Thin for the win: Jacksonville Beach 'skinny house' sells for full asking price

When it comes to real estate, never underestimate the power of a good story, unique design or a builder who loves a challenge.

The two-story home at 1952 Horn St., known as the "skinny house," just 10 feet wide and shoehorned onto a leftover sliver of land in Jacksonville Beach, checks all those boxes. Just two months after being listed (and a viral turn on social media), the home sold May 28 for $619,000 — its full asking price.

That didn't come as a surprise to broker Ryan Wetherhold of Oceanside Real Estate, who listed the property.

"Even at full price it was below market value," Wetherhold said. "We had many interested buyers and as word of the property went viral, it no doubt helped demand."

The home reportedly caused a stir even before the first shovelful of dirt was turned. Sitting vacant for years, the 25-by-140-foot lot was being used for gardening by a next-door neighbor. After it was purchased by builder John Atkins, word spread that he intended to go before the board of adjustment in order to put up a 15-foot-wide home. The gardening neighbor and other homeowners banded together and persuaded the board not to allow it.

Wetherhold and Atkins, who have a 20-year history of building on small, irregular lots, then proceeded with the 10-foot-wide home.

"To be honest, the builder almost built this out of spite just because of that fact," said Wetherhold in an interview with Business Insider. "'Oh, you don't think we can build, hold my beer.'"

The resulting 1,547-square-foot home was completed in early 2024 and listed for $619,000 in late March. When Zillow Gone Wild got wind of it just a couple of weeks later, the story of the spacious-yet-compact abode really took off. Stories began to appear all over the country and even crossed the pond to the Daily Mail and GB News, both based in the United Kingdom.

Weird Florida homes: 10-foot-wide Florida 'skinny house' built out of spite. Here's what it costs, and a tour

The buyer, a local man represented by Tansy Moon of Engel & Volkers First Coast, was initially a bit skeptical to consider the house.

"I actually had to talk him into seeing it, as he was really looking for a bigger three-bedroom," Moon said. "But, this house 'lives' much bigger than its square footage."

Moon, who was previously unaware of the home's status as an internet sensation, added that the buyer was smitten the moment he entered the home. The two wrote an offer that same day, meeting the home's full asking price to the penny.

Wetherhold was correct in his assertion that the home was below market value. A quick search on Realtor.com shows home values for similarly sized properties in that area range from about $680,000 to $800,000 and higher. Those actively listed on the market are priced northwards of $1 million.

It's Moon's understanding that the buyer intends to live in the home full-time.

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"It was so unique but it still checked all the boxes of what he was looking for in a home," she said. "When we got there for the showing, the builder gave me a tour before my buyer showed up. The house was really so well-done."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Viral 'skinny house' in Jacksonville Beach lives large, snags buyer