HUDSONVILLE, MI - To live large, Travis Rabenberg believes one must start by living tiny.

"I can do an international trip every 90 days or I can have a house payment," said Rabenberg, owner of MITinyHome.com, as he relaxes on a leather futon inside a 200-square-foot "tiny home" he has listed for $39,000.

Tiny Houses

Interest in tiny houses is a growing in West Michigan. Here are some recent articles we've written about the trend:

• 'Tiny house' movement wins followers and detractors at Cottage and Lakeshore Living Show

• 'Tiny houses' are big at 2015 Cottage and Lakefront Living Show



Rabenberg , 28, began his tiny house company in hopes of catching on to a national craze made popular by cable television shows and a yearning by millennials - and some of their parents - for a simpler life that involves less cleaning, less stuff and lower expenses.

"It gives you a lot more freedom and versatility," said Rabenberg, who recently moved back to West Michigan after spending three years in California, where he became familiar with the tiny house movement.

Rabenberg epitomizes the less is more lifestyle. He traveled around the world after college on a shoestring. The former motorcycle racer created a blog for BMW motorcycles, which supplied his transportation as he moved from one exotic locale to the next.

When he came back to the United States, he wrote a book about his experiences, titled "Party Like a Billionaire: How to Live Large on (Next to) Nothing."

Rabenberg recently showcased a high-end version of his tiny house at the 2015 West Michigan Cottage and Lakefront Living Show at DeVos Place.

With its black quartz counter top, stainless steel sink and oak flooring, Rabenberg's showcase model features a "luxury" bathroom with a composting toilet and shower head, an in-line water heater and a solar electrical system. The bathroom door slides shut to reveal a "walk-in" closet.

The white-paneled walls and corrugated white ceiling brighten the room, along with an 8-foot wide insulated sliding glass door, four insulated windows, a second insulated door from the kitchen and five transom windows across the top of the house.

Pushing a fold-out table from Ikea into the living area, Rabenberg said he can host a dinner for four using the futon and two folding chairs for seating.

Above the kitchen and bathroom, Rabenberg has built a loft with an 18-inch ceiling that can be used to store gear or as a sleeping loft.

Though Rabenberg has placed an unvented (and inoperable) antique cast iron stove in the living area, he said he can offer a wall-mounted electrical heater as a $1,000 upgrade.

The tiny cabin is well-insulated with 2-by-4-inch stud walls on 16-inch centers, an insulated floor and a ceiling that is +R29 rated. The exterior is clad with vinyl siding and a 40-year metal roof, Rabenberg said.

Rabenberg also will sell a $9,799 "shell" that can be finished by the owner or a "basic" model for $14,999 that has the bathroom, plumbing and electrical systems, along with simpler kitchen fixtures and floors. "That's like for a deer camp," he said.

Some customers want "man caves," while others may want "she sheds" with a feminine touch or "shedquarters" for offices, Rabenberg said. He also offers a "rent-to-own" plan for a $700 down-payment and $200-a-month payment for three years.

The $5,000 "off-the-grid" option includes a rain water catch system, solar power and a composting toilet.

As long as his buildings stay under 200 square feet, they can be classified as sheds and do not need to be titled or comply with most housing codes, said Rabenberg, who offers his houses in a 10-foot by 20-foot size or an 8-foot by 20-foot dimensions.

Between his Amish suppliers in the Muskegon area and an assembly operation to finish the cabins in Hudsonville, Rabenberg said he can produce up to two tiny houses a week, or 100 a year.

While some vendors offer wheels under their tiny houses, Rabenberg said he will deliver his units on a flatbed semi-trailer for $3.50 per mile and a drop fee. He suggests putting the house on six inches of crushed gravel or a cement slab.

Though he currently lives in an apartment in Kentwood, Rabenberg said he is looking for property on which he can place an "off-the-grid" version of his tiny house. Or better yet, he would like to find an island on a lake or river for his tiny dwelling.

Rabenberg said he is working with a group of investors who want to place 10 of his tiny homes on an island in the Jackson area. "Our plan is to build a tiny town for them," he said.

Other potential customers are talking about placing his tiny homes on Drummond Island or near the Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula. "There's so much we can do," he said.

Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.