How small could you go?

500 sq. ft.? 700? Is anything under 1,000 square feet simply too small?

I did some digging through the MLS to find the 11 smallest detached single-family homes currently for sale in Benton County, WA. The results are pretty interesting. These homes range from just 516 to 794 square feet, and several come with surprisingly good-sized yards.

For first-time buyers, downsizers, or anyone who would rather spend less time cleaning and maintaining a house, smaller-home living can have some real advantages.

So, let's count them down from #11 to the smallest home currently for sale in Benton County.

#11 — 206 E 14th Ave, Kennewick

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 794 sq. ft. | Built 1948

At 794 square feet, this is actually the largest home on our list—which tells you just how small we're going.

This Kennewick home gives you the benefits of a detached home and private yard without thousands of square feet to clean, furnish and maintain.

[VIEW 206 E 14TH AVE →]

#10 — 413 Winslow Ave, Richland

3 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 774 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Three bedrooms in only 774 square feet?

Older homes like this are a great example of how builders once maximized every inch. Instead of oversized kitchens, multiple living rooms and huge primary suites, these homes focused on fitting the essentials into a much smaller footprint.

[VIEW 413 WINSLOW AVE →]

#9 — 803 Smith Ave, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 774 sq. ft. | Built 1944

It's surprising how much can fit into less than 800 square feet when nearly every inch has a purpose.

This two-bedroom Richland home is a perfect example.

[VIEW 803 SMITH AVE →]

#8 — 715 Thayer Dr, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 648 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Now we're getting smaller!

At only 648 square feet, this Richland home still packs in two bedrooms and a bathroom while giving you the benefits of a detached home.

And think about what you don't have: thousands of extra square feet to furnish, clean, heat and cool.

[VIEW 715 THAYER DR →]

#7 — 510 Carol Ave, Benton City

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 640 sq. ft. | Built 1920

This one takes us back more than a century.

Built in 1920, this Benton City home offers just 640 square feet of living space—but sits on approximately a quarter-acre lot.

That's one of the things I find interesting about some of these homes: small house doesn't necessarily mean small property.

[VIEW 510 CAROL AVE →]

#6 — 504 Wright Ave, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 609 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Welcome to the 600-square-foot club.

You'll notice several homes on this list were built in Richland in 1944. These compact homes are part of the city's unique housing history and reflect an era when efficient housing was needed as Richland rapidly expanded during the Manhattan Project.

The result? Homes designed to make use of nearly every square foot.

[VIEW 504 WRIGHT AVE →]

#5 — 1605 Perkins Ave, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 609 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Another 609-square-foot Richland home—but here's where this one gets interesting.

The home sits on an approximately 7,405-square-foot lot.

That means you have more than 12 times as much outdoor space as indoor living space.

For someone who doesn't need a large house but values a yard, garden or outdoor living space, that's an interesting combination.

[VIEW 1605 PERKINS AVE →]

#4 — 1006 Winslow Ave, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 609 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Another example of Richland's compact 1940s housing stock.

Two bedrooms. One bathroom. Just 609 square feet.

These homes are a reminder that bigger hasn't always been considered better. Older homes were often designed around what people actually needed rather than adding rooms and square footage simply for size.

[VIEW 1006 WINSLOW AVE →]

#3 — 804 Davenport St, Richland

2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 609 sq. ft. | Built 1944

Yes, another one at exactly 609 square feet!

For a buyer who wants the privacy and outdoor space that can come with a detached home without maintaining a large house, homes like this can be an interesting alternative to a condo or apartment.

[VIEW 804 DAVENPORT ST →]

#2 — 908 Chris Ave, Benton City

1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | 568 sq. ft. | Built 1940

We've officially dropped below 600 square feet.

This Benton City home offers just 568 square feet of living space, but the lot is approximately 7,840 square feet.

That's the appeal of some of these properties.

Maybe you don't want to spend your weekends cleaning a huge house. Maybe you'd rather have a smaller interior and spend your time outside enjoying the yard.

If that's you, a property like this starts to make a lot more sense.

[VIEW 908 CHRIS AVE →]

🏆 #1 — 3706 Grant Loop, West Richland

1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | JUST 516 sq. ft. | Built 1960

We found it.

