What I have learned about building tiny

1. Make sure you really really really love your spouse or partner or significant other and that both of you have a great sense of humor.

2. Dirt or buying the right piece of property and zoning laws. Did you know that allot of cities and counties will not allow you to build tiny houses. Most cities and counties have a square foot restriction for single story houses and two story houses. So don't buy land until you know what the restrictions are.

3. Make friends with your builder so he will say things like "this is going to be fun" and the lady from the zoning office because she tells you what and where on your dirt you can build, she likes glazed donuts.

4. Find house plans that you can both live with, well sort of, we are ditching the fireplace and putting in big windows instead, Moving the washer and dryer into a breezeway that will connect to a garage.
http://www.sheldondesigns.com/cabins/CohuttaC980DL.htm

5. After you have bought property and found a contractor and start talking to everyone you meet because you are very excited about all of this you will find out that everyone and I do mean everyone has a brother, brother-in-law, husband, ex-husband, father, father-in-law and a 5th cousin twice removed who is, was or works for someone who builds, frames, excavates, digs wells, drywalls, plumbs, etc. And these same people will swear on their own grave that the relative is the best and least expensive in the entire state. And your awesome sister-in-law the magnificent electrician is the only one you really trust.

6. If you are serious about building find your floor plan first, then get a few contractor estimates then decide if it is worth it to go look for a building lot. You have to decide who you want to be married to your spouse or the house. Me I don't want to be so financially strapped down to a house that I can not afford to do anything else. I have a very very active lifestyle and I don't want to give anything up for a place to sleep and store my junk.