Tiny House Hunters (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 7 - Fresh Start in a Tiny House - full transcript
Homebuyers across the country
are saying goodbye
to big houses...
Wow! Look at that.
That is tiny.
...and hello to small spaces.
With the push of a button,
this house contracts
to half its size.
- Wow.
- Wow.
- What is this?
- This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool!
Oh!
Wow, this just got weird.
But the smaller the house,
the bigger the challenge
fitting inside.
It'd be six of us up here.
Where am I gonna sleep?
- This swings back.
- Whoa.
- That's the loft.
- Ohh.
I think I see
a problem already.
Oh my God, babe.
- Look at them!
- This is flippin' amazing.
Jesse wants
an unconventional tiny house.
Don't break it!
See?
It's perfect length for him.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
But his girlfriend,
Sarah, is pushing
for something
much more traditional.
Wow,
this feels really great.
Who will win out?
I am concerned
about going
straight in the water.
Going slow. Now glide.
Now stop. Stop skating.
- Gliding.
- I'm Jesse.
- And I'm Sarah.
- I help produce live events.
And I work in advertising.
And we live
in Seattle, Washington.
No, no.
We met when, uh,
she moved into
the apartment complex
that I was living in
at the time.
We formed a friendship
and then fell in love
and moved in together.
About a year ago, we lost
our house in a fire.
We pretty much
lost everything, um,
except for our two cats.
It was definitely
a stressful experience,
uh, especially
getting back on our feet.
We were forced
into a hotel room,
uh, for about a month.
And we've been in our
500-square-foot apartment
for about the last year.
- You go first.
- Okay, I'll go first.
- Yeah.
- We learned that you
don't need as much
as you think you need in life.
We've learned, uh,
definitely how to compromise
and share space.
Oh, we also learned
that the cats
do not like being
in an apartment.
Living simply in their apartment
has inspired them to buy
a tiny home of their own.
It's kind of great to be able
to start over,
and really just
be minimalists.
There you go.
What do you think of this one?
- I'm liking it.
- I know you're liking it.
But I'm not liking it.
Our challenge is agreeing
on exactly what it is
that we want.
I think we have slightly
different wish lists.
How 'bout that, honey?
A houseboat.
Where are we gonna
put the cats?
That's what the little lifeboat
dinghies are for.
Aw.
I think I would be okay
with, uh, something
that is very small,
in the 500-square-foot range.
I think there's something
very romantic
about being mobile
and, uh, being able to go
find adventure
instead of waiting
for it to come to you.
RV, here we go.
Nope.
Keep swiping.
But Sarah wants
something much more traditional,
a foundation house
no smaller then 700 square feet.
Can you see if there
may be any, uh,
Craftsman or bungalow style
tiny homes?
I love the charm
and the character
of Craftsman style homes.
They're very popular
here in Seattle.
I do love the woodwork.
I think having a front porch
would be really cool.
I like the backsplash
in that kitchen.
I would love to have
a light,
airy kitchen
that's going to be big enough
for both of us to cook.
It's something
we like to do,
but haven't had the opportunity
to do in about a year.
We both have our interests
and our hobbies.
I like to play guitar.
I like to record music.
I also love being craftsy.
Look at where we are.
It's beautiful.
This is-- I want this.
For me, the outside
has always been
more important
than the inside.
I really want some space,
some privacy, some seclusion.
They're willing to pay
up to $350,000
to cover the cost of the house
and a place to put it.
Getting this tiny house
will, uh, represent us,
not just a new chapter,
but a new book,
where we actually get
to choose our own destiny
in our own place.
Oh my God, babe.
- Look at them!
- This is flippin' amazing.
Today, they're meeting real
estate agent Jacquelyn Phillips
at a marina on the south side
of Seattle's Lake Union
to see a tiny home
just for Jesse-- a houseboat.
Sarah and Jesse asked
for something unconventional.
And this is definitely it.
You have the perks
of being on water
and just the adventure
of it all.
But you may be giving up
some of the space.
This is a 400-square-foot
house boat.
And it's listed for $353,000.
- Okay.
- And there's also the $650
per month moorage fee.
That includes utilities
and everything, though, right?
- That includes everything.
- That seems more expensive
then what we were hoping for.
It's a brand-new
construction,
so you guys would be
the first owners.
- Oh, wow!
- Oh, wow. I actually like that.
Well, I think
it's amazing looking.
I love the color scheme.
I'm a little concerned
about the rocking
and falling off the boat.
Well, let's go in.
Check it out.
- See how you feel.
- Okay.
My goodness.
Oh, it's so cute, honey.
It is. That's weird that you
walk into the bathroom, though.
Yeah. But I mean,
look at the wood on the walls.
And really nice cabinets.
But you walk into
the bathroom.
