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  4. The company behind these luxurious hurricane-proof prefab tiny homes is seeing a boom in sales — see inside its most popular $150,000 unit

The company behind these luxurious hurricane-proof prefab tiny homes is seeing a boom in sales see inside its most popular $150,000 unit

The company behind these luxurious hurricane-proof prefab tiny homes is seeing a boom in sales — see inside its most popular $150,000 unit
Wheelhaus
  • Utah-based Wheelhaus is building luxurious prefab tiny homes on wheels starting at almost $150,000.
  • The company has seen a rise in sales as people seek out ADUs and more affordable homes.

Amid a fraught housing market and rising mortgage rates, one nontraditional home builder has come out a winner with rising sales: Wheelhaus.

Amid a fraught housing market and rising mortgage rates, one nontraditional home builder has come out a winner with rising sales: Wheelhaus.
Wheelhaus

Source: Insider

But don't except your typical two-bedroom, two-bathroom family homes.

But don
Wheelhaus

The Utah-based company is building luxurious prefab tiny homes on wheels starting at almost $150,000.

The Utah-based company is building luxurious prefab tiny homes on wheels starting at almost $150,000.
Wheelhaus

And according to its founder Jamie Mackay, these units have sparked the interest and pockets of both accessory dwelling unit (ADU) fans and buyers who are waiting to purchase larger homes.

And according to its founder Jamie Mackay, these units have sparked the interest and pockets of both accessory dwelling unit (ADU) fans and buyers who are waiting to purchase larger homes.
Wheelhaus

Tiny home builders have seen plenty of success since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tiny home builders have seen plenty of success since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wheelhaus

But Wheelhaus isn't new to this growing market.

But Wheelhaus isn
Wheelhaus

Mackay — who has a background in real estate and RV camps — founded the company in 2006 after realizing he could build homes atop platforms on wheels, similar to a tricked-out RV.

Mackay — who has a background in real estate and RV camps — founded the company in 2006 after realizing he could build homes atop platforms on wheels, similar to a tricked-out RV.
Wheelhaus

Wheelhaus' homes qualify as both recreational vehicles and modular homes, according to Mackay.

Wheelhaus
Wheelhaus

The company's first 20 builds were for Fireside Resort, a luxury camping site in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The company
Wheelhaus

Since then, sales have taken off.

Since then, sales have taken off.
Wheelhaus

According to Mackay, his units have been "selling like crazy" to customers in the US and Canada.

According to Mackay, his units have been "selling like crazy" to customers in the US and Canada.
Wheelhaus

"I always think there's a recession coming and then we're gonna sell less units," Mackay said. "But it seems like it just turns up the knob. Sales go up every year."

"I always think there
Wheelhaus

At first, Wheelhaus was building around 10 to 15 units a year. But in the last five years, interest has begun picking up.

At first, Wheelhaus was building around 10 to 15 units a year. But in the last five years, interest has begun picking up.
Wheelhaus

Last year, Mackay said they delivered 175 units. Insider could not verify this number.

Last year, Mackay said they delivered 175 units. Insider could not verify this number.
Wheelhaus

And in 2023, he predicts the company will produce between 225 to 250 tiny homes.

And in 2023, he predicts the company will produce between 225 to 250 tiny homes.
Wheelhaus

If it weren't for Wheelhaus' quality control, Mackay says the company could "sell as many units as he wanted."

If it weren
Wheelhaus

These tiny homes were designed to withstand hurricane winds and heavy snow loads.

These tiny homes were designed to withstand hurricane winds and heavy snow loads.
Wheelhaus

Source: Wheelhaus

Its general uses can be as creative as the owner.

Its general uses can be as creative as the owner.
Wheelhaus

These homes can go wherever RVs can go.

These homes can go wherever RVs can go.
Wheelhaus

Some buyers are using them as a home gym or office. Others are using them as a guest house for the pesky in-laws they might not want in their larger home.

Some buyers are using them as a home gym or office. Others are using them as a guest house for the pesky in-laws they might not want in their larger home.
Wheelhaus

There's also the option to use them as a short-term vacation home on another property.

There
Wheelhaus

No matter the use, Wheelhaus' insulated builds all share several attributes: small square footage, high ceilings, eight-foot-tall doors, and large windows.

No matter the use, Wheelhaus
Wheelhaus

Source: Wheelhaus

The company currently has several models ranging from $149,500 to $174,000.

The company currently has several models ranging from $149,500 to $174,000.
Wheelhaus

Source: Wheelhaus

According to Mackay, the 400-square-foot Wedge is its best seller.

According to Mackay, the 400-square-foot Wedge is its best seller.
Wheelhaus

Let's take a look around this $149,500 tiny home on wheels.

Let
Wheelhaus

Wheelhaus' built-to-order homes were designed to have the comforts of a larger house within a smaller square footage.

Wheelhaus
Wheelhaus

The 10-foot-wide Wedge is no exception.

The 10-foot-wide Wedge is no exception.
Wheelhaus

Its 17-foot-tall ceilings and long rows of windows, including a glass sliding door, flood the tiny home with natural light.

Its 17-foot-tall ceilings and long rows of windows, including a glass sliding door, flood the tiny home with natural light.
Wheelhaus

When you first step through the front door, you're immediately greeted by the living room and kitchen.

When you first step through the front door, you
Wheelhaus

The latter comes with appliances like a refrigerator and freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.

The latter comes with appliances like a refrigerator and freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.
Wheelhaus

The bathroom — furnished like any typical home bathroom — is just behind the kitchen.

The bathroom — furnished like any typical home bathroom — is just behind the kitchen.
Wheelhaus

The bedroom, which has enough space for a king bed, is then at the end of the 38-foot-long home.

The bedroom, which has enough space for a king bed, is then at the end of the 38-foot-long home.
Wheelhaus

There's even space for a washer and dryer here as well.

There
Wheelhaus

Source: Wheelhaus

To sleep up to four people, a pull-out couch can be added in the living room.

To sleep up to four people, a pull-out couch can be added in the living room.
Wheelhaus

Buyers can customize certain features of the home, such as the color and flooring.

Buyers can customize certain features of the home, such as the color and flooring.
Wheelhaus

For those who don't need the home to be mounted on wheels, the units can be moved onto a foundation instead.

For those who don
Wheelhaus

But they all come with wheels as the home has to be towed by a truck to its buyer.

But they all come with wheels as the home has to be towed by a truck to its buyer.
Wheelhaus

After delivery, the unit needs to be hooked up to utilities, leveled out, and finished with a skirt before the owners can move in.

After delivery, the unit needs to be hooked up to utilities, leveled out, and finished with a skirt before the owners can move in.
Wheelhaus

Wheelhaus' manufacturing site is currently in Utah.

Wheelhaus
Wheelhaus

But in the next two years, Mackay says it'll build another factory to further service the East Coast, maybe in Atlanta.

But in the next two years, Mackay says it
Wheelhaus

And within the next few years, Wheelhaus will likely roll out two larger tiny homes for the "naysayers" of tiny living, Mackay said.

And within the next few years, Wheelhaus will likely roll out two larger tiny homes for the "naysayers" of tiny living, Mackay said.
Wheelhaus

And if the industry pans out the way he hopes it will, the new factory and models could be a great investment.

And if the industry pans out the way he hopes it will, the new factory and models could be a great investment.
Wheelhaus

He believes this tiny home trend is "guaranteed" to continue upwards over the next few years.

He believes this tiny home trend is "guaranteed" to continue upwards over the next few years.
Wheelhaus

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