Tim Davidson's father gave him 60 days to move out of his family's vacation home in Florida.
Davidson had been living in the home for over a year when his family decided it was finally time for him to have his own place.
Like any 20-something moving out, Davidson considered his options. Houses were too big and too expensive, but Davidson wanted to invest his money in a property. So he bought a tiny home that would meet both his space and financial needs.
That was four years ago. Now 31, Davidson has purchased two tiny homes where he lives on a little island in Sarasota, Florida.
In 2017, Tim Davidson was given a move-out date that started his tiny-home journey
Initially, Davidson considered buying a traditional-sized home. While he was house-hunting, he realized that a large home meant unused space, unnecessary belongings, more taxes, and more money. Davidson just wanted the necessities: a bedroom, living area, small kitchen, and access to the outdoors.
A tiny home felt like the answer, plus he'd be saving money.
"That was a huge benefit of tiny living, from the financial standpoint of it," he told Insider. "I can pay this off faster than a traditional home and get everything I need with no wasted space."
With his move-out date quickly approaching, Davidson tested the lifestyle switch he was about to make by living in a tiny house in Florida for two weeks.
The trial was a success, and he bought his own tiny home - albeit one that wasn't quite completed at the time - through the construction company A New Beginning Tiny Homes for about $70,000. On moving in, Davidson added a few finishing touches, like a hidden litter box for his cat, Oliver.
Davidson nicknamed his 270-square-foot tiny home Tiffany
Tiffany earned its name because the 270-square-foot home is adorned in Tiffany light fixtures. Tiffany the Tiny House
In May 2017, Davidson moved into his home with two boxes of belongings.
"I just dove right into the minimalism," he said. Davidson estimates that he got rid of 80% of his stuff.
Davidson quickly fell in love with the 1920s Craftsman-style home, which he named Tiffany because of the Tiffany-style light fixtures throughout.
In the lofted bedroom, there are two glass sconces made with colorful glass designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Across from the bedroom is another loft, with two more sconces. Similar lights also hang in the bathroom, living room, and kitchen downstairs. And two stained-glass windows scatter vibrant hues across the home.
The light fixtures had already been installed by the time Davidson bought the home.
"It was like a calling to me," he said of the lights in the home.
Davidson and his father work in the lighting industry. Growing up, his father made Tiffany light fixtures, so Davidson has childhood memories of his dad bringing home Tiffany light prototypes that would mesmerize him and his mother. Seeing similar fixtures in the tiny home, Davidson felt like it was meant to be.
Davidson said he quickly grew into the space, but all he was missing was a permanent place to station his home. For the first two years he spent living in the tiny house, Davidson moved between destinations, visiting different campgrounds and tiny-home festivals. Then, he found a "rusty piece of gold" in Sarasota.
He bought a 1.5-acre private island to park his home
Davidson found a listing for a 1.5-acre island on Florida's west coast about two years ago. Davidson said Shellmate Island had been for sale for years but the seller was asking for an "astronomical price." After some negotiating, however, he purchased it for about $200,000.
Originally an island, today there's a little dirt road that leads to the property making it an inland peninsula.
When he purchased the island - which Davidson has nicknamed Rusty Gold - it was overgrown and used to store old RVs. But Davidson turned it into a livable place by bringing in extra dirt to create a foundation and working with the city to set up utilities.
Today, the island is filled with tropical fruits, like mangoes, avocados, mulberries, lychees, pineapples, and figs.
"It's a beautiful piece of land," Davidson said. "It's totally private and surrounded by Brazilian peppers."
Davidson had everything set, but then an approaching hurricane shifted his priorities.
His second tiny home has an unusual shape designed for hurricane season
Hurricane Irma was the first major hurricane Davidson experience living in Florida. And although the hurricane didn't hit Sarasota badly, it made Davidson reconsider shelter.
Davidson, who grew up in Ohio, said he quickly became aware that evacuating isn't as easy when thousands of others are also trying to leave. So if he wanted to be stationary for future hurricanes, he'd need a stronger home to withstand powerful hurricanes.
He bought another tiny home - this time, 320 square feet, for about $90,000 - that's meant to withstand hurricanes and strong winds thanks to its unusual octagon shape. Designed by Deltec Homes, the octagonal shape prevents wind from building up pressure and destroying the structure.
Inside the home - which Davidson sometimes rents out on Airbnb to help pay for his living expenses - there's no wasted space. The bedroom area takes up about half of the space, while the other half is comprised of a living and dining area, kitchen, and bathroom.
Davidson said the first night in his tiny house felt like a momentous life event.
"I was nervous, but I was excited," he said. "There are certain moments in life where you're like, 'OK, this is a big step. I'm doing something drastic in my life.'"
So far, Davidson hasn't second-guessed living in a tiny home and says it's one of the best decisions he's ever made.