I am pretty certain
I have never walked
into a house,
and the first thing
I've seen is a bathroom.
- So that's definitely different.
- Don't worry.
The layout will make sense
as we move through.
Okay.
I'm sure there's a reason.
This is a little weird,
like, how the medicine cabinet
comes out just about
as far as the sink.
- Oh, yeah.
- Tiny house living,
you have to kind of make
some sacrifices like that.
But it's very
well done, right?
It is very--
It's gorgeous,
So, what's going on
with the door?
I see that there's,
like, little windows.
I wonder if the neighbors could
see you go to the bathroom.
- What's going on there?
- We're in a marina.
You can't be shy. You just got
to be part of the community.
Might have to get some little
custom shades made for that.
So, you guys want to
see the bedroom?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Let's do it.
- All right.
- Oh, it's so cute, babe.
- It looks small, though.
- Check it out.
- Is that long enough?
- Let me see.
- Yeah, get up in there.
Don't break it.
See?
That's perfect length for him.
This is perfect.
I like these little
windows here, too.
Yeah, it's a little close
to the neighbor boats.
Yeah.
It's not as private.
But to have an
adventurous kind of life,
sometimes you got
to be flexible.
And there's actually really
great built-in storage
right here, too.
- Look at this.
- Yeah, those are nice.
- Little built-ins.
- Mm-hmm.
And a true full closet.
I think that there is enough
room for my stuff, anyway.
But I have a dinghy
for my stuff.
- It's cool.
- That's fine. Yeah.
Oh, it's so gorgeous.
- Look at this kitchen, honey.
- It's really cute.
I really like the, uh,
color of the cabinets.
And this countertop
is awesome.
Enough cabinet space
for you, though?
- Yeah, definitely.
- Yeah? But, um, you know,
there's not a lot of room
for an office.
I'm assuming there's not a
second room that we're missing.
Nope.
Nope, this is it.
I mean,
with 400 square feet
you have to get creative.
The lack of having
kind of an office space
is probably
the single biggest issue
I would have with this,
'cause it's something
we kind of need.
I mean, the good thing about
this space is moving in,
you guys really don't
have to do anything.
- That's true. Yeah.
- That is a great point.
Craftsmanship is great.
It looks great.
So that's a huge plus,
I think.
So, I know one of
the big things for you guys
was to have
some sort of yard space.
- But the water is now your yard.
- That's true.
And you could jump
onto a kayak
or a stand-up
paddleboard.
- Isn't this cool?
- Oh, wow.
The thought of taking a kayak
and leaving the boat,
chilling on the lake,
I mean, that's really
an attractive thought.
- Yeah.
- I do think a little rail
- would be a good idea.
- For me.
- For this one right here, yes.
- I won't lie.
I am concerned about
going straight in the water.
Yeah.
What do you think?
Do you think you could
embrace this lifestyle?
I do. Being adventurous,
there's really
something romantic
and attractive about--
about that.
Really love how many windows
there are in the house.
And also,
it's beautifully built.
I love how everything is new.
I love the look of it.
It's a Craftsman-like boat.
Anything that bothers you?
Getting used to the rocking
- would be kind of a new thing.
- It's a gentle swing.
It's just kind of
a different mind-set.
My biggest issue, too,
is that it's just
a smaller space.
Budget-wise,
it's right at our edge.
- You know?
- With the moorage fee?
Yeah, that's definitely
a serious, uh, downside.
Jacquelyn has found
a less expensive
tiny foundation home for Sarah.
But it has its issues.
We are gonna
redo the kitchen.
Oh, my goodness.
Once we finally
get a house, honey,
we'll be able
to start again.
Having lost their home
in a fire,
Sarah and Jesse are beginning
a new chapter in their lives
by going tiny
in Seattle, Washington.
But with Jesse pushing
for something unconventional,
like a houseboat,
and Sarah wanting
a bigger traditional house
on a foundation,
finding a place that works
for both of them
has been a challenge.
With the help of real estate
agent Jacquelyn Phillips,
they've seen a brand-new
floating home,
perfect for Jesse.
But it was over
their $350,000 budget.
And at 400 square feet,
it was too small for Sarah.
Today, Jacquelyn has found Sarah
a tiny home
that's on a foundation.
So, this is a Craftsman.
Wow.
This is like
a little hidden paradise.
Yeah, look at this.
I notice its Craftsman
bungalow-style features,
which I really love.
Um, that is exactly
what I'm looking for in a house.
Isn't this an awesome deck?
- Yeah.
- Yes. Beautiful.
I can definitely see us
entertaining out here.
That's hard to come by,
something that's so high,
yet still private.
- I do like that a lot.
- This is a 1918 Craftsman house.
And it's 720 square feet.
Two bedroom, one bath,
listed for $315,000.
- Oh, my God. Really?
- That's great.
I think it's fairly
move-in ready.
