I bought 2 Airbnb tiny houses and put them in my yard. It started as an easy way to make extra cash — now it's my primary source of income.

• Ansel Troy is an Airbnb host and the owner of two tiny homes in Oakland, California.
• Troy bought the homes for about $35,000 each, and Airbnb is now Troy's primary source of income.
• "I'm what you call a house hacker," Troy said. "I'm always thinking of ways to utilize my property."

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Ansel Troy, an Airbnb host and the owner of two tiny homes in Oakland, California. The following has been edited for length and clarity.