Before he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, design major Joel Weber took one look at the rising cost of living for a struggling college student and knew dorm life wasn’t for him.
A room in one of the school’s residence halls costs roughly $1,135 per month. Living off campus is no less forgiving. The median rent for a one-bedroom in a nearby downtown district jumps to $1,913, according to real-estate site Zumper.
So Weber tried down-sizing. He constructed a 145-square-foot tiny house in a friend’s backyard. It cost less than $15,000 to build, thanks to generous donations and a bit of resourcefulness. Now the 25-year-old — who earned his associate degree and traveled before enrolling at UT-Austin as a sophomore — pays nothing in rent and plans to graduate debt-free.
Take a peek inside his unconventional “student housing”:
Weber, a design major, started by laying rope in the shape of his future tiny house in the backyard. “I would sit in it and imagine where I’d want my bathroom,” Weber says.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
He had some handiwork and plumbing experience, but Weber would need help building the dream home. He also emptied his savings and emergency fund. “I knew it was a risk,” Weber laughs.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
Courtesy of Joel Weber
One year and roughly $15,000 later, the house was complete. Weber couldn’t have been happier.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
He describes the aesthetic as “organic contemporary.” Reclaimed wood and stainless steel come together.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
Steps in the foyer serve as storage, a desk, and stairs to the loft.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
Weber used wood scraps — given by families who sheltered him during construction — to create a seating area. “That’s how their homes live on with me,” he says.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
This resourcefulness allowed him to make some splurges, like the rain shower head and stainless-steel light-switch covers.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
The loft provides a calm little oasis above the kitchen. It fits a queen- or twin-size bed.
Courtesy of Joel Weber
He plans to live in his tiny house for as long as he can, despite multiple offers to buy it. Weber may eventually list it on Airbnb as a vacation rental. “It’s a feeling of being underneath a canopy of trees,” Weber says. “You feel that space embrace you.”
Courtesy of Joel Weber