Jessica Patrzyk, 34, and her husband, who had operated a coffee shop and tarot studio in rural Worth, bought a ½‑acre parcel from her grandfather in exchange for a 55‑inch television.
They built the house from scratch, following YouTube tutorials and installing a hand‑drilled water well, all while salvaging doors, windows, and cabinets from local waste sites.
The finished residence, 2,500‑sq‑ft with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, sold for $290,000 on Zillow within 90 days of listing—a 625 % markup on the $40,000 construction cost.
After the sale, the family rented a truck for $5,000 and drove 1,200 miles to Florida, staying overnight in a hotel while touring 65 rental units over two weeks.
Patrzyk passed Florida’s real‑estate exam within weeks and joined 54 Realty; her husband earned a PADI scuba‑diving instructor license through a VA‑funded Zero‑to‑Hero program, allowing both to work full‑time in the state.
The couple notes Florida’s stricter permitting requirements make home modifications harder than the more permissive zoning on their former New York property, a shift they find frustrating.
They now lease a six‑bedroom home in San Antonio, Florida, and plan to open a diving school by fall.