Live large in a tiny home in this growing central Pa. neighborhood: video

You’ve no doubt heard of the “tiny house” craze by now, perhaps even seen shows like “Tiny House Nation” or “Tiny House Hunters” on TV.

But did you know that craze extended to central Pennsylvania with the arrival of Tiny Estates four years ago?

Tiny Estates began back in 2018, with visitors able to book short stays in these petite homes.

Ryan Shank and his wife, Abigail, initially created the company to give visitors to the area with a unique short-term housing experience, whether they were visiting relatives or heading to Hersheypark, just a few minutes away.

In November 2020, the company transitioned to providing permanent living spaces on the property. The homes even come with wheels, so buyers can now take them on the road if they need to move quickly.

Currently at 867 Schwanger Road, Elizabethtown, Tiny Estates has a total of 58 different homes. The prices for these properties anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000.

Shank said he’s noticed many of the home buyers are young couples or elderly couples transitioning out of their careers.

“What we’ve tried to create is an opportunity for people of all different backgrounds to live in a … community [where] they feel they have some ownership,” he said.

Although some homes can fit families of four, the sizes do not always offer the most convenient space for a large family.

Many of these homes are built by professional and non-professional builders hired throughout the country. All of the homes qualify as individual trailers.

According to Shank, homes can range in size from 24 to 40 feet, with about 8 feet in width. He said the reason for this height requirement is due to transportation needs, as anyone who’s seen a truck stuck in some of the state’s tunnels and underpasses would know about.

Many of the homes are of “stick build,” which is a very similar model to your traditional home make up, providing many of the same qualities, he said.

The tiny homes offer bedrooms large enough to hold a king or queen size bed. Heating and cooling are provided.

And if you’re worried their small size means they wouldn’t handle harsh weather, Shank assures these structures are safe.

“Most of these homes can withstand very high-wind speeds on the road,” Shank said. “These were specifically designed to withstand the most treacherous of natural weather occurrences.”

Rent covers water, sewer, wifi, grounds maintenance, trash and snow removal, and access to the entire property, as well as two-private access security gates.

There are three different home models that are a part of the Via Series that Tiny Estates provides: The standard model, which features an open cabinet layout and white wall interior; the farmhouse style, which has a more wood-accent feel with a more of a rustic interior; and the modern style which comes with a wood interior.

Many of these homes offer only a first floor layout, but some offer a second floor, which many use for storage space.

“We have a lot of different ways to to customize what our clients are looking for. We’ve been able to help people who are looking to live tiny understand, or at least come up with questions that they maybe didn’t even know that they had,” Shank said.

Shank and his wife plan to expand on the property and are in discussions with the township. In addition, the two have thoughts on expanding their business across the country.

“We have gone as far as to look in California, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, and in the Carolinas,” Shank said. “Abby has been really influential in helping groups around the country to be able to replicate something like what we’re doing here.”

For more information, visit the official Tiny Estates web page. Watch the video to see a few of Tiny Estates’ offerings.