Pittsburgh woman buys tiny 320-square-foot home on wheels for $25,000 - but is told by local government it's too small to be legal

One woman is trying to bring the tiny house movement to Pittsburgh, but many cities don't allow homes quite as small as hers. 

Rachel Ford from West View, a borough north of Pittsburgh, just bought a new home for only $25,000.

The home she ordered is about 320-square-feet and it's on wheels. 

She bought the home from a builder in Michigan who said it should arrive in March, which leaves Ford a little less than a month to find a legal location for it. 

Rachel Ford, 29, recently bought a tiny home that is 320sq ft and $25,000. He only problem now is finding a city or town that will allow her to have it in a little less than a month 

There has been a growing number of Americans opting for 'tiny houses' that are less than 400sq ft (file image) 

She told WTAE that she wants to own a house but can't afford it right now, so she took another route and became interested in a smaller home. 

Ford said: 'It appeals to me on an economic level. I work two jobs. I don't want to work two jobs forever.'

On her blog Ford wrote that she wants a tiny house in order to have financial freedom, actual freedom and simplicity. 

Timbercraft Tiny Homes in Guntersville, Alabama, builds tiny home that are less than 700sq ft like the one pictured. Ford said she wants a tiny house in order to have financial freedom, actual freedom and simplicity (file image)

Ford said she realized that she would have been saddled with debt if she bought a traditional home and living in a tiny home 'offers a smaller cost and higher reward' (file image) 

She wrote: 'I realized that if I bought a traditional house I’d be saddled with debt for nearly the rest of my life. 

'Tiny living, on the other hand, offers a smaller cost and higher reward.'

Because of the smallness of the home and the fact that it's also on wheels, Ford is going to have an even harder time following most local zoning regulations that require a foundation or a house that is much larger than hers.

She told WTAE that 'it is very difficult' and that every borough has its own rules.

A small borough called Avalon is considering a change in its zoning laws to accommodate tiny homes, according to WTAE.

The only problem is that it will be late summer before a vote can be taken and Ford has to find an area by March. 

Borough Manager Harry Dilmore said there are small, vacant lots in Avalon, and tiny homes could be a good fit. He said that they are working on a comprehensive plan and zoning.  

Maren Engh and Max Jallifier were paying $3,500 for an apartment in San Francisco until they decided to buy a tiny home

Ford isn't the only one who has considered abandoning an expensive home for homes where you can get more for your money. 

Last year, curious homeowners were paying as much as $99 a night for a 160sq ft trailer that was being offered by Getaway in New Hampshire - to sample the lifestyle before making the drastic change. 

Timbercraft Tiny Homes in Guntersville, Alabama, builds tiny home that are less than 700sq ft. Last month a San Francisco couple left their $3,500 per month apartment and sold all of their belongings so that they could move into a 162sq ft trailer. 

Maren Engh and Max Jallifier sold all of their belongings on Craigslist and moved into their new tiny home.  

Dozens of tiny houses - defined as homes less than 400sq ft - are available through vacation rental websites, posted by their owners (file image) 

Companies all over the country are taking advantage of the trend, with Caravan, a hotel in Portland, Oregon, offering six tiny houses ranging from 84 to 170sq feet, for $145 a night.

And dozens more tiny houses - defined as homes less than 400sq ft - are available through vacation rental websites, posted by their owners.

'It's a way to test-drive tiny house living,' said Jon Staff, the founder and CEO of Getaway, which started at Harvard University.