Elon Musk reportedly lives in a $50,000 prefab tiny home that already has a 100,000-unit waitlist - see inside

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Brittany Chang,Tim LevinAug 8, 2021, 18:43 IST
Elon Musk reportedly lives in a $50,000 prefab tiny home that already has a 100,000-unit waitlist - see inside

A photo shared with Insider appears to show Boxabl delivering a Casita to SpaceX.Jorge Ramirez

  • Las Vegas-based Boxabl is creating the $49,500 Casita, a 375-square-foot prefab tiny home.
  • Elon Musk reportedly lives in a Casita, which already has a 47,000-person waitlist.
  • Take a tour inside the tiny home, which has a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen.
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Tiny homes have become an undeniably popular alternative to the classic family home or apartment.

Tiny homes have become an undeniably popular alternative to the classic family home or apartment.
The exterior of the Casita. Boxabl

The little living units have become so popular, they've attracted the attention of one of the world's richest men: Elon Musk …

The little living units have become so popular, they've attracted the attention of one of the world's richest men: Elon Musk …
A photo shared with Insider appears to show Boxabl delivering a Casita to SpaceX. Jorge Ramirez
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… who lives in a $50,000 tiny unit that he rents from SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas, the multibillionaire tweeted in June.

… who lives in a $50,000 tiny unit that he rents from SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas, the multibillionaire tweeted in June.
The exterior of the Casita. Boxabl

Source: Twitter

Curious about the tiny home that now houses a man who could afford countless mansions instead?

Curious about the tiny home that now houses a man who could afford countless mansions instead?
The Casita. Boxabl
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Well, he reportedly lives in the Casita, a $49,500 375-square-foot unit created by Las Vegas-based Boxabl.

Well, he reportedly lives in the Casita, a $49,500 375-square-foot unit created by Las Vegas-based Boxabl.
The bathroom. Boxabl

Source: Insider

In November 2020, Boxabl announced it had installed a Casita in Boca Chica, Texas for a "top secret customer."

In November 2020, Boxabl announced it had installed a Casita in Boca Chica, Texas for a "top secret customer."
A photo shared with Insider appears to show Boxabl delivering a Casita to SpaceX. Jorge Ramirez 9:44

Source: YouTube

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"Pretty exciting to have these guys as our initial customer," Boxabl founder Galiano Tiramani said in a YouTube video. "I think it indicates that people agree that we're on to something big here."

"Pretty exciting to have these guys as our initial customer," Boxabl founder Galiano Tiramani said in a YouTube video. "I think it indicates that people agree that we're on to something big here."
The dining area. Boxabl

Source: YouTube

Tiramani did not confirm Musk's residency inside the prefabricated Casita with Insider, but the company hasn't shied away from alluding to its potential role in the tech powerhouse's tiny home.

Tiramani did not confirm Musk's residency inside the prefabricated Casita with Insider, but the company hasn't shied away from alluding to its potential role in the tech powerhouse's tiny home.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

Source: Twitter (1) (2)

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But Boxabl's identity doesn't just center around the rumored interest from Musk.

But Boxabl's identity doesn't just center around the rumored interest from Musk.
A Boxabl unit being moved with a Tesla. Boxabl

The company's short history spans back to 2017, when the Las Vegas team decided to create its tiny homes after it saw a "huge opportunity to transition building construction worldwide into the factory assembly line," just like any other everyday product, Tiramani told Insider.

The company's short history spans back to 2017, when the Las Vegas team decided to create its tiny homes after it saw a "huge opportunity to transition building construction worldwide into the factory assembly line," just like any other everyday product, Tiramani told Insider.
The exterior of the Casita. Boxabl
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"There's a number of reasons why housing hasn't really worked in the factory yet, so we've gone through it and solved all those problems," he said.

"There's a number of reasons why housing hasn't really worked in the factory yet, so we've gone through it and solved all those problems," he said.
Boxabl logo on the side of a unit. Boxabl

According to Tiramani, other prefab home makers struggle with one glaring issue: shipping logistics.

According to Tiramani, other prefab home makers struggle with one glaring issue: shipping logistics.
A Boxabl unit being moved. Boxabl
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But unlike other prefab homes, the Casitas can be folded down from 20 feet to about 8.5 feet while it's being transported on a truck or towed by a pickup truck.

