready to build micro condos but simply cannot overcome all the zoning/code hurdles. Everyone says they want the government to provide affordable housing options to curtail the homelessness crisis, but are then unwilling to host these developments in their own neighborhoods. Strangely, it seems that traditional homeowners are far less concerned about homeless encampments and tents littering their sidewalks than they are about the comparatively minor inconveniences they would face living next door to a micro condo/apartment complex. In many ways, it is their own attitudes towards affordable housing options that creates the very homelessness problem they complain about. Until these fundamental realities are addressed, I think the modular/micro housing concept is doomed for failure. The Boxabl concept is really only applicable to accessory dwelling units and even that is somewhat debatable.

[@wakawaka1976]

Many homeless do not want to be told where they can live. They will want prime areas close to where they can do their thing. Most want to be very close to busy city areas and can do without a nice place to live. Why do I say that? In LA they have housing available and it’s refused. They do not want to move or have to follow any housing rules.

[@aiahzohar5636]

THIS!! "A micro condo concept would likely be a much more practical and affordable solution for the low income/working poor population. All the development costs you mentioned above would be shared by a much larger group of micro condo dwellers bringing those cost down drastically for each individual unit." I'm looking into leaving the US b/c housing here has become unaffordable & I can't afford the costs of even a tiny home anywhere I'd want to live.

[@ProTuner06]

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@ProTuner06]

@@aiahzohar5636 Good. Leave.

[@aiahzohar5636]

@@ProTuner06 That's a childish response. But from your reply to others' comments elsewhere, this is expected of you. US has a RECORD (high) number of professionally trained young people like me living abroad. It's no wonder why.

[@John-rw2zf]

This was very good advice because many people do not know about additional costs involved when building a new home. Yes, it might be a quick home to erect but utilities and land and wells and septic systems and permits and labor costs for landscaping and hookups and financing all add up quick. This girl is pretty smart and well informed.

[@eduardovilaz7141]

I DON'T THINK SHE IS WELL INFORMED

[@Jay-mr8qk]

Enjoyed the video. Zoning is a huge obstacle for any tiny home. Especially in situations where the property doesn't have a existing home. Most area building codes mandate a minimum home square footage that exceeds 1000 or more and usually at least 2 bedrooms are required. Also local hurricane or snow load building codes need to be integrated into the homes design and construction by the manufacturer.

[@irinadeee]

Absolutely, zoning is the main reason why many people cannot justify this purchase. The price of land in many cities is also quite high, bringing the total cost of this project well above 50k. Hopefully, more cities/states begin to implement zoning changes like California and Nevada already have. I have heard many concerns regarding the Casita's ability to withstand snow and hurricanes - though Boxabl states their home is very resilient, it would certainly be best to confirm with them directly before placing an order. Thank you for your comment, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@valeriecuan4189]

Is this only in America?

[@WhatIsThis-zq4hk]

@@valeriecuan4189 Stupid zoning laws are quite common in English speaking countries, especially the US and Canada.

[@WhatIsThis-zq4hk]

"Minimum size" zoning laws are immoral. It basically criminalizes being poor.

[@Arnsteel634]

@@WhatIsThis-zq4hk exactly. It helps wealthy snobs keep poor people out of their neighborhoods. And I’m not talking about millionaires but people with close to 6 figure incomes. That’s wealthy to me.

[@johnlarson4254]

This is the best video about the Tesla house I've seen yet. You're honest and thorough. I ask God to bless you. Awesome video

[@qqw743]

It's not a Tesla house. It's Boxabl.

[@johnlarson4254]

@@qqw743 I dunno why I kept thinking it was tesla. You're right for sure.

[@qqw743]

@@johnlarson4254 No worries the Musk Distortion Field is in effect.

[@musikkimies]

Great work! Now you're at over 4k subscribers. That's awesome! Boxabl also promotes the idea of purchasing multiple and collecting them into a custom desired configuration. Lots of folks mention the challenge of zoning laws for tiny/micro houses under a certain square footage. I'm thinking that purchasing 2 or 3 would make this feel much more like a normal house, but with a lower overall price, great construction, and a much quicker build time. Maybe an idea for a video?

