From the young to the old, accessory dwelling units may be the answer to some of the most pressing housing issues of our time. Question such as:
- How will the young afford a single-family home?
- How will older generations continue to prosper living by themselves?
- What should I do to maximize my real estate investment?
So What is an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit, usually just called an ADU, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot.
ADU’s are known by many names. Some include, Accessory Dwelling Unit, Granny Flat, Mother-in-law’s Suite, Garden Cottage, Secondary Unit, Garage Conversion, and many others…
ADU’s can vary in their types and structure quite a bit. Types can include:
- Detached New Construction
- Garage Conversion
- Above Garage Addition
- Addition ADU aka “Bump Out”
- Basement Conversion ADU
- Junior ADU – Converting a portion of the existing home into a stand-alone unit
What Do Different Types of ADUs have in Common
While their structural forms vary, ADUs share some common traits and face common design and development challenges. For one thing, the fact that they’re secondary housing units on single family residentially zoned lots places ADUs into a unique category of housing. ADUs also have some other distinguishing characteristics that help further define, differentiate, and distinguish them from other housing types.
- ADUs are accessory and adjacent to a primary housing unit.
- ADUs are significantly smaller than the average US house.
- ADUs tend to be one of two units owned by one owner on a single-family residential lot.
- ADUs are bought and sold with the main home and cannot be sold separately.
- ADUs tend to be primarily developed asynchronously from the primary house by homeowner developers.
- A large range of municipal land use and zoning regulations differentiate ADU types and styles, and dramatically affect their allowed uses.
- Vast numbers of informal ADUs exist compared to permitted ADUs.
These differentiating characteristics make ADUs a distinct type of housing.
Benefits of Multi-generational living
One of the main benefits of owning an ADU is the ability to take equity in the home you own to add value by creating a space that you can not only rent out, but can also use to house you or your loved ones in whatever stage of life they are in.
Many families of multiple generations site the main benefit is financial security. Seniors are especially sensitive to financial issues as many have their homes paid off, but low monthly incomes, which leaves them with little extra spending money. The ability to add a renter or a family member could help to alleviate some of that financial strain.
Here are some other benefits of multigenerational living:
- Enhanced relationships
- More convenient and higher quality care for children or adults
- Improved financial situation
- Improved mental and physical health for household members
- Ability for a family member to pursue education or training
Some Helpful Tips
Cities are increasingly easing up on the building process for ADU structures making it far less complicated and time consuming than it once was.
In order to start the process, you will want to find a reputable contractor who has experience with ADU structures and who can help you navigate the process with ease.
We have some great referrals for you, if you are interested just let us know!