Micro-apartments are taking the world by storm, and we understand that you want to learn more about these trendy, tiny homes. After micro housing took off in Seattle, it quickly began gaining popularity all across the country. These miniature apartments are particularly attractive to young Millennials and singles looking for affordable housing options in some of the nation’s most expensive cities — from New York City to San Francisco.
What Is a Micro-Apartment?
A micro-apartment is a one room living space that typically measures between 180 and 300 square feet (parameters vary by location). These homes are designed to accommodate a sleeping space, bathroom, and sitting area. The kitchens have refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves, but no conventional ovens. In some group complexes, residents have access to communal spaces, including kitchens, patios, and roof gardens. Because of their tight quarters, micro-apartments are designed with great precision to maximize functionality.
With micro-apartments steadily gaining popularity, it’s worthwhile to learn what you can about these innovative units. Here are our top five things to know about micro-apartments.
1. Cities, Cities, Cities
Micro-apartments are a new fixture in the nation’s largest cities. Crowded cities have limited space for housing, and these small apartments provide the perfect solution for these city dwellers to gain access to premium real estate — particularly the young people and singles that tend to populate these large, urban areas.
The micro-apartment first made big news in Seattle where dozens of micro-apartment developments have been built in the past three years. Other emerging hotspots include San Francisco, Boston, Minneapolis, Providence, Portland and New York.
2. Affordable Housing Option
The main draw of micro-apartments is affordability. Rent for single bedroom and studio apartments are skyrocketing, especially in our largest cities, making housing nearly inaccessible for the vast majority of residents. Micro-apartments are designed to combat this issue by providing more affordable housing options. According to Eric Bunge, a partner with nARCHITECTS, over 70% of households consist of singles or couples, so micro-apartments are clearly providing a long sought-after housing solution.
3. Efficiency and Innovation
Micro-apartments are designed with great purpose, and in their clever, functional design lies their artistry. Designers of these units focus on flexible features including banquette lids that open for storage space, dining room tables that turn into beds, excess vertical spaces to hold shelves, and so much more. Micro-apartments make use of every last inch of space for a sustainable, innovative living arrangement. It’s a game of architecture Tetris.
4. Time to Be Flexible
While these tiny apartments are extremely livable, they take considerable adjustment, often more than residents expect. When you move into a home that’s about the size of a large walk-in closet, your lifestyle is forced to change. While a transition to a micro-apartment can be challenging, it often encourages residents to make positive lifestyle changes, like walking to work and spending more time out of the house.
5. Hotspot for Seniors
While people tend to lump micro-apartments into the Millennial population, micro-apartments are becoming increasingly popular with seniors as well. As empty-nesters look to downsize their full-sized homes, they often set their sights on more modest, simplified living situations. Micro-apartments provide an affordable, low maintenance housing option that older couples find highly desirable.
As micro-apartments continue to create a buzz in the real estate industry, we’ll continue to keep tabs on how this exciting trend is taking shape within our cities. If you’re still wondering, “What is a micro-apartment?” or would just like to learn more, contact Re/Max Results at https://www.results.net/.