[@irinadeee]

Thank you so much! Yes, the idea to combine multiple units into a larger (but still affordable) home is definitely an exciting concept! I'm looking forward to seeing Boxabl come out with more product designs aside from their 375 sq.ft. Casita - when that happens, I will absolutely be making a video about it! :)

[@sarahsokal]

They need to build factories in Canada it would meet great demands as we are quite "Green" ( hydroelectricity ect..) & have plenty of wild land

[@csheets61]

I have lived in a tiny home for 4.5 years now. Best decision ever for me. It's not for everybody. little to no entertaining at home. Hoarders need not apply. Rarely is it associated with city life unless it is an ADU. Being retired makes it much easier and much less expensive. I live in a rural subdivision in East Texas. All bills associated with my home run $500 per month. That includes taxes, utilities, even internet. The options for tiny homes are almost endless. It is quite common in my area for people to live in RV's year around (Don't scoff - that includes 1/2 million dollar motor homes). If you want to reduce your bills and/or footprint, you can.

[@aiahzohar5636]

Where in E Texas, Charles? Did you have to buy land? Could you get a mortgage for BOTH land and housing costs? I'd move if I could find a place where tiny houses are actually affordable.

[@csheets61]

@@aiahzohar5636 - Lake Livingston area. East Texas is a huge area though with lots of options. East/West/North Texas, same thing. You might have trouble getting close to a major city. You would have to investigate the mortgage. Yes I bought the lot and home together. It wasn't finished but it had all the required parts to live and work on it. 328 Sq feet not including the short loft but it's just me and my dog. Texas is a conservative state. FYI, small lot in my subdivision with electric/sewer at the property line easily under $10K. Roads are not good. Lot of RV's out here. Lots of retired people.

[@aiahzohar5636]

@@csheets61 I'm going to seriously look into this, Charles. God bless for sharing. XOXO

[@annesmith5192]

I would faint from shock if I could find a building lot for only $150,000 where I live. A building lot here is around $700,000. That's in Canadian dollars, but still much more than $150,000 USD.

[@BruceXuHasADream]

a move might not be a bad idea

[@annesmith5192]

@@BruceXuHasADream You're probably right, but I like living here. There are cheaper places to live in Canada, but they all have worse weather. And my family and friends live here.

[@josephmath1]

I think a BIG thing about this and the talk for it is weather you live alone or are childless, or if your looking for a place for a family. In the first place, I think even with all the costs, a smaller place is overall just cheaper to buy and maintain long term, then it would be to try to get a 3 bed 2 bath kinda place, though at the same time, if you already have a family, and its a family being started out, so 10+ years you'd live in the place, a normal house would more likely fit in terms of overall and long term costs.

[@CMIC]

I love the Boxabl idea and have faith they will do well and hopefully help with rising housing costs. I invested them about 10 months ago, and whether good or bad, I've already seen a 10 to 1 split or 10x increase in amount of my shares. Hopefully whenever they go public, I can see a nice return on my investment to purchase one.

[@CMIC]

@Denise Comstock at the time, the minimum was only $500 and it was through regulation crowd funding, funds are locked up for 12 months but now I think the minimum is higher and limited to accredited investors only. You can sign up to invest on their website but even then, I think that's a waitlist.

[@geraldfirme1213]

@@CMIC , How many shares does $1K give you? Thank you

[@CMIC]

@@geraldfirme1213 the current price per share right now is $0.80 cents, so $1000 will get you 1,250 shares

[@geraldfirme1213]

@@CMIC Yes! Thank you very much 🤓

[@iaintgonlie7858]

They gotta figure out some sort of solar and filtration system to eliminate cost. You can buy single family homes in my area for 75-125k.

