5 Reasons Why ADUs Are Becoming Popular
ADUs are popular within the United States and continue to gain more popularity each and every year. Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU for short, isn’t something you should ignore. Upon looking it up, you might think that an ADU is the same things as a tiny home. In some cases, they may be but for the most part, local government views them as something entirely different.
Why Are ADUs becoming so popular?
1.) Affordability
It’s no secret that the housing market has dramatically increased in the last few years. Depending on where you live, $400,000 to build or even buy a modest home is no longer out of the question. Without question, affordability is the most popular reason why ADUs are popping up everywhere. Purchasing a prefab or modular ADU is a much cheaper option, compared to your ordinary stick-built home. Most times ADUs are a fraction of the price no matter if you are building it or purchasing a prefab ADU option.
When you purchase a prefab ADU from Zook Cabins it is built in a factory with components that will be to the regulations of your state’s modular home requirements. This means that the walls, framing, insulation, and ceiling will all be inspected prior to the arrival of your home, meaning you will have less time tied up with inspectors.
2.) Size
Another reason ADUs are becoming popular nationwide is because of their size. The size of an ADU can be anywhere from 400 square feet to 1,200 square feet. Most of these dwelling units are smaller than 1,000 square feet. While an ADU could be as large as 1,000 square feet, most ADUs can be described as studio or one-bedroom apartments. To be an official ADU that building must contain a sleeping area, this dwelling unit must also be equipped with a bathroom and kitchen.
For those who don’t want to use their ADU as rental income or use them as a dwelling, there’s always the option of using the space for other means. ADUs that are not being used as your residence can be used as a painting studio, reading room, home office, or even a guest house.
We think that using your ADU for any of these options is a great way to use your new space.
3.) Investment
Owning a modern ADU is a wise investment, even if it’s a prefab or modular one. No matter how you look at it, there’s always a positive outcome. Having an ADU on your property can yield almost an ROI (Return On Investment) of around 30% on the property value. You’d get roughly the same amount off your investment ADU as renovating a master bathroom. A detached model is your best bang for the buck if you’re considering owning one of these dwelling units. Detached ADUs make an amazing investment opportunity because they not only increase your property value but can also be rented out for additional income.
Homeowners who own an ADU that’s not inhabited by a family member usually rent out the unit to younger professionals or single adults. Due to their affordability, renting out an ADU for less than the cost of an average apartment will still allow you to reap the benefits of being passive income. Your tenant pays less than in a conventional apartment setting, and you continue to gather profit from your investment property in the form of an ADU.
4.) Multigenerational Living
Other than affordability and investment potential, many choose to have an ADU simply because it allows multiple generations to live close together. This is why ADUs are called in-law apartments or granny flats. Having an older family member on the same property lets you watch over them if they require assistance, or allows you to have them close by if you need help with the children.
Multigenerational living doesn’t mean the older generation needs to live in the ADU either, it could be the younger generation that does. Most of the time, when multiple generations living arrangements occur, the older generation lives in the ADU. This is often because, ADUs tend to be 1 story living or at the very least have all of the main living needs on the first floor.
5.) Financial Incentives And Grants
Financial incentives are a major reason that ADUs are becoming popular. Let’s face it, living in some of the bigger cities in America is becoming quite expensive. Yet these major metropolitan areas want to continue to grow their population as well. To help combat the issues of affordable housing several states are offering financial incentives to help you bring an existing ADU up to code or to construct a new one.
For example, California offers an ADU grant program of $40,000 to help with ADU renovations and construction. On the other hand, New York state is offering a similar program, this program will offer homeowners up to $125,000 towards the construction of a new ADU. Both of these programs are still active in August of 2024, but checking in with your local ordinances will help you figure out what is best for you and your needs.
Are ADUs and Tiny Homes On Wheels the Same Thing?
Sometimes Tiny homes on wheels may be eligible to be used as an ADU but they are not built the same way. Additionally most times they are legally recognized differently. For one thing, tiny homes are usually built on wheels where as our ADUs are not.
Our Park Model Tiny Home On Wheels can be moved from place to place and are built to meet RV standards. If a THOW is something that interests you check out our Park Model Tiny Homes, they offer a comfortable and beautiful living space. ADUs on the other hand are built to residential standards, in fact here at Zook Cabins and ADUs are essentially the same thing as one of our full-size modern cabins but are built to a smaller scale.
What is the Difference Between An Attached and Detached ADU?
The attached ADUs and detached ADUS are pretty clear on how they work as ADUs. Attached ADUs mean that the ADU space is somehow attached to the primary dwelling. On the other hand, detached ADUS is a dwelling that is stand-alone form the primary dwelling. But let’s look at this a bit more.
Attached ADU
Attached ADUs, also known as in-law apartments, are often attached to the primary dwelling home. One example of an attached ADU is a refinished basement turned into a studio or one-bedroom apartment. This small dwelling is an accessory dwelling unit to the main dwelling, which is the house itself. Additionally, an attached ADU can be in the attic or a space that has been built on ground level to the existing home.
Detached ADUs
Detached ADUs are just as common as their attached counterparts and are typically found above an unattached garage or can be their own separate dwelling that does not touch the primary building whatsoever. Like any conventional home, a detached ADU has to adhere to building codes and regulations. These regulations vary by state, county, and city. This all means that an ADU that meets the building code in California may not meet the building code of one in Maine, and vice versa. To help you find out what states are the most ADU-friendly, check out our blog on the Top 7 ADU-friendly States.
If you like the above detached ADU, check out our Rockwood ADU page. Here you can get an idea of the full layout and design. Please give us a call at (610) 593-4556 with any questions about this model.
Conclusion:
There are many reasons why ADUs are becoming so popular, and this article touches on just a few that should pique your interest. Yet to recap ADUs are becoming popular due to how affordable they are when compared to traditional homes, especially by the younger generation. Raising home prices and inflation means more people will search for affordable housing options. Luckily, ADUs, log cabins, park models, modern cabins, and luxury mobile homes are for sale nationwide by Zook Cabins, and each category of these homes has at least one building that would fit into the ADU size requirements. Even if you’re not looking for affordable housing, ADUs make a splendid investment property or home office. The units are also perfect for those looking to downsize or keep an eye on loved ones who wish to live on the same property.
Our team is dedicated to providing affordable and dependable ADUs to our customers. If you have any questions about purchasing a modular ADU from us, financial aspects, or want to know more about the building process, please feel free to contact us.