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Living in the right tiny home can make you feel like you’re checking into a luxe rental just by stepping out of your backdoor — or it can even function as a little Airbnb in your dream destination. Case in point: A stunning A-frame tiny house on Amazon that looks like a Northern California getaway.
The YG Luxury A-Frame Triangle House Is So Cute
Amazon is now selling the Luxury A-Frame Triangle House starting at $9,869 (prices vary depending on your customization), which promises to make you feel like you’re hunkered down in a cozy forest retreat. However, instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars to rent a cabin with this rustic silhouette, you could feasibly set up the scenic hideaway in your own backyard (as long as it’s big enough) — or even build this tiny unit as a personal cabin or rental in your favorite nature location.
The tiny home is really tiny, according to the listing, which we can’t verify at this time — just 20 feet in length, 17.5 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. Renderings of the tiny home in the product listing appear to show that there should be space for a first floor and second floor space, just keep in mind that the unit doesn’t appear to come with all the kitchen and bathroom appliances, plumbing capabilities, electric wiring, and foundation that you’d need to comfortably live in the space full-time. It also doesn’t say whether the wall of windows is included with the building kit. Make sure to budget all of that into the final cost of the home, as well as any contractors needed to bring your dream to life and potential permits needed for your location.
On the bright side, this allows you to tailor the home to best suit your needs, with the option to create bespoke windows, flooring, and roofing, as well as a terrace add-on. You can also switch up the number of rooms as well as their layout, depending on whether you plan to use this tiny dwelling as a guesthouse, a studio, or even a full-time apartment.
In addition to its modern, yet rustic appearance, this stylish tiny home is built to last — the listing states that the home comes with your choice of weather-resistant steel or timber frames, water-resistant panels on the outside, and heat-insulated panels on the walls.
Just keep in mind that the photos on Amazon’s house are more inspirational renderings than reality, and you’ll have to work with the company to come up with a final mockup and layout for your new tiny cabin getaway. But it’s a gorgeous design — and it’s fun to fantasize.
If your company asks you to temporarily relocate to a new branch in another state or collaborate with international coworkers on a long-term project, they may offer to help find you a place to live in that location.
Though they may simply book you a hotel room, your employer may also set you up with an accommodation known as corporate housing, which is a furnished, short-term rental that’s designed to feel more like a home away from home.
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“In some instances, corporate housing is given when an employee is expected to consistently travel to a place for work, yet they are still maintaining a residence in their home jurisdiction,” explains real estate agent Monisha Rana. “All in all, companies offering corporate housing are more likely to get their employees to relocate, either temporarily or permanently, as it causes the least disruption to their personal lives.”
What is corporate housing?
Corporate housing is a private, temporary living setup in an apartment, home, or even an extended-stay hotel. It typically offers more space than a standard hotel room and may include additional living areas, such as a kitchen and dining area.
Corporate housing units are almost always furnished and equipped with all the utensils, linens, gadgets, and other fixtures you need to live comfortably for several weeks or months at a time.
Some properties market themselves specifically as corporate housing. But you can also book corporate housing on property rental sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, too.
Who uses corporate housing?
Companies often lean on corporate housing when sending their employees to a new location for a long-term work project or a permanent relocation. But individuals can also book corporate housing themselves, such as when they’re moving to a new city and want to get to know different neighborhoods first before buying a house or signing a longer-term lease.
“Corporate housing is primarily for employees of firms that need to work in a different location for a short amount of time or as an intermediary step to relocation,” says Marie Bromberg, a real estate agent in New York City. “It’s a cost-effective way for a company to provide temporary housing.”
How much does corporate housing cost?
The cost of corporate housing depends on the location: Units in high-demand areas tend to be more expensive, whereas those in more rural or low-traffic areas may be more affordable. Overall, corporate housing options tend to be more affordable than hotels.
In addition, if your company is sending you to a different location for a work project, they’ll typically pay for your accommodations while you’re there. If you’re self-employed or staying in corporate housing for personal reasons, however, you’ll probably be footing the bill yourself.
