When it comes to affordable housing, cargo homes have been the talk of the town lately. Despite its not-so-great appearance, it is becoming an increasingly popular housing alternative, and there are some obvious benefits you can enjoy with cargo homes. But many potential homeowners have a few concerns about cargo homes. Are cargo homes worth investing in? Learn what cargo homes are and whether or not they are a great investment choice in this post. A cargo home is a housing structure that’s constructed using recycled shipping containers. These cubical metallic boxes are available in two sizes with the same width (8 feet), but they differ in length. You can find cargo containers with a length of 20 feet or 40 feet, so depending upon your needs and preference, you can choose a size. You can opt for a single cargo container or use several cargo containers, combine them and create a more traditional housing structure. Pros and Cons of Cargo HomesCargo homes are increasingly gaining popularity among homeowners and landlords who intend to use cargo homes as rental property. To decide on whether cargo homes make a good investment or not, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of cargo homes.
Pros of Cargo Homes
Contents
- 1 Cargo Homes Are Durable
- 2 Cargo Homes Are A Sustainable Housing Choice
- 3 Cargo Homes Are Cost-Effective
- 4 Cargo Homes Are Quick To Construct
- 5 Cargo Homes Are Customizable
- 6 Cargo Homes Offer Limited Space
- 7 Cargo Homes Can Be Detrimental To The Environment
- 8 Cargo Homes Are Expensive To Customize
- 9 Are Cargo Homes a Good Investment?
- 10 Conclusion
Cargo Homes Are Durable
One of the most significant benefits you can enjoy by investing in a cargo home is that these homes are durable. Cargo containers are usually made up of steel that can last a lifetime if designed and constructed well. However, when installing structures such as windows, you need to ensure that the window installation process does not damage the walls of the container.
Cargo Homes Are A Sustainable Housing Choice
Cargo homes make a sustainable choice for homeowners as well as for shipping companies. By relying on cargo containers for housing, you end up using millions of obsolete shipping containers that would otherwise be lying idle, adding to waste resources. But when you use the container for housing, you recycle and reuse the old cargo container, which makes it a sustainable housing choice.
Cargo Homes Are Cost-Effective
One of the primary reasons why cargo homes are gaining popularity is cost-effectiveness. You can end up with a nice cargo-home between $10,000 and $25,000. A single container would cost you between $1,500 and $4,500, depending upon the size. Hence, cargo homes make a cost-effective alternative to conventional homes.
Cargo Homes Are Quick To Construct
Cargo homes are quick to construct, and if you work with the right contractors, you can get your cargo home within a month. However, if you feel that working with a professional contractor is pricey, you can also opt for alternative prefabricated container homes. You can find several companies that build prefabricated homes off-site.
Cargo Homes Are Customizable
Cargo homes are highly customizable. You can choose the container, and how you want to design it is entirely up to you. Whether you go for a single container or use several containers combined, or you want to add sliding windows or not, everything can be customized depending upon your needs and preference.
Cargo Homes Offer Limited Space
Cargo homes revolve around the idea of minimalistic living, so you cannot expect a spacious, luxury home when you opt for cargo homes. Most cargo homes offer a living space of 320 square feet or lesser, so it makes an excellent choice for you only if you are comfortable living in confined spaces.
Cargo Homes Can Be Detrimental To The Environment
While many people assume that cargo homes are environmentally friendly, that’s not the case. Cargo homes can be detrimental to the environment. Since cargo containers are initially designed to transport goods, they aren’t the best structure for living. Cargo containers usually have a high concentration of dangerous gases that can threaten people living in the cargo home and the environment.
Cargo Homes Are Expensive To Customize
As mentioned earlier, cargo homes are originally designed to transport goods, so you need to spend a lot of time, energy, and money to convert them into living space. For example, to transform a cargo container into a living space, you will need proper insulation, a heating and cooling system, and installation of solar panels to need your energy needs. So while they make a cost-effective alternative to conventional homes, setting up a cargo home can also be expensive.
Are Cargo Homes a Good Investment?
Now that you already know the pros and cons of cargo homes, you can decide for yourself whether cargo homes make a good investment.
The choice depends on the following factors
⦁ Our budget,
⦁ How you intend to use the property,
⦁ Your style of living and
⦁ Your investment goals.
Conclusion
If you have a limited budget, prefer minimalistic living, and reside in a state with regulations for cargo homes, then it is an excellent choice for you. However, if you are more concerned about how your choice will impact the environment and are looking for more conventional housing, cargo homes may not be an excellent idea.
