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Boxabl, a Las Vegas-based housing startup founded in 2017 by mechanical engineer and industrial designer Paolo Tiramani, is making headlines with its foldable modular home called the Casita. Priced at $60,000, the 375-square-foot unit is designed to be built in just a few hours, offering what the company says is a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable alternative to traditional housing.
The idea has attracted nearly 70,000 preorders worldwide, raising questions about whether this innovation could help solve affordability problems in U.S. cities and beyond.
Launched with $2 million in seed funding from its cofounders, Boxabl has since raised more than $150 million, mostly through crowdfunding campaigns.
The company’s factory in North Las Vegas now produces these prefabricated foldable homes at scale, with the goal of making housing more accessible. According to Boxabl, demand has surged not only from individual buyers but also from governments and organizations looking for emergency housing solutions.
The company gained widespread attention in 2020 after reports suggested that Elon Musk had purchased a unit. Musk confirmed in September 2021 that he was indeed living in a Boxabl Casita near SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, boosting the company’s visibility worldwide.
Inside the $60,000 Casita
The Casita is designed as a compact but fully equipped home. According to Boxabl, the unit includes a kitchen fitted with an oven, stove, microwave, sink, refrigerator, HVAC system, and storage cabinets. The living area is large enough for a king-size bed, couch, and optional designer closet. Multiple power outlets and 8-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide windows and doors add to the sense of space and light.
Boxabl says the entire home can be shipped on a standard truck and unfolded on-site within hours, significantly reducing the costs and environmental impact compared to traditional construction.
Mixed Reactions Over Price and Value
Reactions to the Casita’s $60,000 price tag have been divided. Some see it as a breakthrough for people who want affordable, fast housing solutions, while critics argue it is still too expensive for many working families.
As of 2023, the average U.S. single-family home cost $381,287, according to Zillow, while condos in cities like New York ranged from $785,333 for a studio to over $10 million for larger units, according to Castle Avenue. By comparison, the Casita offers an entry point at a fraction of urban real estate prices, though land, permits, and utility connections remain additional costs.
Wider Applications and Future Potential
Beyond personal housing, Boxabl’s foldable homes are being considered for disaster relief, military housing, and humanitarian efforts in regions facing displacement. The company has hinted at future collaborations with governments to supply rapid-deployment housing during natural disasters.
The homes have also sparked discussion about their potential role in space exploration. Advocates argue that lightweight, prefabricated modules like the Casita could support long-term missions on Mars, where shipping building materials would cost billions of dollars, even with rockets like SpaceX’s Starship. While this application remains speculative, it highlights the flexibility of Boxabl’s technology.
What’s Next for Boxabl?
With demand outpacing supply, Boxabl is expanding its production facilities and exploring automation to meet orders faster. The company has stated that delivering its backlog of preorders could take years, but it remains focused on scaling up.
As cities face rising housing costs and growing homelessness, Boxabl positions itself as a company aiming to disrupt the way homes are built and owned. Whether it becomes a mainstream housing solution or remains a niche product, the Casita has already reshaped the conversation about affordable housing.
