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Young Man Building Mortgage-free Tiny House (He Started at 18!)


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This is the story of a young man who started building his own mortgage-free tiny house at age 18.

Now, at age 21, Josh and his girlfriend Lindsay are almost done building it and getting ready to move in.

In the beginning, he started the project with a summer job to save money for the trailer and building materials.

Three years later, he’s almost finished! And Josh is proud to say that he’s kept the project debt-free.

He also decided to start his own tiny house construction company called Red Door Tiny Homes. He offers tiny house framing plans and building services.

At Age 18, He Started Building this Debt-free Tiny Home

Mortgage-free Tiny House 001

Images © Exploring Alternatives via YouTube

Mortgage-free Tiny House 002 Mortgage-free Tiny House 003 Mortgage-free Tiny House 004 Mortgage-free Tiny House 005 Mortgage-free Tiny House 006

Images © Exploring Alternatives via YouTube

Video: Teen Started Building Mortgage-free Tiny Home at Just 18!

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 12 comments… add one }
  • May 27, 2016, 3:56 am

    Really well done! It’s wonderful to see and hear people of this younger generation speaking about sustainability of our planet as well as the need to live debt-free lives! This is a beautiful, bright home and the occupants have sound and sane values. I see long and happy lives here.

  • Rue
    May 27, 2016, 12:55 pm

    Good for him! He’ll have a great start in life not having to be saddled with a mortgage (just maybe student debt?)

    I wish the tiny house movement had been around when I was his age – I doubt I’d have bought my townhouse. I wistfully remember the days when I was able to move most of my stuff without having to rent a truck. Now I’m not sure everything would even fit in a single U-Haul…. 🙁

  • Kathy
    May 27, 2016, 2:33 pm

    Congrats Josh and Lindsay as you close in on the sweet sweet reward of your three years of work. Love your commitment to pay-as-you-go too! (I see you were still saving for appliances as these photos were taken, LOL) Best of luck with your new business, Red Door Tiny Homes.If this home is any measurement of your work I’d say you will go far!

  • Emily c.
    May 27, 2016, 2:48 pm

    I am so impressed with this young man. His attention to detail and knowledge of what works to make a tiny home livable. I know I’m supposed to be giving my opinion of the tiny home. Which I think is great. Very well built. But my opinion of many minlinals has been one of self severing over indulgence. He blow that out of the water. I wish him success with his new business and if I ever have a tiny house built I will certainly consider him for the job.

  • May 27, 2016, 3:40 pm

    I admire that he has really thought this out and done a very good job with it. I like the desks and the windows that add a little different take on the usual tiny house. I hope they enjoy their lives in a tiny house and the business grows.

  • Susan
    May 27, 2016, 4:56 pm

    Wonderful job…great outlook on your future!!!

  • Stefan
    May 27, 2016, 7:59 pm

    I think you are on the right track! I’m a painter by trade ,I just love what you did on inside and out! But on very hot days I would want my roof white for obvious reasons that it’s cooler. Keep up the good work! And can you list what county’s you are in when asking for permits on what you can do as far as living in one ! Thank you!

  • Porcsha
    May 27, 2016, 8:38 pm

    Ahh! There is hope for humanity yet!

  • Lisa E.
    May 27, 2016, 8:50 pm

    Awesome job, Josh. A great beginning for you and Lindsay. Now that you have your home all built and paid for, you can look ahead to your future. Bright blessings to you both!

  • Marsha Cowan
    May 28, 2016, 9:50 am

    Well, everybody has pretty much voiced my feelings already, but I will add that they have a “nack” for quality. It seems to be a very solid, well built tiny home, and gracefully designed and decorated. You can’t beat a simple stained exterior with a red metal roof and red trim. It’s s classic…lovely.

  • Marsha Cowan
    May 28, 2016, 9:52 am

    . . . I meant “a” classic . . . One day I will learn to type 😀

  • ROSEE
    June 10, 2016, 12:39 pm

    Josh: You are an inspiration for all young people, especially starting this tiny home while you were in your late teens. Good for you! And a job well done too! Enjoy in living in your own home you built with your hands. Thank you for sharing this, Josh!

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