450-Square-Foot ‘Micro Home’ Hits Market in Rhode Island for a Massive $850K—What Makes the Petite Pad So Pricey?

A tiny “micro home” in one of Rhode Island‘s most luxurious resorts might well be small on space—but it has a price tag so large, one could be forgiven for thinking it had been confused for a country estate.

The petite property, which spans just 450 square feet and offers one bedroom and one bathroom, has come on the market for the massive price of $849,000—or a lofty $1,887 per square foot.

Nestled within the 3,500-acre Preserve Sporting Club and Resort on a hilltop in the center of a private compound, the home is part of a new gated community of tiny properties in Richmond.

The diminutive dwellings in the neighborhood range from 400 to 1,200 square feet and feature full kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and lofts—making this property one of the tiniest abodes available.

Designed for both short- and long-term stays, the tiny-home community on Blueberry Hill includes full access to the resort’s amenities. However, a full membership is required for purchase.

Slated for completion in July, the tiny-home village will feature direct access to hiking trails and a new pool.

Though the price might seem like an odd fit for such a small dwelling, Preserve real estate agent Paul Mihailides notes that it is far from the most expensive micro home that has sold in the community.

“It’s a very expensive tiny home, but we have already sold a dozen of them,” he says. “The highest-priced home sold for $1.6 million.”

Still, the home’s listing is close to $50,000 more than Richmond’s current median, which sits at $800,000 as of May, according to Realtor.com® data.

There are currently 14 homes on the market in the town with asking prices of over $1 million, with the most expensive property in the community on the market for $10 million. (That home boasts more than 10 times the square footage of the micro home.)

So what, exactly, makes this pint-sized abode worth such a sky-high price?

The lofted residence has one main bedroom with a queen bed and two twin beds, an eat-in kitchen, dining area, living room, covered porch, and full bathroom.

Other highlights include cathedral ceilings, a wet bar, and a washer/dryer. A private patio with pergola and fire pit, and a covered porch offer stunning views of the property.

And while the property might not be expansive in size, as far as outdoor amenities are concerned, it offers features that would rival those found at many five-star resorts.

“Imagine Yellowstone … with room service and every potential amenity,” the listing states.

Designed for the outdoor enthusiast, the residence’s membership includes access to nearly every activity imaginable, including fly fishing, sporting clays, golf, archery, kayaking, wall climbing, and ziplining.

“The membership offers access to the spa, pools, tennis courts, equestrian center, hundreds of miles of trails, dining options, and the largest indoor shooting range, to name just a few of the amenities,” Mihailides says.

“It also has wonderful views. You have three to four miles of visibility over the property.”

The membership can also be passed down throughout generations, turning the property into a legacy residence.

And while the home might be small in space, it is big in functionality, the listing agent explains. The dwelling can sleep up to eight people.

“The home’s layout was very well thought out, and it can sleep up to eight people,” he says. “Nothing has been left to the imagination. You can just come here and live. It’s tiny home living at its best.”

The Yellowstone-style community in Rhode Island has 55 tiny homes under construction, slated for completion in the next six weeks.

In addition to the outdoor activities, luxurious amenities include cigar and whiskey tastings, as well as magical bourbon pairings hosted at three on-site Hobbit Houses, which feature carved round wooden doors, stone floors, and stacked stone walls.

“The home can go in agreement with the resort where the owner will get a percentage of the revenues if they wish to rent it out, which can help to offset the HOA fees,” the agent adds. “The average nightly rental is about $1,500.”