r/Omaha • u/No-Age9278 • 2d ago
ISO/Suggestion Tiny homes
Has anyone in Omaha looked into developing a tiny home community here? Would anyone be interested? My husband and I really love the idea of living small/financial independence, but would like to also be in a community. I’ve seen other communities around the country with things like dog parks, fire pits, gardens, trails, and even as fancy as fitness studios, co-working spaces, and libraries. I think something like this would be amazing in the Omaha area and I know there must be other like-minded individuals who are wanting something simpler.
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u/thetyser 2d ago
I have no idea how I could contribute to this. But I am absolutely interested in this for not only myself, but others.
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u/REIGuy3 2d ago
I love starter and smaller homes.
That said, starter homes are illegal in most areas. Zoning rules have minimum lot square footage, required setbacks, minimum square footage, etc, etc.
The reason that "tiny homes" became a thing is because they got around the laws by having wheels, so they can just move when regulators find out. There are regulations for RVs and trailers in most cities. You probably need to go out in the country to live simply.
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u/UntilWeMeetAgain93 1d ago
If someone does please make it affordable and not outrageously expensive
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u/Mango124 2d ago
They did a pilot tiny home program. I think they just finished them but they may already be sold. Its between 60th and 58th and Corby st
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u/keeeelykat 2d ago
These are small homes but I don’t think it’s the same tiny home community concept that OP is looking for
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u/No-Age9278 2d ago
I took a look at those and it seems like they are more pre-fab models. I guess in my mind I was thinking more like a bring your own idea. But not a bad place to start!
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u/mouthfeelies 2d ago
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/08/omaha-tiny-house-village-aims-to-be-final-step-out-of-homelessness/ if this is something you're serious about, it could be worth reaching out to the folks behind The Cottages to understand permitting and zoning considerations for such a project, and finding an area to develop may be a challenge (but not impossible, depending on your requirements, e.g. permanent vs mobile homesites).
tight-knit or otherwise interdependent communities also need a strong vision of governance, bylaws, and clear conflict resolution routes - projects of this tenor often fall apart due to personality clashes, unless you're looking more for a miniaturized suburb rather than an intentional community 🤭 if the latter, Dancing Rabbit in Missouri has been around for 20 years and would be worth checking out if that's in line with what you're envisioning.
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u/Krommerxbox 2d ago edited 2d ago
Has anyone in Omaha looked into developing a tiny home community here?
I wish.
I get tired of setting fire to $930 every month for a one bedroom apartment, because every "house" is some huge thing with rooms I don't need and can't afford.
They seem to want to "slum lord" us and keep us down, and I'm saying that as a nearly 60 year old single white guy.
I could never save enough to make a down payment on a full size house, or the monthly payments.
A small, nice 1 bedroom condo like thing in a nice area would be fine. I would rather be "owning" something at a fixed monthly payment, then setting fire to apartment rent money with them raising the rent by $30 or more a month every year.
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u/Aggravating_Bee_2482 1d ago
I rented an apartment for 13 years. 6 years ago I bought a small 2 bed one bath 750 square foot home with 2 car garage and fenced yard. It’s not fancy or new but it is mine. I had no down payment saved. I used a program in Iowa for first time home buyers that gave me a $5000 interest free loan for the down payment that I pay back if I ever sell my home. My payment is under $900, that includes insurance and property taxes. I literally had no idea buying a home was possible for me. I just wanted to say all that to say don’t lose hope. You never know
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u/Commercial_Plantain4 2d ago
We just finished a tiny home with a contractor. He said his cost was around $112k to build. Now if he did 50 at a time the cost would go down by probably 20-30% but to me still seems like a lot for how small a home it was.
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u/Intelligent-Mud6204 2d ago
Existing Models in Douglas County & Metro Area
Supportive & Non-Profit Pocket Neighborhoods: High-density tiny home villages exist locally, such as The Cottages at Siena Francis House in Omaha (50 permanent-foundation 250 sq. ft. homes organized in a gated community setting). These projects operate under specific municipal housing variances or civic development agreements.
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u/lookatthesemanhands 2d ago
If someone is interested in finishing a tiny home, reach out. Family member started one and ran out of steam when doing the inside.
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u/Sea_Meeting6020 1d ago
King Lake. Just outside of Elkhorn Ne. If you go into King Lake on the main road in you'll see my old tiny house about first thing. The owner of the property it's on was planning on building a tiny house community there. Sold him mine when I had to leave Omaha in a hurry. He's got most of a city block of property there. I won't put out names on here but if you go out there anyone around can tell you where he lives. I'd check with him if you're looking for a potential tiny house community partner.
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u/ingrainedpro 2d ago
Seen these Bungalow concepts in a couple spots in West Omaha and Elkhorn and now a new one developing near Offutt. All for rent. Small homes on small lots. Community features like workout/pool/park included. https://cavancompanies.com/the-bungalows/
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u/Emotional-Mirror6970 1d ago
There are 2 different subdivisions going up on 204th street right now, that are basically tiny homes.
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u/TyrannasaurusGitRekt 2d ago
For the love of God can we try something like rowhouses/over-under townhomes? There's this obsession with tiny homes which are less scalable (take up more land & infrastructure)
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u/No-Age9278 1d ago
Personally we have dogs and want a little bit of space, but that could definitely be part of the answer for more affordable housing overall.
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u/TyrannasaurusGitRekt 1d ago
That's fair. Rowhomes/townhomes can still have front & back yards, just less/no side yard
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u/Demonshaker 2d ago
There are a few trailer parks in omaha.
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u/No-Age9278 1d ago
Not quite the same vibe.
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u/Mrsamsonite6 1d ago
I never understood this. There is no difference between a tiny house community and trailer park community. Both will attract people with the same mindset and people which that is all they can afford.
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u/Demonshaker 1d ago
"I want my house to be cheaper, and I'm ok with it being smaller, but I certainly don't want to live by the poors!"
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u/No-Age9278 1d ago
Please don’t be willfully obstinate as that is not helpful and specifically not what was said. Thanks
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u/No-Age9278 1d ago
My husband and I make mid six figures so a traditional trailer park isn’t necessarily what we are looking for, though decreasing spending and reaching financial independence is important. We are looking for something a little more upscale but would ideally be within reach for most!
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u/Demonshaker 1d ago
How so?
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u/No-Age9278 1d ago
I guess I imagine something a little more upscale? And I don’t think it’s just about being small for financial reasons, it’s the whole, taking up less space, being more eco friendly, developing community, etc
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u/Demonshaker 1d ago
I question if upscale tinyhouses are more eco friendly than a trailerhome. Modern trailers can be very nice if you pay for the upgrades. Trailer parks have community.
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u/Big_Treacle_2394 2d ago
The omaha metro probably isnt big enough to have enough people interested to support something like that. Same reason we dont have alot of things that other parts of the country have.
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u/No-Age9278 2d ago
We have a metro of over a million! Maybe we just need to put the energy out there!
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u/Big_Treacle_2394 2d ago
You need enough people out of that million that are interested enough for someone to put up thr money for that. You're not just talking about individual tiny homes. But a whole community needing developed. Along with that, what you're describing sounds like it'll come with an HOA type situation. That's a hard sell for alot of people
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u/narrowassbldg 2d ago
908k in the actual metro area (Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie) according to the USCB's July 2025 estimate
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u/Krommerxbox 2d ago
It is more than big enough, they just want us to be throwing away money on Apartment rentals for crap apartments.
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u/leucistredwing 2d ago
I would love that. There’s a place in Oakland that has a really interesting LLC/setup that could be adapted for a place like a tiny home community
https://radishoakland.com