This is the Meadows Tiny House Community in Flat Rock, NC.
It’s a dedicated and legal tiny housing community located inside the Village of Wildflowers which is just a few minutes away from Asheville, NC.
Inside, you’ll find amenities like gardens, a clubhouse, ponds, dog parks, streams, nature trails, a pool, and more! Please enjoy, learn more, and re-share below. Thank you!
The Meadows Tiny House Community in Flat Rock, NC
Images © The Village of Wildflowers via Facebook
Images © The Village of Wildflowers via Facebook
Learn more: https://www.simple-life.com/the-village-community/
DISCUSSION: What are your thoughts on this tiny house community? Would you consider living in a setting like this? Why or why not? Let’s talk in the comments!
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Alex
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I love this how much does it cost
Visited this community for several hours a month ago, but I wrote all about my impressions of it in a previous (rather long) comment on another post, so I won’t repeat it all here. The summation is it’s a nice place, run by nice people, in a nice location, that’s somewhat pricy and, when all the spaces are filled, will basically be like living in a slightly upscale mobile home park. I don’t use “mobile home park” in a pejorative sense at all…I just want everyone to be clear what sort of environment they would be buying into and what they can expect for the lease of their space. The village looks very bucolic in the pictures above, but that’s because there are still many spaces open – have a look at the proposed site plan, and try to picture this place with a tiny home on every small lot.
There are some open spaces and small ponds, and a wooded area that probably won’t be built out, so if you can snag a lot that backs up to – or looks out on – one of those features, that’s not so bad. And your lot lease won’t go up if you lock in the price (currently $500/month, at least it was at the beginning of November). If you’re into “Community” living (with a capital ‘C’), then the fire pits and community hall and scheduled events and communal garden will suit you just fine.
I fear the place will become a spot where people put a tiny home, then rent it out while they live elsewhere. Not only is this not discouraged, they provide property management services for owners who want to do this. So just be aware of that if you DO plan to be a full time resident, as you may not have many neighbors who hang around for more than a few days or weeks at a time.
They are pet friendly, and provide a couple of small dog parks (basically a few square yards of fenced in grassy areas) for letting them run loose, but unless you fence in your lot you can’t let them out of the house otherwise.
They will build a tiny home for you, or you can bring in one that you’ve had built (or built yourself) elsewhere.
Well, I said I wouldn’t go and re-write all I’d already posted before, but I did anyway! At any rate, if you think this could work for you, contact the people and talk to them – they’re very nice, and don’t try to hard-sell you.
Thank you Deadrock for taking the time for such a detailed comment(s)
Deadrock,
I tried to respond to your post just below yours but was not able to do so. In an earlier post above, you mention to buy land that is unrestricted.
Just to be clear about that…. it doesn’t actually mean NO restrictions. I recently purchased a small home of 580 sq ft, and land in rural NC. It is listed as unrestricted and that is exactly what my deed says it is. Yet, once again it is technically not legal for me to use my tiny house that is parked on my land near my stick built house. Even though there are LOTS of people that fly under the radar in rural areas that are deemed unrestricted TINY HOME LIVING is still not legal, but in limited areas across America. Just want to make sure people do not think they have found Utopia when they see “unrestricted” on a property listing.
Follow up: See, the thing is, if you’re considering living in the Asheville area anyway, why not buy a little piece of land to put your tiny home on? Inside the Asheville city limits you can build as small as 500 sf, and outside (in the county of Buncombe, but still short driving distances to all the urban goodies) there are many small lots that can be had for reasonable amounts of money that have no restrictions. Half an acre (or more) of land, as well as the cost to put in a well and septic, can easily be below $40,000. Then take your time to put on it whatever you want.
Compare that to $500/month lot lease for the rest of your life, as well as the $79,000+ to have them build one of the nicer tiny homes you see in the picture (they use local tiny house builders, many of whom you’ve seen featured on this blog), and then decide what’s best for you. The Village DOES offer a few tiny homes there for rent, if you’d like to try it out to see how it works for you first. If you’re a die-hard DIYer who wants to live off the grid and away from society, getting your own land is the way to go – nobody can make you leave because they don’t like the size of your house. But if you want the whole community feel, and the options, ease-of-living, and concierge type services that living in a place run by a board can offer you, then the Villages is a nice place to do that.
