It's worked out quite well; I own 3 decent SFR properties in far northern rural CA, paying less in mortgage, taxes than owning a tiny 2/1 condo in San Diego.

If your main reason is to avoid a tiny conveyance fee and value reassessment from the county,  there is too much risk. 

So even if Austin feels inundates by Californians, it actually only takes a tiny fraction of Californians to create this impression.When you look at Calfornia's net out-migration per capita, it's nothing crazy.

I agree inflation is for sure having an effect but the sheer quantity of demand and lack of housing in the area is really what I think is driving it. 

There is a guy on YouTube who goes by Robuilt who offers a lot of detail on a tiny home he built in Joshua Tree.And there's another guy who goes by HomeMadeModern who documented the process of building a tiny home in Joshua Tree.

I found one of the most respected traders for that market and signed a deal to buy some small quantity from him (I didn't make much money on that trade :) ).

OR a tiny home ADU to air bnb.

@Cole Fleishour - month to month leases, cameras outside to prove pets then back bill, personal i allow pets with weight, breed, and quantity limits of course with more deposit and additional rent, i just use luxury vinyl floor instead of carpet.

IF anyone gets evicted ( I still think this number will be TINY.) they certainly won’t want to rent an apartment.

Construction of a Tiny Home Village for the homeless is expected to be completed this year, 30 units at an estimated cost of $4.3 million is good, but it’s a drop in the bucket.