Social Worker’s Tiny House Retirement: $160K Custom Build by Movable Roots in Florida Community

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Susan is a former dialysis social worker who wanted to retire but couldn’t afford to without selling her home. She hired Movable Roots to build a custom tiny house, downsized, and moved to Circle Pond, a Florida tiny house community. After two years, she hasn’t looked back.

She designed her home as a “forever home” with features customized to her needs. At 4’11”, she requested a shorter staircase so she could stand fully upright in her loft bedroom. The home includes a small front deck, a sleeper couch where she relaxes with her dog, and a kitchen with bold blue tile backsplash.

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Custom-Built Tiny Home by Movable Roots

Images via Tiny House Giant Journey

Living Room with Sleeper Couch

Images via Tiny House Giant Journey

Kitchen with Blue Tile Backsplash

Images via Tiny House Giant Journey

Circle Pond Tiny House Community

Images via Tiny House Giant Journey

Video Tour: Retiring in a Tiny House Village

Design Details

Owner: Susan
Previous Career: Dialysis social worker
Current Status: Retired
Builder: Movable Roots
Cost: $160,000
Design Intent: “Forever home” with custom features
Owner Height: 4’11”
Staircase: Custom shorter height for full standing room in loft
Bedroom: Loft with standing headroom
Living Room: Sleeper couch
Kitchen: Blue tile backsplash
Outdoor Space: Small front deck
Community: Circle Pond Tiny Community, Florida
Time in Home: Two years
Pet: Dog

Lessons from This Home

Tiny Houses Can Enable Retirement: Susan couldn’t afford to retire while keeping her traditional home—selling it and going tiny made retirement financially possible
Custom Builds Accommodate Body Types: At 4’11”, Susan had the builder create a shorter staircase so she could stand fully upright in her loft, proving tiny homes can be tailored to individual needs
“Forever Home” Thinking Justifies Investment: Spending $160,000 on a professional build made sense because Susan designed it as her permanent residence with exactly the features she wanted
Communities Provide Support for Solo Retirees: Living in Circle Pond gives Susan neighbors and community connection, important considerations for those retiring alone
Bold Design Choices Work in Small Spaces: The blue tile backsplash adds personality and color to the kitchen without overwhelming the compact space