[@rainbd4569]

I’ve been looking into building a 600 square foot modular home. The home itself is $97,000. I asked the sales rep if I could do the entire project, with land, for $300,000 and was told I should up that by $50,000 to be safe, unless I could find some pretty cheap land. There are no inexpensive options when it comes to housing. But on the plus side, building new does mean you aren’t buying someone else’s expensive problems, which can be pretty extreme at this price point.

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

I've been searching for land here and near to Portland. OUCH!$$$ Found a lovely piece of land in Tillamook. But trying to figure out what the land is zoned for is the biggest headache ever. The finding-land process is really challenging. I want to pay cash upfront. I'm 55 years old and don't have time for a 30 year deal.

[@irinadeee]

A great lot can definitely be expensive! Happy to help you look for land in Oregon if you need.

[@heehee63]

Are you trying to pass your place to future generations? Cause if not, the 30 year is fantastic cause you'll die before having to pay it all back.

[@srtmetal7647]

In NY my first home was 1000sqft and 500 a month on 2 acres but it was not new and needed a lot of work. This is a viable choice.

[@justin2997]

I'm paying $550 a month for a shipping container. That's the cheapest rent you can get in Las Vegas.

[@sarahsokal]

With old decrepit 3bdr at average price of 1 million $ in Canada ..This seems like a really great option 🤔 I wish they had a 3bdr 2 bath or an option to combine two . Then I would buy a piece of land 40 min from the city center & connect it to the city's utilities .

[@ATAATX]

From what i understand, you can combine two or more of these things.

[@hannobonanoart]

You can combine them

[@ryanmars4969]

You can combine and they are trying to make different layouts also.

[@georgeemerson699]

Great informative video! As a new construction, I think that you missed one point and that is comparing the cost of the Casita versus other type of NEW constructions. I suspect that the Casita will be much more affordable and a much shorter construction time.

[@rleight4703]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I’ve built homes and even the quotes you gave were significantly lower than what reality is. I DO think it’s a great ADU on an existing property but to purchase and develop land, it’s too much expense for a small structure that you won’t see the ROI.

[@VVilde36]

if you've got the time sir, I wonder how you think something like this will fare in say, new orleans where its been developed well well beyond uptown and downtown new orleans proper but there are many, many depreciated properties where nothing is there but the pipes and wires and an old foundation but on either side there are working homes. In orleans these places normally just get passed around the tax action system if they aren't in the popular areas, but there are still plenty of gaps throughout neighborhoods that I wish we could put homes on. ( I think what I'm asking is if a places is like, half-developed or in a urban area would it work better or worse roi wise? These foundations go on tax action all the time for crazy good)

[@rleight4703]

@@VVilde36 so it depends. How much is the lot? How much are permits? Is engineering required? What is the time frame from start to finish? Will you be renting them or selling? Either way, you will want to look at the comps in the area to see what a home that size would rent or sell for. If you have cash to invest it may be worth it as long term rental property. Also may help fill a void for affordable housing? I’m not sure what the costs are there. I live on east side of Seattle, my last build was around 50k for permits and engineering on a lot for a basic house, that had the previous home removed off of it. Also, it was a year before the county (issuing the permit) even looked at my house/site plan. So basically here, it makes more sense as an ADU but there are places that are probably more reasonable in comparison. I built on the other side of the state in Spokane County and it was a 2 week turnaround for permit review and under $5k for permitting with significantly less strict guidelines, so I guess my answer is, it may be a good ROI relative to where you’re located and what is required:)

[@VVilde36]

@@rleight4703 Thank you for your time, and for responding- this was very enlightening! I see there is a wide variety of factors from multiple sectors of the process- it's a formidable amount of unpredictable factors from labour at a city office to simple urban higher prices for services.

[@rleight4703]

@@VVilde36 I wish it wasn’t the case, we have a homelessness crisis here in Seattle and it’s not necessary. If government made it more affordable and streamlined, these little homes would solve a huge housing issue :/ Good luck to you and your endeavors -Rachel

[@chableepeterson1]

Thanks for breaking this down I was thinking about putting one in my backyard

[@diamond6256]

Well done video. Thank you for researching and sharing. One question: Would you have to pay Property Tax on this if it is put on land alone?