But probably within
the next year,
you'll probably have
to put a new roof on.
It's roughly $7,000
to $10,000 for a new roof.
- That's a lot of money.
- It's well within your budget.
I think you guys are really
gonna like this place.
Let's go.
Not totally sure
about the look of this room.
I really notice
the tiled ceiling.
That is a non-negotiable,
we-must-change situation for me.
I do love
the door window here.
And at least
it's hardwood floors.
It's a pretty good size
living room for a tiny house.
It's almost too big.
I mean, it's--
It's on the verge of being
more space than we need.
Wow,
this feels really great.
This feels, uh, open,
and spacious.
Uh, just a few things
that kind of bug me.
I would love to get
the countertops, uh, replaced.
These cabinets
also kind of look
like they're
coming off the wall.
You are killing
our budget, honey.
So, we are gonna
redo the kitchen.
Oh, my goodness.
We do have a buffer here
between the asking price
and our budget.
But I think that buffer
will get eaten up very quickly.
- All right.
- Look at this.
This is what
I am talking about.
So did you go into my mind
and see the yard
that I wanted and put it here?
The privacy you wanted!
There's even a spot
back there for parking.
So, let's go check out
the rest of the house.
- Great.
- Sounds good.
It feels, you know,
not too cramped.
A newer tile
in the bathroom.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. That looks good.
I don't really
love the cabinets.
I think
that that's something
we would want to
switch out right away.
Also like to see tile
in the bathroom floors.
Let me add that
to the list.
I don't love
the look of linoleum.
Looks a little dirty.
Okay.
I love the windows.
But I feel like
they're a little low.
Because I worry that a bed
right up against that window
would block it.
- Get a lower bed.
- Yeah, a lower bed.
This mirror definitely
has got to go.
- Oh, it's so upsetting.
- I don't want the first thing
I see in the morning
to be my hair.
- Oh.
- That's for sure.
Oh. I do like
the windows in here.
I'm noticing
there's no closet, though.
That's a bummer.
But as an office--
Yeah. I think it's perfect
as the office.
The front porch,
really awesome.
The backyard
is really beautiful.
To me, the backyard
is the thing.
The outside of this house
is what makes this house.
My concern is that
we have a budget.
And every room seemed
to have something...
- A little something.
- ...that needed work,
The roof being a big one.
So all those things
are gonna start adding up.
Jacquelyn is showing them
a house she hopes they'll like.
But it has a few surprises.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
Whoever wins miniature golf
gets to pick
- the miniature house.
- Oh.
As excited
as Sarah and Jesse are
to buy a tiny house
in Seattle, Washington,
they can't agree
on what they want.
Jesse like
the adventurous lifestyle
that a brand-new
houseboat represents.
But it's over their
$350,000 price range.
And with only 400 square feet
of living space,
Sarah's concerned
they would feel the squeeze.
At 720 square feet,
the Craftsman on a foundation
was the perfect size for Sarah.
But with more space and Sarah
wanting to update every room,
Jesse is concerned
they'll quickly go over budget.
Oh, look, babe. There it is.
- Yeah, it's so cute!
- It is pretty cute.
- Hi, guys.
- Hey!
They're meeting
with their real estate agent,
Jacquelyn Phillips,
whose found a slightly
smaller ranch-style house
she hopes they'll both like.
It's 670 square feet
and $345,000.
- Ooh.
- $345,000
is right at the edge
of our budget.
But if it's not
that much to fix...
- Yeah.
- ...could be doable.
I love the size.
I think it's perfect
for what we're looking for.
Nice and cozy.
As you see, lots of room
that you guys could get in
some gardening.
I love the tiered thing.
That's awesome.
- Nice and private, too.
- Yeah.
Thank you.
- Oh.
- Ooh!
- This is cute.
- Yeah, I'm digging the floors.
I thought
this was a good size room
for the size of the house.
It is electric
baseboard heat.
Even though you have
a good amount of space
for your furniture,
putting it right up
against one of those baseboards
could be an issue.
It does shrink the room
a little bit.
The kitchen
is right through here.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
There's--
A very hodgepodge-y
kitchen.
It's just amazing to me how many
different pieces of wood
are in one spot here.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
Is that really the fridge
right next to
the washer-dryer here?
- Yeah, I can't--
- And the water heater.
- It's a menagerie of appliances.
- Appliances.
I feel like you need
to gut this whole thing.
Just something to keep in mind,
that we're only $5,000
under our budget.
We would definitely have
to crunch some numbers on that.
The good things is, guys,
there is a good amount
of space in here.
That's true. I do like
the outside--
sliding glass doors
with the little porch outside.
Yeah.
Wow, this is
a super cute backyard.
Yeah. I like the fire pit.
Lots of trees.
Lots of privacy
on the back side.
