Tiny Houses, Big Trend

Tiny houses are all the rage these days. Thanks to the housing boom and bust, what Americans previously associated with living well--i.e., living large--is, for many of us, no longer. The recession taught us the hard way that bigger homes don't necessarily mean better investments.

So, driven by economic need and a desire for simpler, more sustainable living, people are turning to tiny houses. Besides being more efficient (utility bills for some of these places can run in the single digits), downsizing to little living can make maintenance, household cleaning and upkeep much more affordable expenses.