[@ericmundsinger6]

I believe the Casita is a prefab modular home vs a manufactured home. A manufactured is a mobile home delivered on its own chasis and doesn't require any construction on sight. Manufactured homes are also regulated by HUD and have a HUD stamp on the side of the unit.

[@EnergiA854]

you mean tiny houses?

[@jimjones6960]

I'm sure it's because my family lives in a small community in the southern US, but I just can't imagine paying this much money to basically live in something the size of a hotel room. The total average cost of this is far more than our 1200sqft home on two acres of land where we live, that an option like this exists in theory is great, but in price it's horrible.

[@parisamohamadi671]

This was an absolutely excellent information video. I have a lot in Arizona that I like to live on that land off-grid and your video helped me with so many of my questions. Thank you

[@Buildsolarhomes]

The best solution is to be 💯% off the grid on land that is zoned Agricultural.

[@johnathanstephenson8107]

Bad thing is problems not with the house but with laws. Menny places mandate larger homes and even forbid moduler or pre built homes and require building standards that can only be done in a built on site home. The area I live at has a law about when putting in a pre build home it must have a PERMANENT foundation that the house cannot be removed from.

[@huwwackman]

Love these houses but the total costs are near the same as a ready built place and will be impossible for most people to purchase/afford.

[@dj007twk]

Zoning laws will generally make it no cheaper than rent and you'll get less space. These will be snatched up by developers looking to setup profitable rents for the lots. In the end you'll still be paying rent and you'll own nothing.

[@justin2997]

I own 2 and don't pay any rent. I rent the two out and that pays for my house. I pay no rent and I own everything 💪🏻😎

[@lorrainemjavorsky6140]

You forgot to mention deed and covenants restrictions to consider. Also site and road prep work to make building site accessible for delivery

[@alakranzitagalarza2157]

Why a building permit if la "Casita" is already ready made 🧐

[@LilyUnicorn]

Because "rip off"

[@sharoncarsons5734]

The town will want to inspect the build to ensure compliance with building codes.

[@Skiridr22]

One of the most informative videos I have seen to date on prefab home, thanks for sharing.

[@joannetowber8958]

People can also move it into a Tiny House Village and would only pay a small rent for the lot. The only utility would be electric.

[@aiahzohar5636]

What happens when people get old, aren't working, have little or no pension/retirement income? That small rental fee can be the reason a poor person becomes homeless. Lot rental fees I've seen in the lowest RE markets in the US (like rural Midwest) still equal or even exceed rents on some US studios. :(

[@joannetowber8958]

@@aiahzohar5636 average is 200.00 to 250.00 if that isn't affordable nothing is!

[@aiahzohar5636]

@@joannetowber8958 With respect, you're entitled to decide what "affordable" is only for yourself, not the rest of us. After working a lifetime to pay off a mortgage or pay for a house and land, being in your 70's without benefits or a pension (thanks to decades of successful corporate lobbying slashing pensions & other benefits), still having other survival bills eat up your savings, having to keep paying month-after-month for the earth you're living on and will die on for many people isn't "affordable."

[@jeej333]

Fantastic report on the Casita! Thank you for the educational video! This is definitely an option for me.

[@TommyboyGTP]

To ship that at 5 dollars a mile to where I live in Florida it will cost me over 11 thousand dollars. I think that's insane considering this could easily be placed on a freight train to a destination location on a delivery truck for much less per mile.

[@mutiny_on_the_bounty]

Really? How were you able to figure that out? If nuclear war breaks out, I'm going to embrace the flash.

[@tandaexcavations6489]

I live in Miami and i was soooo into buying one of these little homes and moving up a little north from miami past belle glades but now that you said $5 a mile shit..