So, the bathroom
is conveniently
right by the bedrooms.
Let me scootch over
so you can come in, too.
It's a cute size.
Um, I like--
I like the storage.
That's actually
really nice.
So, here's
the master bedroom.
But you have a closet.
It's not huge.
Um, you do have the issue
with the heater there.
So now you're asking
about the bed.
This is, I mean,
not a huge space.
But I guess
you could kind of have it.
Right here, I guess.
What I like about this room
is I feel like
there's not a lot of work.
- Approved.
- Yeah.
- Wow.
- Oh. Okay.
Would this be mostly
a space for you, Jesse?
I would share it a little,
I think.
Oh, that's not necessary.
Not a fan?
There is a lot of wood
on wood on wood in this room.
Yeah, a lot
of wood-on-wood violence.
My goodness.
So despite all the,
sort of, quirkiness,
kind of hits all--
all the boxes
for you guys, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah. That size is great.
- The storage is good.
- I like how it's private.
Just needs a little
freshening up.
A little modernizing.
Some de-wooding
of sorts.
- It needs some unification.
- It does.
But I feel like
it has a good starting point
where you could do things.
It's just a matter of whether
or not we could afford it.
- Definitely a contender.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- Absolutely.
Having seen
their tiny home options,
Sarah and Jesse are ready
to make a decision.
You're talking about
changing everything
about the way you live.
House hunting just got
a little bit smaller
with people on the hunt
for tiny homes.
Having lost everything
they owned in a fire,
Seattle, Washington, couple
Sarah and Jesse
are starting over by going tiny.
They've been debating
whether to get
what he wants, a houseboat,
or to buy what she wants,
a foundation home.
Having seen several options
in their $350,000 price range,
it's time to decide.
- The houseboat was amazing.
- It was awesome.
It's move-in-ready.
I do love the back deck
that looks out
to the water.
- It's so beautiful.
- The view is amazing.
For me, the big plus there
would be adventure.
You're talking about
changing everything
about the way you live.
Huge downside-- It's
a 400-square-foot houseboat.
We wouldn't be able
to have a second bedroom and--
No office space.
Yeah, that's a big deal.
Walking through
the front door
into the bathroom
was kind of weird.
What if I'm going to
the bathroom, and you come home?
- What happens then?
- Same thing that happens now.
I just walk in.
At $353,000,
- it's the most expensive.
- Mm-hmm.
And you got
the $650 a month moorage fee.
I think that's a big issue.
So, the charming Craftsman,
$315,000,
the lowest asking price.
I thought it was
tremendously beautiful.
You've got the office.
And you have your
beautiful front porch.
Amazing backyard.
- Mm-hmm.
- It's private.
But at 720 square feet,
it was just a little
too big for Jesse.
While it is fairly
move-in ready,
there are some big expenses,
the roof
being the main one.
I remember walking
into every room
and being able to list things
that would need help.
So that would
definitely add up.
Listed at $345,000,
their third option
is a ranch house,
which is smaller,
at 670 square feet.
I thought
it was really pretty cute.
It was a great size.
I like
how private it felt.
It has a second bedroom,
which we could share it
as an office.
The yard was
kind of a blank slate.
I felt like there was a lot
you could do with it.
The wood in the kitchen
was horrifying.
It is very close to budget
and has a lot of things
that would need fixing
make it move-in-ready.
The houseboat gives us
a great opportunity
for some crazy adventure.
But the bottom line is,
the Craftsman is the one.
I agree.
Especially after the last year,
I'm really looking
to kind of settle down
and enjoy
the space that we're in.
You've got some projects
that we would have to do.
But there's some room
in our budget to do them.
Let's go.
Let's call Jacquelyn.
- Let's buy a house.
- Let's buy a house.
We'll have fruit
and four muffins.
We've been in the house
for a couple of months now.
We love it.
We're so excited to wake up
here every single day.
Are you ready to make
some pear pie later?
This house was listed
at $315,000.
There was a bit
of a bidding war.
We ended up closing
finally at $385,000.
I feel like
the price we paid
for this house
is totally worth it.
The house just has a really
nice airy, homey feel.
How's it going over there?
It's going.
There's a lot of roots.
We've been busy
since day one of moving in.
We've refinished
the living room ceiling.
We've refinished
the bathroom flooring.
And having to start
from scratch,
we had to buy every single
piece of furniture.
We painted every room
except for the kitchen.
Um, we have been
busy little beavers.
The second bedroom
was really important for us.
I'm already getting the music
studio set up in there.
It's also gonna double
as an office for both of us.
Pretty awesome.
This is living
right here, right?
I love our front porch.
It's just so nice
being out there
and sitting in our
little loungey chairs,
hanging our with our pets.
A year ago, we lost everything
we owned in a fire.
