≡ Menu

13 Year Old Teen Builds Debt-free Tiny Home


This post contains affiliate links.

When she was 12 years old she started building her own debt-free tiny house.

This all started around January 2013. It’s just about a year and 4 months later now and she’s finished the project.

Sicily now owns her own debt-free 128 sq. ft. tiny home on wheels that she built herself.

Please don’t miss other exciting tiny homesjoin our FREE Tiny House Newsletter!

Teen Completes Building Mortgage-free Tiny Home

And you won’t believe what she’s been through while doing it…

The biggest hurdle you can imagine happened.

Her father, who was helping her with the project every day, passed away in a car accident.

And she didn’t know what to do. Until she came to the conclusion,

“I realized I wasn’t going to be doing it with him,” Sicily said. “I decided to do it for him. I wanted to show him, wherever he was, what I could accomplish and what I could do.” (source)

Video Tour with Sicily, her Tiny Home & Story

 Video Tour 2

Check out her blog right here.

Read her story in the Access Atlanta article in Marietta.

Source: ajc.com/weblogs/buzz/2014/apr/10/marietta-teens-tiny-house-huge-hit

If you were inspired by this story you’ll love our free daily tiny house newsletter with more!

You can also join our Small House Newsletter!

Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!

More Like This: Tiny Houses | Young Lady Builds Her Own Tiny Home for $9k | THOW

See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest Tiny Houses

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.

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 }
  • Lynn
    April 11, 2014, 8:16 pm

    Sicily, you are truly inspiring. Your house is beautiful and wow! What a way to face a challenge. I can see the whole experience, the inner journey and the end product of your tiny house will serve you well in life. Congratulations.
    Warm regards, Lynn

  • April 11, 2014, 9:31 pm

    Sicily,
    Your home is adorable. You are a HUGE inspiration to people of all ages. No telling what your future holds, but I pray it will be bright. I am so very sorry to hear of your fathers death. I am sure he would be so proud of your efforts and accomplishments. Love your mix of bright white and weathered dark wood. Your bath tub is also lovely. I like that your tub is deeper than most RV tubs. I have a tiny tub in my tiny house but it is too tiny.
    Many blessings.
    Tonita

    • Alex
      April 15, 2014, 6:23 pm

      Thanks Tonita

  • Doc
    April 12, 2014, 12:31 am

    Sicily,
    I’ve seen a bunch of these homes on many sites over the past few years. Yours is an amazing little home that I hope you enjoy for many years to come. As a father of 5 I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and your accomplishments competing this project with your mom. I have always involved my children in home repairs, building and remodeling. I wanted them to know how to do what I could do. Taught me by my father. You now have imparted some of your skills to your mother who will now have the skills and knowledge to do her own building and repairs. Something I think every woman should possess. Its great to be independent! My youngest daughter now owns her own home. Does all of her own repairs and remodel projects, ceramic tiles, vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring, trim, electrical, paint and plumbing 🙂
    If you and mom can do that all your life you will save thousands of dollars. So cool. So proud. So happy for you. 🙂
    Here’s an internet ((hug)) and a noogie on top of your head to tell you, good job!

  • Jerry
    April 12, 2014, 3:21 am

    Amazing house! You should be very proud, and know that your father is too!

  • Glema
    April 12, 2014, 6:13 am

    May the Good Lord take your father home to be happily building your spiritual home for you when you get there. And bless you richly so you can prepare for college and live in your TH you built with your parents. You still have plenty of time to save and buy the tiny fridge and tiny stove, heater, things you will need later. Perhaps the on demand hot water system. I pray you are blessed with it all. Our family is VERY proud of you as I am sure your Father is very proud too. Tc, GBU, and Happy Trails!

  • Shelly
    April 14, 2014, 9:39 am

    I love it!!!! You have totally rocked the house and more important you have inspired this 44 yrs old woman to take the plunge and do one. Again thank you for sharing and helping me take the leap.

    • Alex
      April 15, 2014, 6:24 pm

      Thanks Shelly! Right on!

  • April 17, 2014, 8:45 pm

    That. Is. So. Freaking. Awesome! Your own home at 12 years old! You are set for life! Very inspiring young lady! I didn’t go quite the route you did in my late 20s, as I picked up a travel trailer at that time. Last month, I picked up my second one, not near as big, but something my Jeep Wrangler could handle. Maybe one day, I will build a Tiny House on wheels…

    • Alex
      April 18, 2014, 3:57 pm

      Thanks Stephanie! Your story sounds awesome and inspiring too.

      Anyway glad that Sicily was able to inspire you too. If you ever wanna share your story and travel trailer I’m always looking: https://tinyhousetalk.com/submit-content

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.