[@kimberlyjennings618]

It says they can be picked up, so you could probably hire a cheaper hauling service

[@tonymuniz1062]

Hi Irina, I thought this was a very well done video. My partner and I have a small horse ranch near the Oregon Wine Country, and I thought about putting an additional dwelling at a particularly beautiful viewpoint on the property. Thanks for giving me some food for thought and some valuable observations. Here's hoping you get many more subscribers. I did subscribe

[@KB-hd4iz]

If Elon really wants to move these things he should provide some financing options & disrupt the "no can do's".

[@shenkichin6295]

Wait what? Boxabl is not elons company, he doesn’t care about moving them. He just owns a couple.

[@backseatdriver9576]

$12,000 for a building permit on a building that's already built? Nicely done Portland. Unless your city requires it, you also don't need a foundation. Because, yes, you actually CAN move it anytime you want. It's actually the reason it was designed the way it was (besides making it cheaper to ship because it doesn't require a wide load support team). One cost the video doesn't cover is adding a roof (if you want one) or a gutter system if you keep the flat roof it comes with.

[@mikhaxl]

So you’re telling me it will cost over 25k just ship it to my land in Siberia?!!!? 😩

[@irinadeee]

You know, your Siberia land is actually, honestly the first thing I thought of when calculating the shipping 😭😂

[@jesserevilla992]

Nice that you are using where you live as a great example. Portland, sadly we had to close two offices in Downtown Portland in 2020. Yet Orogen is a beautiful state. Boxable, is better suited for a development placing several homes on one parcel through a developer. When shipping more then one the cost drops. Since they're stackable and can be placed on the same shipment.

[@bryantcofty2709]

Even if you're on the high end of all of the auxiliary cost involved is still MUCH MORE affordable and economically sensible than a traditional home (unless money isn't an issue of course).

[@qqw743]

Wouldn't it be lovely to see a state like California or Oregon partner with a company like Boxabl, invest in it, and streamline permitting? Dream on, I know. But if they are serious about addressing the housing crisis, this is the way. They could scale up and people would actually buy them.

[@amakersshop]

It's over populated already that water becomes an issue.

[@qqw743]

@@amakersshop Inefficient use of water, yes.

[@TheWhoya]

Yeah but if you're in a rural space your land cost could be as little as 3 or 4k an acre....

[@radiofreealbemuth8540]

How likely would that land be residentially zoned?

[@LavendLady]

WOW! I am a new subscriber and appreciate your content. I hope your channel blows up cause you are so smart and have so much helpful info that is so relevant! Thank you!! ❤👍

[@irinadeee]

Thank you so much!

[@brandonboatner9952]

Irina, came across your channel today. I like it, you've got a lot of great, knowledgeable information in a no frills, straightforward format. Subscribed and best of luck going forward!

[@irinadeee]

Thank you so much Brandon! I'm so glad you're here, and I appreciate your support.

[@iv4change349]

Very valuable information for those of us who are looking for affordable homes. Can you provide additional information on companies that are approved to install these homes and what are the costs involved. Thanks

[@fabriceizzo2922]

$500 per month and you could relocate the entire house!

[@turbohyde]

Your presentation on this is really well done, thanks for covering the details! Also Portlandish represent! Too bad about the massive permits if you actually live in Portland city limits...

[@oluwashinaomisanya7487]

Would you be able to place this on a concrete infrastructure where say a house may have stood there before but was torn down or burned down?

[@ricliu4538]

Here in Vegas look to spend over 70k just for the necessary permits, utilities, connections and extra modifications.

[@22kjs22]

So eventually it will be as expensive as buying a traditional house in a big city.

[@iaintgonlie7858]

pretty much. Better off going mobile home and buying a camper or a cheap RV

[@DJGoozer]

Wrong wrong wrong

[@RealLifeRodger]

No, a small solar array like 5-8 modules will power the entire home. The water could be a minor issue. But it’ll be much less expensive.

[@MariE-go7ol]

It still would be way cheaper to get a boxabl ADU then a home.

[@leelowe8482]

That's why you need to do it now. Also invest in it if you can. We need to start backing companies that are in business to solve problems.

