The Home Depot now sells build

May 10, 2023

Yes, really. You can buy your next house at The Home Depot – here's what you need to know before investing

The Home Depot has released a range of tiny homes marketing for less than $50,000 – but they come with a twist: we have to build them ourselves.

The DIY powerhouse announced a series of pre-fabricated, one-bedroom homes marketing between $4,000 and $40,000. For this, the 'home' can be delivered and assembled as a standalone addition to an existing house (similar to a guesthouse) or as a primary residence.

Complete with a tiny bedroom, living and kitchen space, the homes are compact but accessible – offering a home-ownership or home addition opportunity to a wider range of people. The Home Depot tiny homes are, they say, also 'architecturally designed to provide extra space outside of your home for personal use' – encouraging us to spend time beyond our four walls.

However, while the homes have an initially attractive price point, it is worth noting that you need to invest in additional features to make the space habitable, including separate doors, windows, electrical and plumbing systems, and basic furnishings – though, of course, these are shoppable at the home improvement store.

Designed by tiny home company Plus 1, each one of the structures is made from 'high-quality steel to ensure durable use' while being 'termite and shrink-proof'.

'We find and create solutions for custom-built housing and commercial structures to withstand and be resilient to all environmental challenges,' the manufacturers say. 'Our houses have been engineered for strength to make sure they stand the test of time.'

So, could we really make a tiny structure our full-time residence? There's no denying that small homes have surged in popularity in recent years, not least on platforms like Airbnb, where compact listings (such as this tiny home in the Blue Ridge mountains) are in demand among travelers.

Last year, Elon Musk's unconventional property portfolio also made headlines, as he invested in a Boxabl tiny home in south Texas, where his company SpaceX is based. Despite being the wealthiest man in the world, Elon's home, which he calls his guest house, ranges in price from $54,500 - $99,500.

'My main house – if I have a main house – is the one in South Texas, in Boca Chica village... [the boxable] seems good; I don't actually stay in Boxabl. The house that I bought cost less than a boxable, it was 45K or something, but I've done a lot with the place,' Elon says in an interview. 'If a friend comes and stays, then they can stay in the Boxabl if they want.'

Could this be the future of real estate? You can start shopping – or rather – house hunting – at The Home Depot now.

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, sleep and wellbeing stories, and celebrity-focused pieces. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.

At the heart of modern garden design evolution is a mood for the mindful, our changing climate and a ‘nature positive’ ethos

By Rhoda Parry•Published 10 June 23

Long to enjoy some relaxing and bee-free pool time? Follow these clever ideas

By Jill Morgan•Published 10 June 23