According to my MLS search, 3706 Grant Loop is the smallest detached single-family home currently for sale in Benton County.

Just 516 square feet.

But here's the interesting part: the home sits on approximately 3,920 square feet of land. You still get your own detached home and your own outdoor space.

Could YOU live in 516 square feet?

That's the real question.

For someone downsizing, a first-time buyer wanting to get into homeownership, or someone who simply doesn't want to maintain a large home, 516 square feet might be enough.

For everyone else?

Maybe you could make it three days.

[VIEW 3706 GRANT LOOP →]

What Does 500–800 Square Feet Really Look Like?

It's easy to read "600 square feet" without really thinking about what that means.

The largest home on this entire list is only 794 square feet.

The smallest is 516 square feet.

Yet these are detached homes with bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and their own outdoor space.

The biggest difference between a 600-square-foot home and a 2,600-square-foot home isn't necessarily whether you have the essentials.

It's how much extra space you have around those essentials.

Formal dining room you use twice a year? Gone.

Second or third living room? Probably not.

Huge primary suite? Definitely not.

Every square foot has to earn its keep.

And for some buyers, that's exactly the point.

Why Would Anyone Want a Smaller Home?

Big isn't always better.

Plenty of homeowners eventually realize they're cleaning, heating, cooling and maintaining rooms they barely use.

Here are a few reasons smaller-home living might be worth considering:

💰 Potentially Lower Purchase Price

Smaller homes are often among the lower-priced detached homes in a market.

For a first-time buyer who thinks homeownership is completely out of reach, reducing the square footage you're searching for could open up additional possibilities.

🧹 Less House to Maintain

Every square foot eventually needs something.

Cleaning. Flooring. Paint. Repairs. Furniture.

Simply having less house can mean having less to maintain.

⚡ Potentially Lower Utility Costs

A smaller home may require less energy to heat and cool, although the home's age, insulation, HVAC system and overall condition all matter.

🌳 You Can Still Have a Yard

This might be my favorite part of the list.

Small house does not automatically mean small yard.

Several of these homes have substantially more outdoor space than indoor space.

For someone who loves gardening, pets, outdoor entertaining or simply having some breathing room outside, that can make a small home much more appealing.

📦 Less Room for Stuff

There's only so much you can fit into 600 square feet.

And maybe that's not a bad thing.

Less space can encourage you to keep the things you actually use instead of filling rooms with things simply because you have room for them.

✈️ More Money for the Things You Want

If choosing a smaller, less-expensive home results in a lower monthly housing payment, that could potentially leave more room in your budget for other priorities—travel, investing, retirement, hobbies or improving the home you already have.

Could You Live in 600 Square Feet?

This might be my favorite question from this entire search.

What's the minimum square footage YOU could comfortably live in?

1,500?

1,000?

800?

Could you actually do 600?

What about 516 square feet?

There isn't a right answer.

One buyer may walk into a 600-square-foot house and immediately feel cramped. Another might see the same home and think, I could own this instead of continuing to rent.

That's what makes real estate interesting.

The "perfect home" isn't the biggest home.

It's the home that fits the way you want to live.

Looking for an Affordable Home in the Tri-Cities?

You don't necessarily have to buy a tiny home to find something that fits your budget.

If you're a first-time buyer, downsizing, or simply trying to keep your monthly payment within a certain range, I can build a home search around what actually matters to you, including:

• Maximum price
• Minimum or maximum square footage
• Lot size
• Number of bedrooms
• Garage or shop
• RV parking
• Updated home or fixer-upper
• Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland, Benton City or surrounding communities

[SHOW ME HOMES IN MY BUDGET →]

Want to See More Small Homes for Sale?

These were the 11 smallest detached single-family homes available in Benton County at the time of my MLS search. Real estate inventory changes constantly, so some of these homes may sell and new options may hit the market.

That's why a live home search is much more useful than relying on a static list.

[VIEW ALL HOMES UNDER 1,000 SQ. FT. →]

Or just reach out and tell me:

"Show me the small homes."

I can build a search around your budget, preferred location, lot size and everything else that's important to you.

Because whether it's 516 square feet or 5,160 square feet, the goal isn't finding the biggest home possible.

It's finding the right home for you.

Listing availability and property information can change. Property details should be independently verified and current listing status confirmed before relying on the information above.