I appreciate your in-depth commentary based on what you’ve actually seen (what a rarity!). Based on my own off-the-grid experiences, DIY in the country its very hard work and not for everyone. As people age, they tend to move “to town,” too. Roughing it and inconvenience loses its flavor.
I was also wondering who would be attracted to a potentially dense (space-wise) community :-). I have several middle-aged friends who want to downsize, hate condos, but also have security and health issues about living too far out. This little place might be the ticket, if the lots have breathing room. As opposed to trailers (and I’ve lived in them, before you all start yelling), the values stay up, along with the maintenance, and hopefully there are more like-minded people.
Community isn’t always bad. Rentals would piss me off unless it was the classic “summer people from Florida” set-up so common in NC, most of whom appreciate the scenery. I love Asheville. But I do question the density. Those are a lot of amenities, and perhaps they have to make up the cost by crunching the lots???
Flat Rock is about half an hour from Asheville, but it’s in the “wider” Asheville area that means the towns just outside Asheville proper (Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Weaverville, etc.) all have plenty of grocery stores and basic necessities nearby that make it possible to live perfectly comfortably without have to “come down the mountain” just to get supplies.
I wouldn’t even consider looking at land that was more than 10 minutes to the nearest grocery store, and there are plenty of options in/near Asheville for affordable spots to build – not that there aren’t other compromises that would have to be made, since nothing’s perfect, as my ongoing search continually reminds me. I’m certainly not talking about remote tundras, or The Badlands, or places in, say, Colorado, where you won’t see a sign of another human being for miles in any direction. I sometimes wonder if the THers who want those kinds of properties aren’t really on the lam, or planning to become the next Unibomber! I like privacy as well as the next person – more, maybe – but it’s possible to have that and still be within reach of ambulance services, pizza delivery, and cell phone towers. All the “roughing it” I’m willing to do is to throw my garbage bags into the back of my car if it’s too long a walk to the nearest curb.
So if people are worried about how they might keep up with the hard work required to live truly off-the-grid, and how far they might be from medical help if they start to need it more often, then they can live the life they want in NWC and still have those amenities without necessarily having to join a community like the one featured here.
But as you say, some people love the idea of being part of a group, and would relish the idea of the sort of group gatherings that are part of a planned community. This place not only has that, but they offer medical support if you have (mild) health care needs. At least, they can help arrange for services that you might need. They also will look after your home while you’re away (possibly to your home in FL, if you’re a “half back”), and certainly you can feel a sense of security living alone in this place, as help is just a bloodcurdling scream away. 🙂 Best of all, nobody is holding a gun to your head to participate in anything – if you don’t want to contribute your labor to the communal garden, that’s fine. You don’t get a share of the zucchini at the end of harvest, but whatever. An Ingles supermarket is close by.
So sure, they offer a lot, and make promises that they will be offering more as they grow (you have to decide if that’s really going to happen or not). Then you decide if what you’re paying them to offer the services they have is worth it to you. Lot’s of people will. Which brings me back to the density of the lots. If you’re looking at the picture of the lone tiny house sitting next to the lake shown above, just remember that every spot beside and behind that home is for sale. If you want a view, act now. Otherwise you are going to be looking at the side and back of other tiny homes. Lots are small, although they vary in size (and all cost the same!) so if you are quick you can pick one that will let you have a little garden – or even rent two, if your budget stretches that far, and make sure you have no near neighbor. But nothing in life is free, and few things are cheap.
Deadlock… Thanks for sharing such great info. NC is where I want to retire and especially like the Asheville area. I grew up in NC and have always loved it.
Sorry for the typo, Deadrock. I hate auto correct!
