After escaping an abusive marriage, Cara Brookins, a mother of five, took a bold step to rebuild her life—literally. Unable to afford a suitable home in 2007, Cara decided to build one from scratch using YouTube tutorials and her own determination.

With a \$20,000 plot of land and a \$150,000 construction loan, she and her kids constructed a 3,500-square-foot house. Her oldest child was 17, and her youngest just 2. Each child contributed—11-year-old Jada hauled water to mix concrete, and son Drew helped draft plans. For complex tasks, Cara hired a part-time firefighter for \$25 an hour.