Video: Family Lives in 320-Square-Foot 'Shotgun Shack'

Good for them! They have an American pioneering spirit. Do more with less.

I love the little home-what a great idea and very thrifty!! They used the space beautifully - my children and friends have always joked about 'make space' and my building up instead of out. I do agree that the son maybe should be away more, though.

Just the world needs .. to stop living high on the hog,,

Why in the world are there so many hateful, asinine remarks about this family's choice to live simply? How does this hurt any of you? Not to mention the downright stupidity in thinking a 2000+ sq ft home is any safer than their 350 sq. ft. in a tornado. That's like saying, "oh I don't drive smart cars, if you're in a wreck in those little things you're a goner." You can be in an 18 wheeler but if you get hit with a train you're no safer than the person in the smart car. It's fine to disagree, but all you Gloomy Gusses out there need to stop putting your own belief system and values onto someone else.

Zoning laws are the number one cause of homelessness in the good old USA, In 1930, my mother's family moved into a core " house of 320 square feet that my Uncle built. First the bedrooms were tents on platforms in cold New England. Next summer they added three small,bedrooms as additions stuck on each of three sides. Exceot there was no electricity, running water, bathroom, etc for 5 years. I bathed in a galvanized tub. Many others did likewise.

Many became successful professionals. Today, three of my aunts are still alive at 91, 95, and 97.All three were valecdictorians of their high school class. After WWII they moved to larger houses. ( The one thing that was very difficult was three teenage girls living without a bathroom The house size was no problem..)

In Hong Kong where I live, the average size of an apartment for a family of 4 is about 485 square feet and apartments here do not have high ceilings for a loft bedroom. Instead of $15,000, the average cost of this 485 square foot apartment is more than $500,000. For an average Hong Kong person, the 320 foot, $15,000 home is a palace and dirt cheap!

The Banks hate this idea,the next step for them should be buy the land it sitting on and install a grid tie solar setup in return they would get 30% of that money back on there taxes the following year,net metering from there utility provider and if there generating enough watts no more electric bill with 100% property tax write off of the value of the system from the county.

The Asians have lived in this size dwelling for centuries.Most of the day is spent out doors farming and fishing.

If our area had these, I would be in heaven as my daughter and I have each wanted one for years.

Jo and Tami

Now rig solar to it and get off the grid, then dig your own water well. Screw bills.