But we are now
where we are,
which is
owning a beautiful home
with the future
right in front of us.
are saying goodbye
to big houses...
Wow! Look at that.
That is tiny.
...and hello to small spaces.
With the push of a button,
this house contracts
to half its size.
- Wow.
- Wow.
- What is this?
- This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool!
Oh!
Wow, this just got weird.
But the smaller the house,
the bigger the challenge
fitting inside.
It'd be six of us up here.
Where am I gonna sleep?
- This swings back.
- Whoa.
- That's the loft.
- Ohh.
I think I see
a problem already.
Oh my God, babe.
- Look at them!
- This is flippin' amazing.
Jesse wants
an unconventional tiny house.
Don't break it!
See?
It's perfect length for him.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
But his girlfriend,
Sarah, is pushing
for something
much more traditional.
Wow,
this feels really great.
Who will win out?
I am concerned
about going
straight in the water.
Going slow. Now glide.
Now stop. Stop skating.
- Gliding.
- I'm Jesse.
- And I'm Sarah.
- I help produce live events.
And I work in advertising.
And we live
in Seattle, Washington.
No, no.
We met when, uh,
she moved into
the apartment complex
that I was living in
at the time.
We formed a friendship
and then fell in love
and moved in together.
About a year ago, we lost
our house in a fire.
We pretty much
lost everything, um,
except for our two cats.
It was definitely
a stressful experience,
uh, especially
getting back on our feet.
We were forced
into a hotel room,
uh, for about a month.
And we've been in our
500-square-foot apartment
for about the last year.
- You go first.
- Okay, I'll go first.
- Yeah.
- We learned that you
don't need as much
as you think you need in life.
We've learned, uh,
definitely how to compromise
and share space.
Oh, we also learned
that the cats
do not like being
in an apartment.
Living simply in their apartment
has inspired them to buy
a tiny home of their own.
It's kind of great to be able
to start over,
and really just
be minimalists.
There you go.
What do you think of this one?
- I'm liking it.
- I know you're liking it.
But I'm not liking it.
Our challenge is agreeing
on exactly what it is
that we want.
I think we have slightly
different wish lists.
How 'bout that, honey?
A houseboat.
Where are we gonna
put the cats?
That's what the little lifeboat
dinghies are for.
Aw.
I think I would be okay
with, uh, something
that is very small,
in the 500-square-foot range.
I think there's something
very romantic
about being mobile
and, uh, being able to go
find adventure
instead of waiting
for it to come to you.
RV, here we go.
Nope.
Keep swiping.
But Sarah wants
something much more traditional,
a foundation house
no smaller then 700 square feet.
Can you see if there
may be any, uh,
Craftsman or bungalow style
tiny homes?
I love the charm
and the character
of Craftsman style homes.
They're very popular
here in Seattle.
I do love the woodwork.
I think having a front porch
would be really cool.
I like the backsplash
in that kitchen.
I would love to have
a light,
airy kitchen
that's going to be big enough
for both of us to cook.
It's something
we like to do,
but haven't had the opportunity
to do in about a year.
We both have our interests
and our hobbies.
I like to play guitar.
I like to record music.
I also love being craftsy.
Look at where we are.
It's beautiful.
This is-- I want this.
For me, the outside
has always been
more important
than the inside.
I really want some space,
some privacy, some seclusion.
They're willing to pay
up to $350,000
to cover the cost of the house
and a place to put it.
Getting this tiny house
will, uh, represent us,
not just a new chapter,
but a new book,
where we actually get
to choose our own destiny
in our own place.
Oh my God, babe.
- Look at them!
- This is flippin' amazing.
Today, they're meeting real
estate agent Jacquelyn Phillips
at a marina on the south side
of Seattle's Lake Union
to see a tiny home
just for Jesse-- a houseboat.
Sarah and Jesse asked
for something unconventional.
And this is definitely it.
You have the perks
of being on water
and just the adventure
of it all.
But you may be giving up
some of the space.
This is a 400-square-foot
house boat.
And it's listed for $353,000.
- Okay.
- And there's also the $650
per month moorage fee.
That includes utilities
and everything, though, right?
- That includes everything.
- That seems more expensive
then what we were hoping for.
It's a brand-new
construction,
so you guys would be
the first owners.
- Oh, wow!
- Oh, wow. I actually like that.
Well, I think
it's amazing looking.
I love the color scheme.
I'm a little concerned
about the rocking
and falling off the boat.
Well, let's go in.
Check it out.
- See how you feel.
- Okay.
My goodness.
Oh, it's so cute, honey.
It is. That's weird that you
walk into the bathroom, though.
Yeah. But I mean,
look at the wood on the walls.
And really nice cabinets.
But you walk into
the bathroom.
I am pretty certain
I have never walked
into a house,
and the first thing
I've seen is a bathroom.
- So that's definitely different.