I do not care for the looks. I think it would be nice for some people, but I want to have something a little smaller than what they are showing. The homes are nice looking, and if I wanted to live in something that large it would be fine. I think the concept is there for some people. I am a person that likes my privacy, and do not feel like I would have it there. I do not like the community feel really. I am old yes, but I also like to know that where I live has to suit me, and this does not. Please forgive me, but I want something much smaller, and I am wanting a smaller footprint. That is what I thought the tiny house movement was all about.
Thank you for letting me ramble on. Good luck to people that want to live here, it is a very nice place.
Just so you know, the homes you are looking at are all 400 sf. You are allowed as much at 800 sf on your lot, but all the ones pictured above are at the 400 sf size or less.
Deadrock,
Sorry, I thought a tiny house was smaller, my bad. Either way they are way too big, and very expensive for people living on SS. Thank you for the clarification, :).
I suppose it depends on your definition of small. For someone like the Kardashian’s (yikes, I know) anything under probably 12,000 sq ft would be classified as tiny.
It’s all a matter of perspective a lot of which is defined by the kind of lifestyle (Kardashian’s have a lifestyle??) you actually have.
Sigh, yet another really expensive place. $500 a month lot rent? They’re rating themselves as quite a premium, aren’t they. How lovely for people with lots of affluence already. The owner is going to make a lifetime’s worth of basic money on this endeavor if it sees much success. I hope to see something at least vaguely similar at some point run by a non-profit. Maybe they’ll be able to keep the empty-lot-rent below the cost of a studio apartment in most of the country.
David, in that area, one night in a decent RV park is $50.00, plus tax, plus extra for more than two people, more for higher amp, etcetera. If this TH community was cheap, it would attract cheap people.
The biggest headache for real estate developers are the folks who have no comprehension of what it cost them to buy the site, prepare it physically, get lights, water and sewer put in, all the permit headaches, never mind the giant pool and other amenities and maintenance…and people still want it for nothing.
I’ve seen $300 a month trailer parks, and most local cops know the inhabitants by their first names.
As for a $500 studio apartment, I’m not sure about your “most of the country” assumption. $800 minimum in Florida. $500 might get you a place to park your car in southern California.
“If this TH community was cheap, it would attract cheap people.”
Charlotte, do you realise how discriminatory your comment is?
Their is absolutely NOTHING wrong with being frugal, which is simply getting value for money.
Look at the plan above. How many lots are there? Quick count shows about 130 lots. At $500 per month, if they are all occupied, then the owners of the land make about $65,000 each and every month… minus costs of electricity, water and sewerage, which more than likely are additional costs. Yeah, nice little lurk if you can get it I reckon.
You also must consider the upfront costs, property taxes, regular taxes, maintenance costs, etc. And of course, there’s no problem with someone earning a profit. — Tiny House Talk Team
Beautiful place, lovely homes, as long as they don’t have vinyl siding. Now we just need a places like this in FL.
To whoever noted the places weren’t small enough, according to their website, the section called “the meadows” is for THOW’s
I like to idea of community especially as I get older, my concern would be a high turnover rate of renters, wouldn’t feel much like a community if there were always strangers coming and going.
Too bad they don’t have a 2 night trial, like they do in some 55 and up communities, stay for 2 nights for $99 or so and test the place out. $179 per night is a bit steep for my budget.
As the tiny house movement keeps unfolding I can’t help but feel like I’m getting priced out of the movement, sigh.
Anyone else think the fireplaces are out of scale? A simple glass-front wood stove would work pretty well and not take up all that space… Some nice ones at navigator stove works, and just about the right size and btu’s.
You’re absolutely right, Mike – I know the fireplace you’re referring to (it’s inside the park model home shown above that’s grey with red trim). It’s a beautiful fireplace, but I commented to the person showing me the facilities that it was massively too big for the small room it was in, and she assured me that every bit of the homes that are built are custom, so of course you could have a much smaller (or no) fireplace built there instead.
there is also a gigantic refrigerator/freezer in one model… prob the same place as the fireplace mentioned. Concept is OK. Homogenized communities are not my cup o tea.
This is a great community, and a good location. Worth the lot rent for all you get to enjoy that’s included.
