One of the most popular trends we have seen recently is that of small and affordable housing. Whether it is because of financial or ideological reasons, many of us are looking for housing alternatives. Accessory dwelling units provide a great option for those trying to find a rental property that doesn’t require much maintenance and that can fit into their budgets. Besides, ADUs are a great financial opportunity that every homeowner should consider.
Thanks to the recent rising popularity of ADUs, it is important to really understand what exactly accessory dwelling units are. Also, before deciding to build a dwelling unit, we should know about the different types available. This way, we will be able to make a more informed decision and enjoy the advantages that come from building an ADU.
What Exactly Are Accessory Dwelling Units?
Accessory dwelling units are secondary residencies that homeowners are becoming more and more interested in recently. These housing units provide an excellent space that can be used as a host house or a rental property. In many cases, homeowners build ADUs to provide temporary or permanent accommodation for family members. However, residents are looking at accessory dwelling units as rental properties, which in turn provide them with an extra income. Before deciding to build one of these units, we should consider the different types of ADUs available.
The Different Types of ADUs
There are different types of accessory dwelling units we can build, which all relate to its location within our property. The size of the project and the land we have available for construction will determine the type of ADU we choose. Also, the type of housing and accommodation we want to provide will play a key role.
The most common type of dwelling units is internal units. We are quite familiar with these, as many houses already come with basement or attic apartments. Rooms or housing units above the garage are quite common too.
Attached dwelling units have become more popular during recent years. We would choose this type if, for example, we don’t have much land available. We might want to keep such space as part of our main house, too, and attached ADUs would be ideal in this case.
Nevertheless, we are starting to see more and more detached ADUs being built across the country. Independent, secondary residences that are still part of the main property are booming. Thus, many homeowners are interested in building this type of units within their properties, either for family members or as rental properties.
The Advantages of Building an ADU
As we mentioned above, ADUs are a great alternative for affordable housing. Since these units come with full bathrooms and kitchens, they cover pretty much every basic need. Many homeowners are building secondary residencies, and many more people are looking to rent them too. This is because families and households nowadays are significantly smaller than they used to be. The average household consists of 2.6 people, and ADUs provide just the right space for them.
As a result, homeowners looking for investment opportunities are building accessory dwelling units in their properties. This allows them to generate additional income while raising the value of their property at the same time. Thus, we might want to consider this idea if we own a house or if we are looking for a rental property that can fit our budget.