- Don't worry.
The layout will make sense
as we move through.
Okay.
I'm sure there's a reason.
This is a little weird,
like, how the medicine cabinet
comes out just about
as far as the sink.
- Oh, yeah.
- Tiny house living,
you have to kind of make
some sacrifices like that.
But it's very
well done, right?
It is very--
It's gorgeous,
So, what's going on
with the door?
I see that there's,
like, little windows.
I wonder if the neighbors could
see you go to the bathroom.
- What's going on there?
- We're in a marina.
You can't be shy. You just got
to be part of the community.
Might have to get some little
custom shades made for that.
So, you guys want to
see the bedroom?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Let's do it.
- All right.
- Oh, it's so cute, babe.
- It looks small, though.
- Check it out.
- Is that long enough?
- Let me see.
- Yeah, get up in there.
Don't break it.
See?
That's perfect length for him.
This is perfect.
I like these little
windows here, too.
Yeah, it's a little close
to the neighbor boats.
Yeah.
It's not as private.
But to have an
adventurous kind of life,
sometimes you got
to be flexible.
And there's actually really
great built-in storage
right here, too.
- Look at this.
- Yeah, those are nice.
- Little built-ins.
- Mm-hmm.
And a true full closet.
I think that there is enough
room for my stuff, anyway.
But I have a dinghy
for my stuff.
- It's cool.
- That's fine. Yeah.
Oh, it's so gorgeous.
- Look at this kitchen, honey.
- It's really cute.
I really like the, uh,
color of the cabinets.
And this countertop
is awesome.
Enough cabinet space
for you, though?
- Yeah, definitely.
- Yeah? But, um, you know,
there's not a lot of room
for an office.
I'm assuming there's not a
second room that we're missing.
Nope.
Nope, this is it.
I mean,
with 400 square feet
you have to get creative.
The lack of having
kind of an office space
is probably
the single biggest issue
I would have with this,
'cause it's something
we kind of need.
I mean, the good thing about
this space is moving in,
you guys really don't
have to do anything.
- That's true. Yeah.
- That is a great point.
Craftsmanship is great.
It looks great.
So that's a huge plus,
I think.
So, I know one of
the big things for you guys
was to have
some sort of yard space.
- But the water is now your yard.
- That's true.
And you could jump
onto a kayak
or a stand-up
paddleboard.
- Isn't this cool?
- Oh, wow.
The thought of taking a kayak
and leaving the boat,
chilling on the lake,
I mean, that's really
an attractive thought.
- Yeah.
- I do think a little rail
- would be a good idea.
- For me.
- For this one right here, yes.
- I won't lie.
I am concerned about
going straight in the water.
Yeah.
What do you think?
Do you think you could
embrace this lifestyle?
I do. Being adventurous,
there's really
something romantic
and attractive about--
about that.
Really love how many windows
there are in the house.
And also,
it's beautifully built.
I love how everything is new.
I love the look of it.
It's a Craftsman-like boat.
Anything that bothers you?
Getting used to the rocking
- would be kind of a new thing.
- It's a gentle swing.
It's just kind of
a different mind-set.
My biggest issue, too,
is that it's just
a smaller space.
Budget-wise,
it's right at our edge.
- You know?
- With the moorage fee?
Yeah, that's definitely
a serious, uh, downside.
Jacquelyn has found
a less expensive
tiny foundation home for Sarah.
But it has its issues.
We are gonna
redo the kitchen.
Oh, my goodness.
Once we finally
get a house, honey,
we'll be able
to start again.
Having lost their home
in a fire,
Sarah and Jesse are beginning
a new chapter in their lives
by going tiny
in Seattle, Washington.
But with Jesse pushing
for something unconventional,
like a houseboat,
and Sarah wanting
a bigger traditional house
on a foundation,
finding a place that works
for both of them
has been a challenge.
With the help of real estate
agent Jacquelyn Phillips,
they've seen a brand-new
floating home,
perfect for Jesse.
But it was over
their $350,000 budget.
And at 400 square feet,
it was too small for Sarah.
Today, Jacquelyn has found Sarah
a tiny home
that's on a foundation.
So, this is a Craftsman.
Wow.
This is like
a little hidden paradise.
Yeah, look at this.
I notice its Craftsman
bungalow-style features,
which I really love.
Um, that is exactly
what I'm looking for in a house.
Isn't this an awesome deck?
- Yeah.
- Yes. Beautiful.
I can definitely see us
entertaining out here.
That's hard to come by,
something that's so high,
yet still private.
- I do like that a lot.
- This is a 1918 Craftsman house.
And it's 720 square feet.
Two bedroom, one bath,
listed for $315,000.
- Oh, my God. Really?
- That's great.
I think it's fairly
move-in ready.
But probably within
the next year,
you'll probably have
to put a new roof on.