Thank you all or your thoughtful comments. I am the visionary/developer who has spent three and a half years to enfuse this beautiful property with everything I felt needed to be an Intentional Multigenerational Lifestyle Community. It is here I selected to spend my second journey in a caring and sharing environment. I did not say retirement as I am not retired but rather sharing each day a wonderful lifestyle with new friends. I hope to be in my new home by Febuary 15 and then will personally supervise the installation of all the elements that we have comitted to. I am not trying to get rich but the need to make a profit assures that the high standards we aspire to will indeed become a reality.
Durring my first journey I lived many places including beach front in Naples Florida. Today I selected the intimacy and freedom found in tiny home, surrounded by caring neighbors. It is called Ageing in place and with ponds, walking paths, dog parks and optional community events, I know I have made the right choice.
I enjoyed all the comments I read and will certainly discuss them with my residential team whom live in the Village. We all live with our pets and love them as part of our families. Hence found on Site is, The Village Of Paws. This is our pet care center for baths, baby sitting, or private training sessions. Please come to visit, and I hope to meet you personally. WWG
I want to thank W. Gilman for helping to develop this site. I love driving by and looking at the houses that are close to the road. It is in a nice area, close to town as they say with stores and other amenities nearby. I was born and raised here and my mother’s house is within 5 miles of this Village. Hendersonville has grown a lot over the years and this Village is great idea to handle all the people who want to live in the mountains of North Carolina.
Having a community with aging in place is nice as this area is a retirement area anyway. Most houses and acreage for sale here is priced for the person retiring from somewhere else, it is high for those who actually were born here and stayed here to live and work. So those of you who are complaining about the pricing here, it is not a bad price for this area.
There are things to do and see around here, especially in the summer when the, what I call “high season” is running. Be aware that from May to September you will have to deal with a lot of snowbirds and tourists being in the area and driving can be interesting as for the most part these are two lane roads and not interstates like in bigger population areas. Patience is a virtue. Also be aware that driving to Asheville can be done by I-26 interstate but sometimes that is backed up due to accidents so you have to learn all the back roads and short cuts to get around. If you prefer doing everything in Asheville you would do better to move closer to Asheville, though prices are not going to be any cheaper. It is not mentioned here, but one is not far from Greenville, SC either and a lot of people prefer to go south to get to things to do.
I hope that this community is successful in its planning and purpose. It’s a great idea for people who want to have neighbors nearby.
This is a good place for seniors who want to downsize but notso much for the more intense tiny houser:) My kids live in this area and there is lots and lots of great things to see and do and the area is beautiful but it gets pretty cold. Great community and lovely homes.
I’m sure this would appeal to some people (and answer the usual question of where-can-I-put-my-TH?). Part of the attraction of a small place to live for me is getting away from others.
One thing that makes me grumble is the map of the village doesn’t enlarge large enough so you can see the writing in a legible format.
And, yes I went to their website and found nothing their either that would enlarge enough for the letters to be legible.
Shame, because it just makes it harder to see what’s what and how whatever it is fits in to the scale.
I might be able to partially solve the problem for you. Right-click the image, select “View Image”, then zoom in. The print will still be blurry, but it can be made large enough to see (this from a legally blind guy who has learned by doing). If that still doesn’t do it, use Windows Magnifier, under Accessories–>Ease of Access (Vista and Win7). It can be made to work, although it’s not always the best.
Not too shabby! Almost crunched too much, How about some gardening space and other sustainability options to add a bit of property depth. Not so much “Robson” homes stuff like here in AZ.
Moving in a doable way, a little pricey. We are learning community building from the ground up. Some sweet looking stuff, but no, this is out of my range, too, with a 500 price tag to start.
This looks like a beautiful community for a senior who prefers neighbors and amenities to the rigors of living off grid. I would probably have a TH built by outside builders and then park it at this community. I have a few questions I hope the developer won’t mind answering. What is included in the $500 fee? The hook up for water and electricity? Monthly utilitity costs? TV hook up? All of the amenities? Do you also have an RV area? If so, do the RV owners share all of the same common areas and amenities as the TH residents? (This is the case in a community being developed in CA). Finally, if someone wants to live in your community, but does not yet have a TH, do you hold a lot? How many lots are currently available? Thank you so much if you are able to answer my questions.