[@302ec]

I can't imagine living in one of those with kids 🙈 Cool idea and probably would make a good Airbnb property

[@SaltyGreene]

You did a great job of covering other cost items but it would be helpful to actually have an apple to apples comparison of costs by the square ft. Most families will require a minimum of 1200 sq ft to live in modest comfort, so how much does the manufactured modular home compare to stick built when all things are equal?

[@christhecieraguy1388]

I would say that 1200 sqft is More than enough for most families. But then again, we do like in the country of excess.

[@Itried20takennames]

The huge problem with housing is that it isn’t usually the structure that is unaffordable….it is the price of the land underneath it. You can make a great 40k tiny house…but then have no where to put it, or some place too far, or too expensive, etc. This could be solved by selling some smaller lots specifically for tiny homes, but real estate agents make more from selling bigger lots and houses,plus a fair amount on NIMBYism

[@antondob9832]

Clears things up a bit😊👍

[@irinadeee]

I’m glad! ☺️

[@meowzic]

this was a very comprehensive list, thanks! the only missing is the cost of hiring someone to set up the casita

[@mattalley4330]

Something I also think about is the possible cost on repairs and maintenance with this type of home. I think its a great idea but am concerned regarding how water-tight a folding house can be. Not to mention how durable it would be in extreme weather events like heavy wind or a large snowfall. If it leaks when it rains then there could be considerable extra expense to make sure this no longer happens. I would be very curious to hear from someone who has lived in a house like this for a year or two.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Look up 9/7/22. New York Times, Guantanamo Bay. They're already having issues with these. Mold growing inside. Stoop is flush to the threshold. That's like contracting 101. You step up into houses for rain and snow. Duh. Right?

[@SheepAmongG.O.A.T]

They have a video that goes over that.

[@sherryblouin4249]

I am a homeowner on a 1/2 acre. This will be the perfect ALU for me. More importantly this home would be perfect for my future plan of HUD low income rentals for seniors and or Disabled community.

[@kirstenviers7928]

Good video. I'm a former home owner, a rental owner in one state and residential home owner in another; buying a home and maintaining it is definitely not well disclosed even when your parent is your real estate agent. The Boxables I liked until I watched a video highlighting Elon Musk. When I saw they were making stackable Boxables it lost it's value to me. What was once a viable alternative to spur more responsible consumption and climate action, just became another money pit. While Elon Musk's disclosure of taming his 240 billion lifestyle down to a studio apartment is appreciated by Compliance Officers like me, it is lost to the fad following herd that is dying to be driven off the cliff. I appreciated your commercial break as a Tesla solar panel commercial to spur the brains of your followers instead of their cockles, because while it may be popular to fill our landfills with more material that could be recycled and put up a new home, it is obviously not good for our planet and lives. There will be more natural disasters, and Boxables gets there materials from what and where? We've got plenty of plastic which should be an indicator of where the real wealth of our people stands and how it will be durable in massive disasters. Good luck! You've got your work cut out for you.

[@dianadenman5637]

Accidentally found you. Love your video. Well done - very informative. Thank you.

[@JN-fy4zt]

Does this cost include set up and installation? Shouldn't their be a disclosed itemized list of expenses revealed with the buyer...ahead of time? Maybe not an exact amount, but at least the list of things to prepare for along with the purchase.

[@TheMagumba]

The 50k includes everything, fully furnished, shipping.

[@michealdean3963]

No! You have to pay set up and instalation, site prep, and delivery by big rig! And more to pay after that, for hooking up utilities, etc.

[@ashredfern8507]

It would work great in great Britain as annex for visitors or for elderly relatives to look after instead putting them in a care home. I just looked it up Los Vegas to me is 4950 miles! So between 15k and 50k or more! Unfortunately that's a deal breaker for us as we can build a home from scratch for around £90k maybe a tad more given all costs going up. If Elon can have another one setup in Europe to ship for cheaper price I think that would make it a good investment for him. Perhaps some recommended companies for sorting foundation and utilities would go a long way too.

[@ronaldomoreira113]

It’s just crazy that you have to pay for a permit to build something in your own property That’s just mind blowing

[@SheepAmongG.O.A.T]

The permits makes sense because people do stupid shit. The cost is what is mind blowing.