But unlike other prefab homes, the Casitas can be folded down from 20 feet to about 8.5 feet while it's being transported on a truck or towed by a pickup truck.
A Boxabl unit being moved with a Tesla. Boxabl

However, shipping could still cost anywhere between $2 to $10 per mile from its headquarters in Las Vegas.

However, shipping could still cost anywhere between $2 to $10 per mile from its headquarters in Las Vegas.
The exterior of the Casita. Boxabl
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But if the customer is willing to pay more for shipping, the homes can also be sent overseas or sent by rail.

But if the customer is willing to pay more for shipping, the homes can also be sent overseas or sent by rail.
A single and two-floor Casita. Boxabl

Almost all of the Casita's finishes - such as the kitchen, bathroom, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC - are completed in the factory before it's shipped out.

Almost all of the Casita's finishes - such as the kitchen, bathroom, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC - are completed in the factory before it's shipped out.
A look inside the Casita. Boxabl
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So when the Casita arrives at its final destination, the home just needs to be unfolded (which takes a few hours) and then attached to its foundation and utilities, before it's totally move-in ready.

So when the Casita arrives at its final destination, the home just needs to be unfolded (which takes a few hours) and then attached to its foundation and utilities, before it's totally move-in ready.
The Casita. Boxabl

The 19.5-foot by 19.5-foot buildings can also be stacked and connected to create larger buildings. But if you're just looking for a bigger prefab home, wait a bit. Tiramani notes the company still plans to release larger units in the future.

The 19.5-foot by 19.5-foot buildings can also be stacked and connected to create larger buildings. But if you're just looking for a bigger prefab home, wait a bit. Tiramani notes the company still plans to release larger units in the future.
Boxabl
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But starting out with the "trendy, cool, and popular" tiny homes was strategic since it's hooked the eyes of more customers, according to Boxabl's founder.

But starting out with the "trendy, cool, and popular" tiny homes was strategic since it's hooked the eyes of more customers, according to Boxabl's founder.
A single and two-floor Casita. Boxabl

But Boxabl isn't popular just because of its tiny homes.

But Boxabl isn't popular just because of its tiny homes.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl
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The time, cost, and labor-efficient nature of creating homes in factories amid our housing shortage has been pushing more attention onto prefabrication, whether it be the Casita or other factory-built homes, like 3D printed units.

The time, cost, and labor-efficient nature of creating homes in factories amid our housing shortage has been pushing more attention onto prefabrication, whether it be the Casita or other factory-built homes, like 3D printed units.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl

But back to Boxabl. The Casita has attracted more people than just tiny home enthusiasts and potentially Elon Musk.

But back to Boxabl. The Casita has attracted more people than just tiny home enthusiasts and potentially Elon Musk.
The bedroom. Boxabl
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Boxabl has a waitlist of 47,000 customers, and over 2,000 customers have already put down a deposit.

Boxabl has a waitlist of 47,000 customers, and over 2,000 customers have already put down a deposit.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

And many of these future clients - such as bigger companies - want more than one unit, so the "real demand for this initial product is incredibly massive," Tiramani said.

And many of these future clients - such as bigger companies - want more than one unit, so the "real demand for this initial product is incredibly massive," Tiramani said.
Setting up the Casita units. Boxabl
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The waitlist is just shy of 50,000 people, but in terms of the quantity of the homes, Boxabl has already seen interest for over 100,000 units.

The waitlist is just shy of 50,000 people, but in terms of the quantity of the homes, Boxabl has already seen interest for over 100,000 units.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl

And the company doesn't attribute all of this popularity to the Musk rumors.

And the company doesn't attribute all of this popularity to the Musk rumors.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl
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With the help of influencer and social media marketing, the Las Vegas business already had a waitlist of 40,000 people before it started receiving attention from Musk fans.

With the help of influencer and social media marketing, the Las Vegas business already had a waitlist of 40,000 people before it started receiving attention from Musk fans.
A single and two-floor Casita. Boxabl

But its waitlist then jumped to 47,000 people when the SpaceX rumors broke.

But its waitlist then jumped to 47,000 people when the SpaceX rumors broke.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl
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That's over $1 billion worth of reserved Casitas, according to Boxabl.

