Four Texas couples who have been best friends for decades wanted to live simply, save energy, and — most importantly — be closer to each other as they grow old.
So, in 2016, they pooled their money and built a small 'town' of tiny homes for their retirement along the Llano River near Austin, TX.
They hired local architect Matt Garcia to design the group of homes — four tiny ones plus a larger shared house — and dubbed the project the 'Llano Exit Strategy.' Each cost $40,000 and they moved in the same year.
'They talked about doing this thing together and I always thought they were kind of joking, but then they said: 'We bought a property, we're doing it,'' Garcia told the Daily Mail.
'And they wanted to be really budget efficient and things hadn't gotten so crazy yet with pricing that we were able to do something very affordable.'
Each 400-square-foot cabin has a slanted roof that collects rainwater, a reflective steel exterior to beat the Texas heat, and durable plywood interiors. Inside, there's room for a queen-sized bed, a couch, a bathroom, and a bit of space to relax.
But in a twist, they no longer live there — though not because they fell out.
In 2024, after the homes attracted waves of interest from potential buyers, the couples’ retirement dream took a turn — they accepted a $3 million offer from a buyer who plans to turn the compound into a cluster of Airbnbs.
Four couples pooled their money and built a small 'town' just for themselves on the Llano River
The property also has a main house, a converted barn and bunkhouse and an outdoor area with a firepit and a pool.
The 1,500-square-foot main house features a state-of-the-art kitchen where the friends would cook and dine together.
It's filled with high-end appliances, a commercial-style range, an oversize refrigerator, sleek cabinetry, and a spacious island.
The pool and adjacent deck are surrounded by manicured landscaping and views of the surrounding nature.
The barn can be used to watch movies or paint.
Each tiny home has its own private bathroom with working plumbing.
The 'town,' which Texas resident Jodie Zipp and her husband Fred Zipp led the search for, is situated on the Llano River, where kayaking and fishing are both popular. The grounds around the homes are excellent for hiking in the Texas Hill Country.
Garcia says while the four tiny homes have the same blueprint, each was personalized with the color of tiles and different furniture.
'They were all very sophisticated and understood that we couldn't do four custom things, we need to do one thing and then kind of give each one it's own character,' he says.
Reflective walls keep out the Texas heat in summer and slanted roofs help collect rainwater
Each tiny home has its own private bathroom and there is a shared main house
Garcia was surprised when the couples actually hired him to build the homes, saying no one he'd ever been approached by for this type of project had ever followed through.
'Thousands of people have reached out about doing these, but no one's ever actually pulled the trigger,' he says.
He doesn't know what the couples plan to do next, but says they couldn't turn down a $3 million payday from a local company that has multiple places like this around Texas that they've turned into Airbnbs.
Tiny homes have taken off across the US in recent years, with Amazon even releasing a luxury tiny home for sale.
The retail giant is selling the one-bedroom Expandable Container Villa for $49,899.
The prefab house comes with a fully equipped bathroom, plumbing, a water heater, electricity and a kitchen as well as a free bed.
Experts have suggested that soaring mortgage rates and rising property prices are causing some Americans to turn to housing alternatives like tiny homes, granny flats, in-law suites, casitas and guesthouses.
It is a cheaper alternative for some Americans priced out of the housing market.