It's roughly $7,000
to $10,000 for a new roof.
- That's a lot of money.
- It's well within your budget.
I think you guys are really
gonna like this place.
Let's go.
Not totally sure
about the look of this room.
I really notice
the tiled ceiling.
That is a non-negotiable,
we-must-change situation for me.
I do love
the door window here.
And at least
it's hardwood floors.
It's a pretty good size
living room for a tiny house.
It's almost too big.
I mean, it's--
It's on the verge of being
more space than we need.
Wow,
this feels really great.
This feels, uh, open,
and spacious.
Uh, just a few things
that kind of bug me.
I would love to get
the countertops, uh, replaced.
These cabinets
also kind of look
like they're
coming off the wall.
You are killing
our budget, honey.
So, we are gonna
redo the kitchen.
Oh, my goodness.
We do have a buffer here
between the asking price
and our budget.
But I think that buffer
will get eaten up very quickly.
- All right.
- Look at this.
This is what
I am talking about.
So did you go into my mind
and see the yard
that I wanted and put it here?
The privacy you wanted!
There's even a spot
back there for parking.
So, let's go check out
the rest of the house.
- Great.
- Sounds good.
It feels, you know,
not too cramped.
A newer tile
in the bathroom.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. That looks good.
I don't really
love the cabinets.
I think
that that's something
we would want to
switch out right away.
Also like to see tile
in the bathroom floors.
Let me add that
to the list.
I don't love
the look of linoleum.
Looks a little dirty.
Okay.
I love the windows.
But I feel like
they're a little low.
Because I worry that a bed
right up against that window
would block it.
- Get a lower bed.
- Yeah, a lower bed.
This mirror definitely
has got to go.
- Oh, it's so upsetting.
- I don't want the first thing
I see in the morning
to be my hair.
- Oh.
- That's for sure.
Oh. I do like
the windows in here.
I'm noticing
there's no closet, though.
That's a bummer.
But as an office--
Yeah. I think it's perfect
as the office.
The front porch,
really awesome.
The backyard
is really beautiful.
To me, the backyard
is the thing.
The outside of this house
is what makes this house.
My concern is that
we have a budget.
And every room seemed
to have something...
- A little something.
- ...that needed work,
The roof being a big one.
So all those things
are gonna start adding up.
Jacquelyn is showing them
a house she hopes they'll like.
But it has a few surprises.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
Whoever wins miniature golf
gets to pick
- the miniature house.
- Oh.
As excited
as Sarah and Jesse are
to buy a tiny house
in Seattle, Washington,
they can't agree
on what they want.
Jesse like
the adventurous lifestyle
that a brand-new
houseboat represents.
But it's over their
$350,000 price range.
And with only 400 square feet
of living space,
Sarah's concerned
they would feel the squeeze.
At 720 square feet,
the Craftsman on a foundation
was the perfect size for Sarah.
But with more space and Sarah
wanting to update every room,
Jesse is concerned
they'll quickly go over budget.
Oh, look, babe. There it is.
- Yeah, it's so cute!
- It is pretty cute.
- Hi, guys.
- Hey!
They're meeting
with their real estate agent,
Jacquelyn Phillips,
whose found a slightly
smaller ranch-style house
she hopes they'll both like.
It's 670 square feet
and $345,000.
- Ooh.
- $345,000
is right at the edge
of our budget.
But if it's not
that much to fix...
- Yeah.
- ...could be doable.
I love the size.
I think it's perfect
for what we're looking for.
Nice and cozy.
As you see, lots of room
that you guys could get in
some gardening.
I love the tiered thing.
That's awesome.
- Nice and private, too.
- Yeah.
Thank you.
- Oh.
- Ooh!
- This is cute.
- Yeah, I'm digging the floors.
I thought
this was a good size room
for the size of the house.
It is electric
baseboard heat.
Even though you have
a good amount of space
for your furniture,
putting it right up
against one of those baseboards
could be an issue.
It does shrink the room
a little bit.
The kitchen
is right through here.
Oh, my gosh. I just can't even
wrap my head around this.
There's--
A very hodgepodge-y
kitchen.
It's just amazing to me how many
different pieces of wood
are in one spot here.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
Is that really the fridge
right next to
the washer-dryer here?
- Yeah, I can't--
- And the water heater.
- It's a menagerie of appliances.
- Appliances.
I feel like you need
to gut this whole thing.
Just something to keep in mind,
that we're only $5,000
under our budget.
We would definitely have
to crunch some numbers on that.
The good things is, guys,
there is a good amount
of space in here.
That's true. I do like
the outside--
sliding glass doors
with the little porch outside.
Yeah.
Wow, this is
a super cute backyard.
Yeah. I like the fire pit.
Lots of trees.
Lots of privacy
on the back side.
So, the bathroom
is conveniently
right by the bedrooms.
