Is barndominium living for you? Consider the pros and cons

After the past few years of climbing home prices — and a pandemic that made even spacious homes feel cramped — you’d be forgiven for fantasizing about moving your brood into a big country house.

One way to make it happen? A barndominium is what you get when you convert an old barn into a luxurious condominiumstyle abode.

(You can also build your own from scratch.)

We’ve been just as curious as you are about these nontraditional country homes.

So we talked to folks who have lived in (or sold) these unique homes.

Here are the main pros and cons for all would-be barndominium dwellers.

Pro No. 1: Rural lifestyle

All the barndominium owners we spoke to echoed a similar line of thought: Living in one is a great option if you’re looking for a simple, rural lifestyle for your family.

“It’s not uncommon to meet fellow barndo owners or builders who utilize rainwater collection systems, or are always up for talking gardening,” says real estate agent and barndominium owner Lauren Byington, of Warren + Lauren. Many even have backup systems in place with generators, propane tanks, and alternative energy — like solar.

But the rural lifestyle goes beyond sustainable living. It’s also a great choice for those with lots of outdoor interests and toys.

“For most folks, they choose to live in a barndominium because it’s usually in a rural area and allows [them] to have space for their hobbies and toys — such as woodworking, RVs, and ATVs,” says Don Howe of Barndominium Life.

Con No. 1: Lacks storage (and privacy)

The flip side of having one big and beautiful room taking up your whole house is this: You

Barndominium continues on K6

SHUTTERSTOCK A barndominium is what you get when you convert an old barn into a luxurious condominium-style abode.