The do-it-yourself, modest tiny home boom is gaining popularity in an era of shocking rent increases and low housing inventory — and we may have America's former largest retailer, Sears ...

Between 1908 and 1940, Sears sold more than 100,000 houses this way. They came in 447 different styles. Today, modular and mobile homes come on a flatbed trucks, partially or fully constructed.

And — amazingly, for the time — they could even order homes via catalog. Sears, once America's largest retailer, was just one company that sold homes this way. Now that its parent company has ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Not long ago, the Sears, Roebuck and Co. mail-order catalog was the ultimate ...

Even homes. From 1908 to 1940, customers could pick out their own ready-to-assemble home kit from a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog and have the materials shipped directly to them, primarily by rail.

Even homes. From 1908 to 1940, customers could pick out their own ready-to-assemble home kit from a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog and have the materials shipped directly to them, primarily by rail.

In a 1926 advertisement in its Modern Homes catalog, Sears, Roebuck ballyhooed a mail-order home called the Verona as follows: "Dutch Colonial with four bedrooms, one full bath and a lavatory ...

Lisa Schrott and Brian McWilliams had no idea their house was a catalog-order Sears, Roebuck and Company home when they bought it. Schrott and McWilliams were living in South Carolina, but she was ...

And — amazingly, for the time — they could even order homes via catalog. Sears, once America's largest retailer, was just one company that sold homes this way. Now that its parent company has ...