Let me scootch over
so you can come in, too.
It's a cute size.
Um, I like--
I like the storage.
That's actually
really nice.
So, here's
the master bedroom.
But you have a closet.
It's not huge.
Um, you do have the issue
with the heater there.
So now you're asking
about the bed.
This is, I mean,
not a huge space.
But I guess
you could kind of have it.
Right here, I guess.
What I like about this room
is I feel like
there's not a lot of work.
- Approved.
- Yeah.
- Wow.
- Oh. Okay.
Would this be mostly
a space for you, Jesse?
I would share it a little,
I think.
Oh, that's not necessary.
Not a fan?
There is a lot of wood
on wood on wood in this room.
Yeah, a lot
of wood-on-wood violence.
My goodness.
So despite all the,
sort of, quirkiness,
kind of hits all--
all the boxes
for you guys, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah. That size is great.
- The storage is good.
- I like how it's private.
Just needs a little
freshening up.
A little modernizing.
Some de-wooding
of sorts.
- It needs some unification.
- It does.
But I feel like
it has a good starting point
where you could do things.
It's just a matter of whether
or not we could afford it.
- Definitely a contender.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- Absolutely.
Having seen
their tiny home options,
Sarah and Jesse are ready
to make a decision.
You're talking about
changing everything
about the way you live.
House hunting just got
a little bit smaller
with people on the hunt
for tiny homes.
Having lost everything
they owned in a fire,
Seattle, Washington, couple
Sarah and Jesse
are starting over by going tiny.
They've been debating
whether to get
what he wants, a houseboat,
or to buy what she wants,
a foundation home.
Having seen several options
in their $350,000 price range,
it's time to decide.
- The houseboat was amazing.
- It was awesome.
It's move-in-ready.
I do love the back deck
that looks out
to the water.
- It's so beautiful.
- The view is amazing.
For me, the big plus there
would be adventure.
You're talking about
changing everything
about the way you live.
Huge downside-- It's
a 400-square-foot houseboat.
We wouldn't be able
to have a second bedroom and--
No office space.
Yeah, that's a big deal.
Walking through
the front door
into the bathroom
was kind of weird.
What if I'm going to
the bathroom, and you come home?
- What happens then?
- Same thing that happens now.
I just walk in.
At $353,000,
- it's the most expensive.
- Mm-hmm.
And you got
the $650 a month moorage fee.
I think that's a big issue.
So, the charming Craftsman,
$315,000,
the lowest asking price.
I thought it was
tremendously beautiful.
You've got the office.
And you have your
beautiful front porch.
Amazing backyard.
- Mm-hmm.
- It's private.
But at 720 square feet,
it was just a little
too big for Jesse.
While it is fairly
move-in ready,
there are some big expenses,
the roof
being the main one.
I remember walking
into every room
and being able to list things
that would need help.
So that would
definitely add up.
Listed at $345,000,
their third option
is a ranch house,
which is smaller,
at 670 square feet.
I thought
it was really pretty cute.
It was a great size.
I like
how private it felt.
It has a second bedroom,
which we could share it
as an office.
The yard was
kind of a blank slate.
I felt like there was a lot
you could do with it.
The wood in the kitchen
was horrifying.
It is very close to budget
and has a lot of things
that would need fixing
make it move-in-ready.
The houseboat gives us
a great opportunity
for some crazy adventure.
But the bottom line is,
the Craftsman is the one.
I agree.
Especially after the last year,
I'm really looking
to kind of settle down
and enjoy
the space that we're in.
You've got some projects
that we would have to do.
But there's some room
in our budget to do them.
Let's go.
Let's call Jacquelyn.
- Let's buy a house.
- Let's buy a house.
We'll have fruit
and four muffins.
We've been in the house
for a couple of months now.
We love it.
We're so excited to wake up
here every single day.
Are you ready to make
some pear pie later?
This house was listed
at $315,000.
There was a bit
of a bidding war.
We ended up closing
finally at $385,000.
I feel like
the price we paid
for this house
is totally worth it.
The house just has a really
nice airy, homey feel.
How's it going over there?
It's going.
There's a lot of roots.
We've been busy
since day one of moving in.
We've refinished
the living room ceiling.
We've refinished
the bathroom flooring.
And having to start
from scratch,
we had to buy every single
piece of furniture.
We painted every room
except for the kitchen.
Um, we have been
busy little beavers.
The second bedroom
was really important for us.
I'm already getting the music
studio set up in there.
It's also gonna double
as an office for both of us.
Pretty awesome.
This is living
right here, right?
I love our front porch.
It's just so nice
being out there
and sitting in our
little loungey chairs,
hanging our with our pets.
A year ago, we lost everything
we owned in a fire.
But we are now
where we are,
which is
owning a beautiful home
with the future
right in front of us.