Elijah Ray dedicated two years to working 90-hour weeks to fulfill his aspiration of homeownership. Now, he has taken a remarkable step forward by relocating into a micro home in his backyard and leasing out his primary house to generate income to meet his mortgage payments. Since obtaining his $333,000 three-bedroom house in Portland, OR, in early 2023, he has been on the lookout for a compact dwelling.

Why a Food Cart Became His Micro Home

When Ray laid eyes on the food cart, he instantly knew it was the one. "It was incredibly small; I can't even fathom what they were cooking inside. There was no space for a grill or any such equipment. But the moment I stepped inside, I felt, 'Yeah, this truly feels like a home,'" he recounts. With a budget of $1,500, he managed to negotiate the price down to $1,000. Typically, the average cost of a tiny house ranges from $30,000 to $60,000, and it can even reach up to $180,000 depending on its size and amenities, as stated by Rocket Mortgage. Ray initially intended to transform the food cart into a tiny house and rent it out along with his main house. However, the tiny-house laws in Portland were more stringent for renters compared to owners. "I had always wanted to live in a tiny house anyway, so I thought, 'Why not go for it?'" he remarks.The process of making the food cart into a habitable home was not without its challenges. The first task was to have plumbers assess the cart. Installing a sink and shower was relatively straightforward - holes were drilled in the cart, and water was run through them from his garden hose. But attempting to install a planned septic tank proved to be too expensive and difficult. "Every professional we consulted about the septic tank was like, 'That won't work,'" he says. As a result, he purchased a $1,060 compost toilet that utilizes coconut bark to break down waste. "In a way, it's like camping," he adds.For a bed, Ray came up with a creative solution - a $125 3-by-6-foot massage table. It is thin enough to fit on one side of the home and can be folded up when not in use. He had initially planned to use a roll-up mat, but his girlfriend, who follows his micro-home and main house renovation adventures on YouTube, advised him that his audience wouldn't want to see him sleeping on the floor. "She said I'd look like a homeless person," he laughs. "A pink massage table has better aesthetics." In total, Ray estimates he spent $3,500 to transform the food cart into a home.

Setbacks in Owning a Micro Home

After painting the house and installing most of the plumbing, tragedy struck. A nearby brushfire set the micro house ablaze. "That was truly disheartening. I thought my dream was over," he says. Fortunately, the fire only scorched the side of the house without causing significant damage to the plumbing. With a fresh coat of blue paint, replacement plumbing and wood, and a new window, he was able to resume his project.However, his troubles didn't end there. A $500 8-by-12-foot greenhouse he had set up in the yard to store his belongings and art materials, which didn't fit into the micro house, collapsed within a few weeks. "It was my worst nightmare. I couldn't fix it, and I had spent a lot of money on it," he says. The greenhouse where he stored his possessions collapsed. (elijahray123/YouTube)Even worse, a shelf in the micro house holding his Xbox, shoes, and clothes fell down in the middle of the night. "I hadn't bothered to look for studs because it seemed secure," he says. These minor setbacks taught him an important lesson: "I'm going to have to significantly downsize and sell or donate most of my stuff."

The Upside of Micro Living

"Moving into such a tiny house has taught me what truly matters. I was overly attached to things," Ray reflects. It has also equipped him with DIY skills, such as installing plumbing. And, perhaps most importantly, he will be living rent-free while two tenants cover his mortgage. One tenant has been residing in a studio within the main house since shortly after he bought it. The other, his sister, is set to move in soon.Despite the occasional glitches, Ray firmly believes it has all been worth it. "I always try to remind myself that I might face tough times, but there's a reason I'm doing this. I aim to accumulate wealth and retire early," he says.