Cara Brookins, escaping an abusive marriage with her five kids, decided to build a home from scratch when she couldn’t afford one. With no prior construction experience, she taught herself using YouTube videos, drew the plans, and even ran gas lines and installed plumbing.
In 2007, she bought a one-acre lot and took out a construction loan. Her kids helped—her son Drew worked on plans, and her daughter Jada mixed concrete. They hired a part-time firefighter for expert guidance. By 2009, they moved into their 3,500-square-foot home, Inkwell Manor, symbolizing her resilience.
“If I, a 110-pound programmer, can build a house, you can do anything,” she says.
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