That's over $1 billion worth of reserved Casitas, according to Boxabl.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

Source: YouTube

"The target audience heard about this beforehand, and then the Musk press brought in general audience interest, maybe someone who didn't care about housing," Tiramani said.

"The target audience heard about this beforehand, and then the Musk press brought in general audience interest, maybe someone who didn't care about housing," Tiramani said.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl
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Despite its popularity, the company has only built three tiny homes so far.

Despite its popularity, the company has only built three tiny homes so far.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl

And it only recently moved into a 170,000-square-foot factory in June with the hopes of producing a Casita every 90 minutes - or about 3,600 units per year - by the end of 2022 …

And it only recently moved into a 170,000-square-foot factory in June with the hopes of producing a Casita every 90 minutes - or about 3,600 units per year - by the end of 2022 …
A look inside the Casita. Boxabl
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… with the help of an automated and standardized process.

… with the help of an automated and standardized process.
A rendering of the interior of the Casita with the two-bedroom floor plan. Boxabl

To compare, a typical single-family home can take an average of seven months to build, according to Boxabl.

To compare, a typical single-family home can take an average of seven months to build, according to Boxabl.
The kitchen. Boxabl
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But the long list of future customers won't be getting the first few builds to roll out of its new facility.

But the long list of future customers won't be getting the first few builds to roll out of its new facility.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl

Boxabl already has a $10 million government contract for military housing, which takes precedence over the waitlist.

Boxabl already has a $10 million government contract for military housing, which takes precedence over the waitlist.
The Casita. Boxabl

Source: YouTube

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Now let's take a look inside the tiny home and see what the hype is all about.

Now let's take a look inside the tiny home and see what the hype is all about.
A rendering of the interior of the Casita. Boxabl

Think of the Casita as an energy-efficient studio apartment in a box.

Think of the Casita as an energy-efficient studio apartment in a box.
A rendering of the interior of the Casita. Boxabl
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The space fits a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom.

The space fits a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

Let's start in the kitchen, which has a refrigerator, dual sinks, an oven, a dishwasher, a microwave, cabinets, and a dining table that connects with the countertops.

Let's start in the kitchen, which has a refrigerator, dual sinks, an oven, a dishwasher, a microwave, cabinets, and a dining table that connects with the countertops.
The kitchen. Boxabl
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In this example, the bedroom sits across from the kitchen, and the entry door acts as a separation of space.

In this example, the bedroom sits across from the kitchen, and the entry door acts as a separation of space.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

The bedroom's media center can be used to divide the bed from the living room, but these two "rooms" can be flipped.

The bedroom's media center can be used to divide the bed from the living room, but these two "rooms" can be flipped.
Boxabl
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The living room then has space for a couch and coffee table.

The living room then has space for a couch and coffee table.
The interior of the Casita. Boxabl

The bathroom is next to the kitchen and comes with a shower and tub, a sink, a countertop, a backlit mirror, and a sliding door for privacy.

The bathroom is next to the kitchen and comes with a shower and tub, a sink, a countertop, a backlit mirror, and a sliding door for privacy.
The bathroom. Boxabl
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There's also an on-site washer and dryer, designated ironing space, and temperature control …

There's also an on-site washer and dryer, designated ironing space, and temperature control …
The kitchen. Boxabl

… all within the nine-foot, six-inch ceilings.

… all within the nine-foot, six-inch ceilings.
The bedroom. Boxabl
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And instead of the classic "lumber, hammer, and nails" construction method, the Casitas are built using steel, concrete, foam insulation, and laminated paneling.

And instead of the classic "lumber, hammer, and nails" construction method, the Casitas are built using steel, concrete, foam insulation, and laminated paneling.
The bathroom. Boxabl

This means the tiny homes are strong enough to withstand hurricane winds, mold-resistant, and flood and snow tolerant.

This means the tiny homes are strong enough to withstand hurricane winds, mold-resistant, and flood and snow tolerant.
A two-floor Casita. Boxabl
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"The demand for housing is so incredibly massive, there's shortages everywhere and no one can build fast enough," Tiramani said. "It's great for us to know that so many people are interested in this product.

"The demand for housing is so incredibly massive, there's shortages everywhere and no one can build fast enough," Tiramani said. "It's great for us to know that so many people are interested in this product.
A Casita being moved. Boxabl
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