Brother and sister from New York rent tiny houses from containers to tourists: there is a huge demand for them

Over the past two years, the popularity of unusual housing options - whether tiny houses, tree houses or container houses - has skyrocketed. Travelers are ditching conventional hotels for Instagram-worthy creative homes. Insider.

And now investors, builders and startups across the US are cashing in on this unique short-term rental boom. Including siblings Emily and Gabrielle Broomfield, who built two incredibly popular tiny houses. One of them is in a shipping container.

The siblings first sold Amazon home decor items and face masks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, using the profits from their successful face mask business, the Broomfields decided to spend three months building a container house now known as the Scenic Orchard. You can read more about how it was created. here.

Shortly after debuting on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, the tiny house was filled with bookers. Within four and a half months, the brother and sister returned the money invested. It was this sudden rise in popularity that made them realize they had a solid business model.

“Return on investment in tiny houses and short-term rentals compared to traditional real estate are completely different things,” said Gabriel Brumfield.

Six months later, the brother and sister decided to start building their second project.

The slightly larger Starlink Hickory Outlook is located approximately 304 meters from its predecessor. But this time, the Broomfields decided against building another container home. Gabriel Broomfield notes the difficulties associated with working with metal sides of a container. Building a second tiny container home would add an additional $20.000 to the cost. So they simply made a tiny cozy house from traditional materials.

Despite these differences in appearance, both houses are equally popular with guests. Their occupancy ranges from 90 to 95%. Scenic Orchard starts at $445 per night and Hickory Outlook starts at $545. However, during peak seasons, these prices can rise to $500 and $570 per night, respectively.

On the subject: $2000 a month flat and $12000 small apartment: NYC housing market shocks

Both properties are located in the Adirondacks, a popular vacation spot for New Yorkers. The 42,3 square meter Hickory Outlook, which cost over $200 to build, looks a lot like other tiny houses we've seen over the years.

This is a tiny house with a kitchen, a double bed, a desk and a sofa in one room. The bathroom is in a separate room. The kitchen has everything guests may need for cooking, including an oven and kitchen utensils. To make this interior space more spacious, the walls are decorated with huge windows. There is a 55 square meter patio with a fireplace, hot tub and sauna. This gives visitors the opportunity to relax outdoors with views of the surrounding trees.

If escaping into the mountains to a tiny house sounds like your dream vacation, you're not alone.

Hickory Outlook is booked almost every day in September and October. And almost every Friday and Saturday from November to January.

Scenic Orchard is a small house with an area of ​​27,8 square meters. The construction cost of the Scenic Orchard was about $100. The only reminders of the house's past life as a shipping container are its corrugated exterior walls and ceiling. The once lifeless box was turned into a small cozy house. There is also a patio with barbecue area and hot tub. And inside there is a double bed, a combined kitchen and living room, as well as a separate bathroom. Windows are located throughout the shipping container, reminding guests of their privacy. This home in a shipping container is already booked for most of September and October. Although in December and January 000 there are still many free places.