Financing Your Tiny Home

If you estimate how much house you can afford, you might consider even tinier or simpler homes. Tiny houses, by definition, are typically 100 to 400 square feet and built on wheels or purchased land.

But small isn’t free. The average humble abode costs $23,000 to build, according to iTRaC. Already-built models are typically available for less than $50,000.

Unless you have the cash on hand for your tiny home, you might consider borrowing. Your options include:

Home equity line of credit (HELOC): If you’re considering making a tiny home your second home, you could borrow against your existing mortgage. The downside of a HELOC is that it’s a secured loan, meaning your home acts as the collateral and could be seized if you default.
Home mortgage: If your tiny home is big enough to comply with local building codes and rests on a permanent foundation, it could qualify for a traditional mortgage. But you’d also have to borrow a larger amount of money.
Recreational vehicle (RV) loan: If you’re looking for a tiny home with tiny wheels, you could look to banks and credit unions for RV loans. SunTrust Bank, for example, works with tiny home builders and sellers to offer to finance. Just ensure your home will be certified by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association to be eligible.
Personal loan: Like RV loans, unsecured personal loans won’t require you to post any collateral to guarantee the debt. Instead, you’re judged on your creditworthiness. The better your credit, the lower the rate you could receive. Personal loans also have more flexibility, as many lenders place few restrictions on how you use the money, whether your mini-mansion is set on wheels or planted on the ground. You could even use personal loans to buy a piece of land for your tiny home to rest.

Below are five top personal loan lenders we’ve vetted for quality that offer lending services for major purchases, such as a tiny house. Each lender features an easy online application.

1. Upstart

Upstart personal loans come with an APR range of 7.46% to 35.99%
Borrow between $1,000 and $50,000
Repayment terms of three or five years
Qualify with a credit score of 620 or better
Your APR will be determined in part by factors such as your education and career
No prepayment penalties if you plan on paying down your debt early
An origination fee of 0% to 8% of your loan balance

VISIT UPSTART

2. LendingClub

LendingClub personal loans come with an APR range of 6.95% to 35.89%
Borrow between $1,000 and $40,000
Repayment terms of three or five years
Qualify with a credit score of 600 or better
Compare offers using the peer-to-peer lending platform
No prepayment penalties if you plan on paying down your debt early
An origination fee of 1% to 6% of your loan balance

VISIT LENDINGCLUB

3. Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank personal loans come with an APR range of 6.79% to 20.89%
Borrow between $5,000 and $50,000
Repayment terms of three, four, five, six, or seven years
Qualify with a credit score of 680 or better
No prepayment penalties if you plan on paying down your debt early
No origination or administrative fees

VISIT CITIZENS BANK

4. FreedomPlus

FreedomPlus personal loans come with an APR range of 5.99% to 29.99%
Borrow between $10,000 and $35,000
Repayment terms of two, three, four, or five years
Qualify with a credit score of 640 or better
No prepayment penalties if you plan on paying down your debt early
An origination fee of 0% to 5% of your loan balance

VISIT FREEDOMPLUS

5. SoFi

SoFi personal loans come with an APR range of 5.74% to 16.24%
Borrow between $5,000 and $100,000
Repayment terms of three, five, or seven years
No prepayment penalties if you plan on paying down your debt early
No origination or administrative fees
Late fee forgiveness after you make three consecutive on-time payments
Offers the ability to pause your repayment if you lose your job

VISIT SOFI

Find the right tiny house financing option for you

You’ll want to shop around for tiny home financing the same way you’d shop for other types of loans:

Figure out your ideal borrowing amount, APR, and repayment term before looking for a lender to meet your specific needs.
Compare offers from all types of lenders, including traditional banks, credit unions, and online personal loan companies.
Use the APR to judge each offer accurately, as it includes both your interest rate and the lender’s fees.

Use this personal loan calculator to hatch a plan for your repayment. Plug in your borrowing amount, preferred repayment term, and an interest rate you can expect to be quoted. It’ll pump out your potential monthly payment and interest charges. Then figure out how to pay off the loan ahead of schedule.

There are plenty of strategies to pay off your loan early. For one, you could rent out your property, especially if your tiny home has a tiny spare room.