From Skoolie Life to a Tiny-Home Compound: How a Single Mom Built Affordable Housing for Her Teens
Thinking about buying a home but unsure how to afford it? Welcome to The Down Payment Diaries—a series where real people share the honest story behind how they saved, spent, and reimagined their path to homeownership.
Today’s story follows a single mother of four who traded a traditional lifestyle—and even four years of life on the road in a converted school bus—for 15 acres of off-grid land in upstate New York. Her goal wasn’t just homeownership, but something bigger: creating long-term, affordable housing for her children.
The Basics
- Age: 40
- Household: Partnered, with four children
- Occupation: Serial entrepreneur
- Household Income: $50,000
Growing Up With Homeownership as the Norm
She grew up in a home her parents owned, and homeownership was always presented as “just what you do.” By her late twenties, she had followed that blueprint—checking every box, buying a large home, and building what she thought was the ideal life.
But everything changed.
Why She Chose Life on the Road
When the pandemic began, she was living in a big house with expensive cars. Around that same time, her mother passed away. The loss triggered a deep shift in priorities.
“What I wanted most was time and freedom,” she explains. Traveling had always been out of reach due to her kids’ sports schedules—but suddenly, everything stopped.
After a divorce and the sale of her home, she used $28,000 from the proceeds to buy and convert a school bus. For the next four years, she and her children lived a nomadic life, traveling across the country during COVID.
Returning Home—But Not to a Traditional House
Eventually, the pull of family brought them back to New York. But a conventional house no longer made sense.
Instead, she envisioned something different: buying land and building a unique, sustainable living setup that could grow with her family.
Searching for the Right Land
Her non-negotiables were clear:
- At least 5 acres
- A rural setting, away from busy roads
- Interesting natural features like ponds, ravines, and mature trees
- Flat, open land suitable for building
She viewed around 20 properties in person. Many fell through due to hidden issues—wetlands restrictions, contamination concerns, or expensive demolition costs. One major lesson emerged early:
Listings don’t tell the full story. You have to do your own due diligence.
She visited county offices, pulled old maps, verified zoning laws, checked mineral rights, and confirmed land history. Trusting paperwork—and not just words—became essential.
Knowing When It Was “The One”
The land she ultimately bought was farther out than planned, but the moment she stepped onto it, everything clicked. The views were breathtaking, the pond was peaceful, and the property felt right in a way photos never could.
After sleeping on the decision, she moved forward.
Building a Tiny-Home Compound
Using funds she had invested after selling her previous home, she purchased the land and began building.
The Numbers:
- Total cost for three tiny homes: $85,000
- Construction time: About one year
- Labor: Entirely DIY
Her partner designed the homes, and together they built everything themselves.
What the Homes Are Like
The layout centers around a shared courtyard with three separate tiny homes:
- Main Home:
- 600 square feet
- Kitchen and living space
- Shared family area
- Two Teen Homes:
- About 400 square feet each
- Two bedrooms, bathroom, and common space
- Two kids share each home
After years in a bus, the main house felt enormous. More importantly, the setup gave everyone privacy, independence, and connection—a balance that worked for their family.
The Bigger Vision: Housing for Her Kids
The long-term plan is to build two more tiny homes, eventually giving each child their own space. With housing costs skyrocketing, her goal is simple: offer her kids a stable, affordable way to start adulthood.
There’s one rule: if they live there, they must actively save money. When they’re ready to move out, they’ll have options. If they leave, the homes can be rented as Airbnbs.
Living Fully Off the Grid
The entire compound runs on solar power and sustainable systems—a lifestyle she learned during her skoolie years.
Benefits include:
- Power during storm outages
- No expensive winter utility bills
- Predictable monthly costs
- Reduced water and energy use
Living off grid wasn’t a compromise—it was a choice.
Pushing Back Against “You Can’t”
From zoning officials to neighbors, she heard constant doubt:
- “Your house can’t have wheels.”
- “You can’t build multiple tiny homes.”
- “You’ll have to connect to the grid eventually.”
She didn’t.
“People forget there’s more than one way to do things.”
What’s Next?
Inspired by their journey, she and her partner launched Southern Tier Tiny Homes, a company focused on building tiny homes, buses, and efficient off-grid housing.
Their mission: make alternative living realistic, affordable, and accessible for more people.
