NO, Really, it's Garage Town USA - What a great idea! Looking for a second home? How about a second garage? People ( by people I mean men - I had to say that! ) become really attached to their garage. How many times have you found the 'perfect home', but the husband did not like the garage?
You could buy your own garage condominium for all of that extra stuff instead of renting a regular old storage unit by the month. Build equity in a garage condo instead of just throwing away rent on that storage unit!
This would be a wonderful opportunity here in Mesquite NV. Residential lots are small and pricey. We have a lot of 3 car garages, but only a few are big enough to put an RV in. CC&Rs are strict and most do not allow RV PARKING or boats in driveways or on the street. (What a bunch of fuddie-duddies!)
The first garage condo community started out in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho as an expanded storage facility for a new residential community with strict CC&Rs that did not allow oversized garages or street parking for recreational vehicles or boats. This idea turned into Garage Town USA with 19 partnerships and franchises in 6 states. (Why can’t I have good ideas like this?)
What a great little second home - add a few little homey touches and use it as a vacation getaway!
It would be perfect for car buffs as well. You wouldn't want that restored '65 Mustang crammed in there next to the Minivan, would you? How about Dad's baby - the speedboat with the $3000 paint job? He really gets POed when the kids throw the soccer equipment and muddy shoes in the boat, so that Mom doesn't know they didn't put them away in those crowded storage cupboards!
The one in Coeur d’ Alene has a clubhouse and restrooms - owners pay a condominium fee for maintenance. The clubhouse can be used for parties, poker tournaments, weekend football games - why mess up your own house with all those beer cans and pizza boxes? You could give the church a little competition and have Bingo!
Some garage condo units in other areas have up to 2000 sq ft, with custom floors and sofa beds. The price can be as high as $200K. Owners get a deed for their own unit and pay their own taxes and utility bills. This would be my husband’s dream home, a garage and a bathroom - let’s not tell him about this!
And if it qualifies as a second home, can you write off the mortgage interest? According to IRS, a qualified home must have sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities. So if a mobile home, house trailer or a boat qualifies, why not a garage condominium? As long as there is a bathroom, sleeper sofa, and a mini-kitchen, would that be enough to qualify as a second home? ( Ask your tax advisor before you consider the purchase of a garage condo, I am just guessing here! )
For more details and history of Garage Town USA read Tom Kelly's article at Inman News.
Garage Town USA - Is it coming to a town near YOU ?
Mesquite Nevada Real Estate Agent ~ ~ ERA
Virginia Hepp ~ Mesquite Realtor 
Thanks for the post, Virginia. What a great concept!
Hi, Virginia - I think this would be an outstanding idea for those areas where HOA's dictate what can, and more importantly, can not, go in your driveway or beside the house, etc. We've lived in a neighborhood with a gestapo like HOA and this would have been perfect for all the toys.
Susan - With the golf and the desert here in Mesquite, people have a lot of toys. I think it would go over here really well. Many subdivisions here do not allow Pole Barns or RV or boat parking at all. The closest I have been to living in snow country is Reno, Nev, surrounded by snow areas, but not really much in town.
Jesse - Mesquite is one of those strict areas, that is why the concept is so interesting to me.
Gary - So far, I think they are only in about 6 areas, but selling really well. Some with clubhouses! What will they evolve into - pools, spas, etc.? Some campgrounds are turning into small resorts.
Patricia - 2000 sq ft is a pretty nice house here - I don't know if Mesquite is ready for something like this!
Joanne - Amazing all of the toys people just have to have. My son is one of those - he has 1 of everything, even a horse, but lives on 5 acres in CA.
Steve - There are probably a few more qualifications, too.
Scott - They are in different parts of the U.S. now at different prices, depending upon amenities.
Gary - Or retirement home? Some guys (like the one I am married to), might think it is a perfect 'home' for retirement, better than Plan B that he came up with recently - I'll tell you that one some other time!
Roland - You must be a toy collector if you need another garage.
Dave - Thanks, I had fun with it - some people say I am easily amused! I take it as a compliment.
This is a really cool idea. I want one. I'm curious if these garage homes are listed in the MLS when they are built or come up for resale?
Bo, my husband wants one, too. They don't have any here yet. I'm sure they would be listed as a resale. We actually had a garage listed for sale - it was in a condominium complex, you had to own a condo there to buy a garage. The garages have their own APN #, title, and a separate monthly HOA fee - about 10 bucks!
Virginia, wow, how cool for us guys. Neat idea.
Duane - I was amazed when I first heard about it - who would buy such a thing? Well, apparently a lot of people! My husband would!