Either way, it pays to check around and compare prices to know which accommodation makes the most sense from a budget perspective.
What are the benefits of corporate housing?
Compared to a hotel, corporate housing can be more comfortable—there’s generally more room to spread out, a kitchen to prepare meals in, and a separate living area to watch TV. You can also add personal touches to the space if you want, since you may be staying for a long time.
“Corporate housing allows employees to create a home environment away from their actual home while on assignment in a different city,” says real estate broker Mihal Gartenberg. “Rather than checking in and out of a hotel, employees can actually move in and add little flourishes to the apartment that can make it homier and less sterile than a hotel.”
For companies, corporate housing can be a positive perk to offer employees who may not otherwise choose to work so far from home. In the broader sense, it can also help businesses achieve their goals.
“Employers can allow for cross-collaboration across different sections and even countries of their company,” says Bromberg. “It allows intellectual exchange of ideas that often act as a draw for people considering the company as an employer.”
What are the drawbacks of corporate housing?
While there are lots of different hotels to choose from, you may be more limited when it comes to the selection of available corporate housing options. In addition, corporate housing may not be located in your preferred area and you may have to commute to work each day.
“Depending on the circumstance, it might not be in the center of the city,” says Bromberg. “For example, in New York City, we often see corporate housing in Jersey City.”
Another unavoidable downside is that, no matter how cozy you make your corporate housing feel, you’re still not in your own home. And if you opt to bounce back and forth between your house and your corporate housing accommodation, you may eventually experience some amount of “travel fatigue,” says Gartenberg.
“Such setups usually include weekend travel home and people ultimately want to stay home,” says Gartenberg. “The back and forth can be wearisome once the novelty of a new city wears off.”
Heather Bien is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, HelloGiggles, and more. You’ll often find her making pitstops for roadside antique shops, drooling over original hardwood floors, or perfecting her latte recipe.
If the bonkers real estate market of the past few years has meant that 2023 is the time to buy your first home, you’ve likely got a lot on your plate to consider as you narrow down your search.
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Whittling down the list from 659 U.S. towns and cities, the pros took into consideration a variety of factors when compiling the list: affordability, livability (including factors like a reasonable commute time, ample attractions and dining options), and where it might be easier for young buyers to break into the housing market. Other factors include strong job markets, a younger population, and, of course, strong housing markets with lots of options for first-time buyers.
The top 10 markets for first-time homebuyers in 2023 are: Portsmouth, Virginia, DeForest, Wiscconsin, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Gloucester City, New Jersey, Moore, Oklahoma, Magna, Utah, Eggertsville, New York, Watervliet, New York, Mattydale, New York and Somersworth, New Hampshire.
As for why these specific locations scored such high rankings, Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement: “The housing market will continue to be challenging for first-time buyers in the coming year, but for those with a bit of flexibility in where they live, there are markets where young buyers can find not just a relatively affordable home, but a neighborhood that offers a mix of economic opportunity and lifestyle amenities. Affordability is always a consideration for first-time buyers, but it’s also important to make sure that you’re settling down in a location that has all the qualities that make it an enjoyable place to live — after all, you’re not just buying a house, you’re investing in a community.”
The seaport town of Portsmouth, Virginia makes for an ideal place to put down roots, offering up history and coolness in spades in Olde Towne’s historic district, along with plenty of water-adjacent neighborhoods for those who want a perfect balance of city and sea. Its proximity to Norfolk and Chesapeake means you’re never far from what you need, and an average commute time of 25 minutes leaves plenty of time for leisure, even for those who don’t have the luxury of a WFH job.
Check out the full list to see the complete data, especially if you’re looking to buy your first home in the coming months.
Arielle Tschinkel is a freelance pop culture and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared on Shape.com, WomansWorld.com, FirstforWomen.com, Insider, HelloGiggles, and more. She loves all things Disney and is making her way to every park around the world, and is a die-hard Britney Spears fan for life. She’s also obsessed with her Bernedoodle, Bruce Wayne.