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Actually, Permits keep people from building rat traps and pieces of crap. Now some areas are overly restrictive to the point of stupidity, but we also don’t want randos building things that will kill either them or other people depending on your proximity to their stupidity. If they build a fire hazard close to other people their stupidity can take out more than them.

[@errornull390]

You don’t “need” to… but if you ever sell it then you need to tear it back down

[@phillipfiorentino]

These extra costs would be paid off easy with my home. I could sell my home and get enough money to pay some extra costs, and I could do it while renting a place, paying less money for living and saving, all while using the money from selling my home to get a brand new home with better sustainability Mind you, these homes are not trying to be a solution to homelessness. So everyone talking about that in the comments is missing the point. Even with the max estimate of extra costs of rural living, you would still pay less for a $160,000 home like this with all max costs than a pre-built overpriced home of the same square footage for $246,000 in my area. People living in all the most expensive places for housing would just be better off renting. People who have homes would be able to sell their current home after 10 years of dwelling and almost if not fully or completely pay off one of these modular homes outright even at their max cost margin. I'm glad this video is informative without a biased outlook, but the reality is, even at max cost for each line item she addresses, this is still more affordable than the purchase of an existing home made in 1993 that is grossly out of date and below the standard times for efficiency, especially with electrical.

[@benjiebarker]

Is that like $500 a month for 30 years?

[@newguy3588]

12k to place something on your own land... INSANE. Government needs to back the hell off.

[@mtlienz2279]

nice breakdown. if ur able to get all the upfront costs bundled into a mortage/loan with monthly cost under 1k its gold and totally worth it. to buy land and get a foundation built is prolly the most expensive part, unlikely a good choice in a metropolitan city, maybe in rural areas where development is already taking place. would be cool to bundle up with a few folks and get a bunch built in same area. we should create our own town with our own waste management, utility & farming system. would be awesome. maybe the future generation of adults in 50-100 years will have a much better world to live in, our current planet the old boomers that managed and lead us totally screwed up this world (it was already screwed up before their time they just screwed it up more).

[@paultumminello9375]

What a whiner. The Boomers and Generation X created all of this social media technology that you can only use. you’re just a consumer of superior generations inventions.

[@jamesholder86]

Thanks for your cost accounting analysis of a boxable home. You considered all the big costs. Buying a boxable home means I need to make it all happen. It will take time to hier contractors to do verrious tasks.

[@feelosophy1921]

Did you buy it or do you know someone who has purchased this before you did this video.

[@irinadeee]

My husband and I have put down a deposit for it, just waiting for them to connect us with a loan officer so we can finance the purchase!

[@Vegasmadee702]

@@irinadeee how much do you have to put down for a deposit ?

[@Manateelover25]

Dont forget the Casita model comes with solar panels that will run most of your energy needs.

[@EconASEAN]

Irina. Do you have any advice for people wanting to buy property for Boxabl's?

[@irinadeee]

Based on what I've read, I believe the most important thing would be to first confirm what sort of zoning rules and regulations your city has. That is what my husband and I did - we contacted the city directly to make sure we were allowed to place a Boxabl on our land before putting down our deposit. Some areas allow for tiny homes, while some require a specific, minimum square footage that a home has to be, on a given parcel of land. Checking to see if the land is close enough to public utilities is also important. I would encourage you to check out Kerry Tarnow's channel as well. He has purchased land for manufactured homes before, and has lots of good information about what to look out for when searching for property. Best of luck to you!

[@GummyDinosaursify]

I think this is why they push the idea of "in your backyard" so hard on their website. Sadly, while this would fix a major housing crisis, the reality is, it's only going to be little cute houses for rich people who can already afford a house but don't want to build a tiny home. It's such a disappointment. More things for rich people while poor people are still stuck living in broken down apartments built in the 60's paying three times what the apartment should (if they're lucky).

[@victorialine5984]

They are rich people's toys.