Cairns real estate: Affordable tiny homes just tops for life in the tropics

Cute as a button, but highly functional with full size kitchens and ensuites, these tiny homes are built with a tropical lifestyle in mind. It’s little wonder they’re attracting interest in Cairns.

THE Far North has an innovative new housing option that could help solve a critical housing shortage – tiny homes.

The region has experienced an acute shortage of housing stock on the market all year, with properties snapped up within days of being listed by those who can afford them.

And Cairns is facing a rental crisis of devastating proportions, with a vacancy rate of less than one per cent, and dozens of families desperate for housing applying for each rental.

Families are living in hotels, caravan parks, backpacker hostels and even tents and there are more than 2000 families awaiting social housing.

So a practical and functional tiny home for around $60,000 could be a highly appealing solution.

Tiny homes can be built within eight weeks and they’re based on a a trailer so they are transportable and could be placed on a relative or friend’s property - granny flat style.

Well-established local builder Marc Nielsen of Marksmen Construction has launched Tropical Tiny Homes and said they were ideal for people to get into their own house sooner, potentially using it as a stepping stone towards their next home.

Cairns builder Marc Nielsen has launched the new business Tropical Tiny Homes, building and selling small dwellings 14.4 square metres in size that come delivered on a trailer. The fully equipped homes start at $57,000. Picture: Brendan Radke

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They are around 2.5m wide and 4.3m high with variable length.

“I’d concentrated on house renovations and extensions, but I’ve been very enthusiastic about tiny homes for several years, and I had the opportunity last year to build one for a client, as an alternative to an extension or granny flat, and thought then, I’m definitely going to take it on as a business,” Mr Nielsen said.

“They’re not for everyone, but there is quite a big market for them for weekenders, Airbnb rentals and for people who want to downsize to minimalist living, people who don’t want to be in a four-bedroom house when they have no need for it.

“There’s also people who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle,” Mr Nielsen added.

“There’s sustainability factors too, an opportunity to go off grid – simplifying life practices, and the realisation it is hugely rewarding and gratifying to be able to live closer to nature,” he said.

Mr Nielsen said the tiny home market could potentially contribute to lower carbon footprint buildings.

A tiny home with a full size kitchen, full size ensuite, queen sized bed, breakfast bar, full height ceiling, ceiling fans, ready to be hooked up to plumbing and electrical, would cost about $54,500 plus GST, Mr Nielsen said.

Cairns builder Marc Neilsen has launched the new business Tropical Tiny Homes, building and selling small dwellings. Picture: Brendan MacRae Photography

“If you buy a block of land and don’t plan to live there for five years, you could put the tiny house on it as a weekender,” he said.

“A generation ago, we were going for bigger and bigger but now there’s a move toward downsizing to lock up and leave properties,” Mr Nielsen said.

He said tiny homes did not aim to compete with caravans, but with granny flats, liveable sheds and other smaller scale dwellings.

All tiny homes are made to client specifications and like a traditional building contract, the owner can change or modify things as the build progresses if needed.

Originally published as Cairns real estate: Affordable tiny homes just tops for life in the tropics