It takes a lot of thinking outside the box to build a house for just $30,000. So instead Ottawa native Joseph Dupuis simply turned a box into a home.
The former engineering student has constructed a 355-square-foot secluded cabin outside the city out of three shipping containers.
The home is winterized, powered by solar energy and can be picked up and moved on a few days' notice.
"It is definitely unique and different, but it has all of the amenities of a house," Dupuis told CTV Ottawa.
Once the thick metal doors of the containers have been opened, they reveal a bachelor pad with numerous windows and plenty of natural light, as well as a fireplace and a full kitchen.
Dupuis said the project, which he began in 2012, was a "big science experiment" that allowed him to save money and simplify his life.
"Removing myself off the grid and living a more practical, holistic life solved a lot of my financial struggles," said Dupuis.
With the $30,000 price tag, prospective homeowners could purchase and retrofit 15 shipping containers for the price of the average Canadian house.
The average price of a home in Canada topped $448,000 in April, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. And with rising levels of debt and energy costs, many prospective buyers are considering trading down for so called tiny houses.
"We've been talking about that. I would be totally on board with that," one woman said, when asked by CTV Ottawa.
Despite the savings and freedom offered by tiny homes, others say the trend is just not the right fit.
"It's not enough room really, I don't need 10,000 square feet, but 350 (square feet) is a little small," one man said.
If tiny-house living appeals to you, Dupuis has listed his cabin on Kijiji for $58,000.
