This woman lives in an underground bunker — and not for the reasons you might expect.
Courtesy of Caitlin J.
Living underground might sound like an apocalyptic, worst-case scenario, but Caitlin J. is doing it now.
Caitlin, who asked Realtor.com not to share her last name (she doesn’t want anyone knocking on her door or, rather, hatch), has been living in an underground bomb shelter in California for just over two weeks. And no, it’s not because she thinks doomsday is on our doorstep. It’s simply to save money.
Caitlin pays just $500 per month for her subterranean abode, which is in the backyard of her friend’s house. She plans to hunker down here for a year, so she can save money to buy a condo — above ground.
The bunker was built in 2012 and is a little over 1,100 square feet. And while it’s not the most typical living situation, Caitlin is excited rather than scared — at least so far.
“Some people go on ‘Naked and Afraid,’” she says, referring to the reality show where people challenge themselves to live out in the wilderness for weeks. “I guess living in a bunker is sort of my ‘Naked and Afraid.’”
She’s chronicling her experiences day by day on her TikTok account, undergroundgirl1, which has sparked a flurry of concern for her well-being. Some fret over her lack of daylight and fresh air, urging her to “watch your health,” while others confess, “My fear of getting locked in there would never let that happen.”
Why unconventional homes are a growing necessity
Bunkers are having a moment. Companies who build these fortified structures, designed to offer protection during an emergency or catastrophic event, say interest has risen this year alone by 30% to 50%.
While most bunkers remain uninhabited “backup plans” rather than current residences, some desperate house hunters like Caitlin see them as a place to survive and wait out today’s high-priced housing market headwinds.
“My friend bought a house a couple years ago, and it came with a bunker,” she explains. “I just pitched the idea, ‘Hey, why don’t you just rent it to me? And then when you guys want to sell the place, we’ll know that everything’s in good working order down there.’”
While many might shudder at the idea of living underground, some homebuyers like Caitlin see it as a necessity for saving enough money to buy their own places.
“Prospective homebuyers are finding creative ways to save money for a home purchase,” says Realtor.com® economist Hannah Jones. “Hopeful buyers may be open to less-than-ideal living arrangements in the short term if it gets them closer to their goal.”
Particularly in California, the housing market has gotten so expensive that Devin Lucas, a real estate attorney, broker, and Realtor in Orange County, CA, admits, “I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges buyers are facing in this increasingly expensive market.”
Lucas observes that because many would-be buyers have found themselves priced out of their desired neighborhoods, they’ve had to adjust their expectations accordingly.
“Some are exploring alternatives, such as looking further away or considering smaller properties to make homeownership more attainable,” he adds.
He’s also seen an uptick in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and other rental options.
“With the newer and far more relaxed building laws surrounding ADUs, we’ve seen a lot more smaller rentals coming to market recently — some are spectacular units, some are converted garages,” he says.
Caitlin notes that even though she likes her new home so far, she wouldn’t consider living in the bunker permanently.
“I just figured with the cost of housing right now, and the interest rates, I’ll just stay here for a year,” she says. “And, you know, see if everything kind of calms down a bit.”
The surprising perks of living underground
Caitlin has only lived in her bunker for a matter of weeks, but she’s already discovered a few perks that come with this way of life — in addition to her safety in case a catastrophe does hit, that is.
Of course, one of the biggest perks of the bunker is its affordable rent. (Though Caitlin admits this bunker would likely cost more than $500 per month, if she wasn’t renting from a friend.)
She also reveals that utilities in the bunker are actually free.
“The water is on a well, and everything is covered by solar,” she…
Read More: ‘I live in an underground bunker’ — but it’s not to avoid the apocalypse