‘Barndominium’ trend offers affordable options to house-hunting East Texans

EAST TEXAS (KLTV) - With interest rates, inflation and the cost of new and existing homes, some East Texans are turning to an innovative and affordable alternative.

The vernacular term for the solution is “barndominium,” which refers to people using portable buildings and barns like those sold at Winslow’s in Gladewater as dwellings. We usually look at portable buildings as work sheds or storage facilities, but more East Texans are buying them for another reason: housing.

“The number of customers we get on a weekly basis, it’s absolutely insane. They’re just finding that this is a more cost effective, easy to maintain, and easier overall build process,” said Charlie Downs of 1845 Barndominiums.

These homes are in the $2,000 to $20,000 range, depending on size. Most just get the shell and create their own home.

1845 Barndominuims is a custom builder, using the barn design.

“We just sit down with those customers and detail every aspect of that build with them and let them build exactly what they want in a dream home,” Downs said.

Customers can buy the unit pre-built and delivered, or built on-site.

“Once we go vertical with a building, we can have that completed in 12 weeks,” Downs said.

And, it’s not just in rural areas where they’re showing up.

“It’s becoming more common for homeowners associations to allow bardominuims. It’s becoming more and more prevalent, and I think it’s something that’s going to continue to grow in the next 10 years,” said Downs.

1845 Barndominuims currently has over 30 orders under construction and even has orders for barndominuims in Australia and Canada.

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