Amazon, the e-commerce giant known for delivering everything from books to electronics, has now ventured into delivering homes. A 23-year-old Tiktoker from Los Angeles, Jeffrey Bryant, recently shared a video on TikTok showcasing his new home that he claims to have purchased on Amazon. “I just bought a house on Amazon. I didn’t even think twice about it,” Bryant exclaimed in the viral TikTok video that has garnered widespread attention.
Y’all better go head and get yourselves a Amazon foldable house ‼️ pic.twitter.com/m4748K9xNy— Mesh (@rahsh33m) January 30, 2024
According to reports by Metro, the house is a fold-out flat measuring 16.5ft by 20ft, with a price tag of $26,000 (Rs 2,156,640). The compact unit features a built-in shower and toilet, a kitchenette, a living area, and a bedroom. Bryant, who inherited money from his late grandfather’s estate, eagerly rushed to Amazon to make the unconventional purchase.
The 19-by-20 unit is not just a living space for Bryant; he sees it as an investment opportunity. Speaking to Business Insider, he shared his vision of turning it into an Airbnb rental, pending compliance with California’s laws around factory-built homes.
The delivery process was an intriguing experience for Bryant. The house arrived as a cube, roughly the size of its bathroom. It took a team of five men about 20 minutes to fully unfurl the house for him. The video documenting the purchase went viral even before Bryant was sure the delivery would happen, showcasing the interest in such unconventional transactions.
Working with an Amazon specialist, Bryant ensured the delivery occurred as planned. The specialist went above and beyond, upgrading him from the smaller unit he initially ordered, priced at $24,000 (Rs 1,993,760) before taxes, to the larger unit with a retail price of $39,999 (Rs 3,319,151.96) on Amazon. The seller, listed on Amazon, is Chery Industrial.
However, the challenges don’t end with the purchase. Bryant now faces the task of obtaining the necessary permits to buy land and place the mobile unit. The California Department of Housing and Community Development oversees these procedures, requiring inspections and approvals for factory-built homes before installation on land is permitted.
The trend of purchasing homes through unconventional means has gained popularity among young adults, particularly in the midst of the ongoing housing crisis. According to Axios, the 2000s saw a surplus of housing supply, but this was followed by a significant deficit in the 2010s. As of 2022, the housing deficit stands at -3.2 million units in the United States, contributing substantially to the prevailing high prices in the real estate market.
In response to the housing shortage, Amazon has introduced a range of “portable prefabricated tiny homes” at comparable prices. Notably, one such brand, Zolyndo, offers three different options for these compact dwellings.
For a 13-by-20-foot structure featuring a bathroom, the cost is $19,999 (Rs 1,659,702.96). Stepping up in size, the 15-by-20-foot option is priced at $22,999 (Rs 1,910,799.96). For those seeking a more spacious alternative, the $34,999 (Rs 2,905,095.96) build is larger and includes a restroom. True to Amazon’s efficient delivery model, these tiny homes are available for shipping within just four to five days.
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