.
Great questions! I’d love to know the answers to these as well.
I’d recommend getting in touch with the builder/owners because they don’t read these comments, I’m afraid. 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team
I think this is an awesome grass-roots initiative and my hat is off to everyone from the developer to the individual homeowners but, would I live here? Probably not BUT it has more to do with me than with this community. I live in a subdivision now with neighbors all around me and while it’s the social thing to do, I am an extreme introvert and need my private quiet space to rejuvenate. If I don’t get my quiet time I get crabby! Bad!! Being close to neighbors in a subdivision is hard enough but being even closer in a tiny development would drive me over the edge 🙂 I am most definitely planning to retire to a small home, but my personal goal is a 7-10 acre property with no close neighbors. It is my sincerest hope developments like WILDFLOWERS are the wave of the future for subdivisions and that it will prosper and catch-on! Awesome concept!
This is the type of community I have been looking for. I would like to be contracted and bave tried calling this community and the builder with no reply. Please email me and I will send my phone number to discuss available properties, prices etc.
Thanks, Caryn in CA waiting to move….
I live in the community, The Village is full now as well as The Highlands,they are getting ready to open another section across the road. The monthly fee includes trash pickup, mowing of the grass, maintaining all of the paved roads, cable, water, access to the club house, pool, bachiball court. It is quiet community, people are more in touch than other places that I have lived at. I would recommend anyone that is serious about tiny home living to come by and look at our community. I like living here, some of the negative comments on here are from people that are living in a fantasy. Sure you could buy a tiny home and put it on your own lot, then you have to do all the maintenance on the grounds as well as your house. Living here all I have to do is live and do whatever I choose to do. That is the reason why I went tiny in the first place. I like the idea of my electric bill only being $35.00 per month.
My late wife and I explored in many areas of northeast, southeast western US for intentional communities when that was the buzzword from 1990-1999. We saw tiny haybail builds, tiny adobe’s, tiny customized single-wides, tiny stick builds with metal roofs and wide awnings and large casement windows. We had a library dedicated just to this lifestyle and types of communities and small home construction methods along with legal issues and important insurance matters specific to small home communities spaced close together where some had greater fire, flood plain, hurricane risks, earthquake risks and any number of topical US Federal Government publications from FEMA and Flood Control. What has become a real investment choice for affluent investors the past twenty years (especially although the land lease practice goes back much longer), or so has been the land lease landlord which basically comes down to smallest parcel of acerage where investor can buildout maximum number of units with lowest cost of utility infrastructure/hookups and most favorable tax treatment. There are many well known high net worth millionaires in the land lease business. We have here in the State of Arizona one land lease landlord who has these “communities” all over America and this man is a billionaire. Checkout one of his properties “Sedona Shadows” to see the feedback from some disgruntled ex-residents. It’s not all smiley faces and butterflies. That said there certainly are well run tiny home communities that offer high value to those who desire what is offered. Many of us seniors who have not yet retired and/or will not stop our working lives with pension and at least several million dollar retirement accounts and decent Social Security check for “fun” money, let alone Social Security checks just to get by on supplimented by meager savings..well some of these buy in’s with $500 a month land lease are frankly not in our futures. Of course it’s not just the tiny house movement which has become not so tiny in the amount you must spend to have your place to spend out your aged years.
Jeff
Is there a contract that the monthly fee for the land rental will remain at $500. ? What about 5 years from now? 10 years?
Thanks.
Hi!
I am traveling to both North and South Carolina in May. I am doing a research trip regarding my quest for tiny living. I would love to see your village and possibly spent the nite in one of your rentals. Can someone contact me?
Best, Jan
410-925-8589
Hi Jan, the owners won’t see your comment here. You need to contact them here >>> https://www.simple-life.com/north-carolina/about-the-village/#footer-form
Warning. Avoid at all cost!