Where Can I Park My Tiny Home, and What Are My Options?

“I already know where I’m parking it”

Before we can finance your tiny home, we need to know exactly where it’s going to live, and we need it in writing. It’s one of the most important questions in the whole loan process, and it’s the one buyers are most likely to skip.

Most people already have a spot in mind. That’s great! But when you tell us you know where you’ll park it, don’t be offended when we ask again: where, exactly? A tiny home loan isn’t like buying a car off a lot. Your home has to land somewhere, and the lender needs proof that the spot is real, available and allowed.

For most buyers, the answer is one of two places: family land or a tiny home park. Each one comes with its own paperwork. Here’s what to expect for both, so you can have it ready before you apply. Once you know where your new tiny home is going, our guide to chattel loans explains what you'll need up front.

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Option 1: Parking on Family Land

Placing your tiny home on a relative’s property is one of the most popular choices we see. A parent, a grown child, an aunt or uncle, a cousin, even former in-laws with a big lot who want to stay close to the grandkids. It keeps family nearby without anyone giving up their privacy.

A signed Landlord’s Waiver

The first question is always: do you have anything in writing? Sometimes there’s already a lease. Often there isn’t, and that’s fine. We’ll send you a one-page form called a Landlord’s Waiver for the property owner to fill out and sign. They can also use their own version, as long as it covers the same points.

The name sounds formal, but the form is short. It covers:

  • Who owns the land. The owner’s name, confirming they own the property and are responsible for its property taxes.
  • The property address. Street, city, state and ZIP.
  • The monthly lot payment. Whether they’ll charge you for the space and, if so, how much. A check mark and a dollar amount, or a check mark for no charge.
  • The lender’s position. The owner agrees that the tiny home itself isn’t theirs to claim, even for unpaid lot rent, and that they won’t block the lender from moving the home if the loan ever goes unpaid. Signing doesn’t make your relative a co-signer on your loan; it confirms the home and the land are separate.
  • The owner’s signature and address, the date, and your name as the borrower.

A quick email or text isn’t enough. It needs to be the signed form (or the owner’s own version covering the same ground).

Proof they own the land

Next, we confirm that the person signing actually owns the property. Your relative will need to provide a copy of their most recent property tax bill, which shows their name and the property address.

You don’t need to chase down the rest. We’ll pull the deed and title records ourselves and make sure everything matches the tax bill and the waiver.

Why your lot payment matters when you qualify

This is the part that surprises people. If you’ll be paying your relative (or a park) a monthly fee for your spot, that payment counts toward your qualifying, right alongside your loan payment.

Here’s a simple example. Say your aunt and uncle will charge you $500 a month for the space, and your tiny home loan payment is also $500 a month. When we look at what you can afford, we count $1,000 a month in fixed housing costs, not just the $500 loan payment.

That’s why the lot payment line on the waiver matters so much. It tells us the real number, so there are no surprises late in the process. And if your family isn’t charging you anything, the waiver says that too, which can work in your favor.

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Option 2: Parking in a tiny home park

If family land isn’t an option, a tiny home park is the other common route. You rent a space, the park handles the land, and you get a built-in community.

The park’s address and your lease

We’ll ask where the park is and for a copy of your lease agreement for the space. Just like with family land, your monthly lot rent becomes part of your qualifying.

A park review

This one catches people off guard: not every tiny home park qualifies. We review the park itself to make sure it meets the lender’s guidelines.

The key question is who owns the land. A compliant park is owned by a single company that leases spaces to tiny home owners. A park can be a problem if it’s set up with shared ownership, like a condominium or HOA-style arrangement where unit owners share an equity stake in the property.

Questions to ask a park before you sign

  • Who owns the land: one company, or the residents together?
  • Will I be buying a share, membership or deed to any part of the property, or just renting a space?
  • Is my monthly payment rent, or HOA dues and assessments?
  • Can I get a copy of the lease before I commit?

If you’re shopping for parks, ask how the land is owned before you sign anything. We’re happy to take a look at a park before you commit.

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Your Parking Paperwork Checklist

What you’ll need

Family land

Tiny home park

Property or park address

Yes

Yes

Written agreement

Signed Landlord’s Waiver (our form, or the owner’s own version)

Lease agreement for your space

Monthly lot payment (or $0)

Stated on the Landlord’s Waiver

Stated in the lease

Proof of ownership

Owner’s most recent property tax bill (we pull the deed and title)

Not needed from you

Park review

Not needed

We review the park’s ownership structure

Get your spot sorted before you apply

Knowing where your tiny home will live, and having the paperwork to prove it, is one of the easiest ways to keep your loan moving. Buyers who show up with a signed waiver or lease and a clear monthly number avoid the back-and-forth that slows everyone else down.

Not sure if your spot will work? Whether it’s a parent’s backyard or a park you found online, we’ll walk through it with you before you apply.

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Where You Park Your Tiny Home Matters.

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