Four years ago, in June, 2020, I conducted the inaugural study of the rate of inhabited mobile dwellings on residential properties in the Cully neighborhood in Portland, Oregon.  This study laid the groundwork for a follow-up survey I conducted four years later, which used the same parameters and methods. The decision to revisit this survey was influenced by a significant policy change in April, 2021, when Portland legalized recreational vehicles as a form of housing in residential areas. Previously, residing in mobile dwellings was part of an informal market, but it was suddenly recogniz ..read more

As an ADU specialist in the Bay Area, I’ve experienced firsthand the need to build more housing, and the difficulty that homeowners have in developing enough confidence to do their projects. For that reason I’ve developed an app you might find helpful. We need to build more homes. Homeowners need the confidence to start ADU projects. How can we help? By bringing ADU to life before construction begins, before any money is spent on design and permits. Let us explore the power of Augmented Reality in ADU design.  One example illustrating this point is understanding the scale and how much spa ..read more

Editor’s Note: This is reposted from BuildinganADU.com This may seem weird, but I’m giddy to share this big new ADU dataset from the West Coast with you. This is the first time that this big dataset has been presented to the public. Here, I will show why this particular data is so important, and explain why I’m proud to release it.  Getting my hands on this data from California, Oregon, and Washington was difficult. Making it presentable was also a challenge.  But, 10 years ago, this data presentation would have been impossible–because ADU permit data was not collected in any of thes ..read more

This post is part of a series I started in 2019. Washington Takes the Lead in Adopting the Strongest Statewide ADU Legislation in the County Washington State has passed very strong ADU legislation called HB 1337. Here’s a summary of some of things it does. Under HB 1337, cities and counties must follow specific policies, including: Not requiring owner occupancy Permitting detached ADUs, not just attached ADUs. Allowing at least two ADUs in all urban growth areas with single-family zoning. Legalizes two story ADUs (24ft) Limiting impact fees for ADUs to 50% of the fees for the principal u ..read more

Introduction  My friend and I are one year into installing RV hookup infrastructure on residential properties in Portland for homeowners who are adding a mobile dwelling. We do this work through a company called Tiny Hookups LLC. This company was formed on the heels of the legalization of RVs (and tiny houses on wheels, which are classified as RVs under Oregon state law) as a legal dwelling option in Portland, Oregon, in 2021.  This was a new endeavor that we started as a passion project. We didn’t aspire to make a lot of money, nor grow the company, and we actually only ever planned ..read more

On April 28th, 2021, Portland’s City Council unanimously passed a new set of regulations that allows for recreational vehicles (RVs) and tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) to be used as a legal, viable housing option on residential properties in the City of Portland beginning on August 1st, 2021.   This post is intended to synthesize these new regulations in plain language and provide some context about the policy basis of this change. We’ll start by covering the new regulations. Then, I’ll cover the policy import and context for this new set of regulations. And lastly, I’ll share perspec ..read more

Amy Magyar converted her carriage house into a guest house where she lives while a friend rents her primary dwelling. She’s not retired yet, but she’s glad her guest house creates more flexibility – and income potential – for her when the time comes. As I’ve interviewed homeowners, designers, and builders about ADUs over the past several years for the ADU Case Studies Project, one thing that has impressed me is how many people are using an ADU as part of their retirement plan. ADUs can provide housing flexibility, additional income, one-floor living to age-in-place, proximity to family members ..read more

Editor’s Note: This post is an extended case study from the AARP VT Is There an ADU in Your Retirement Plan 2-Pager published in 2022. The other posts are Amy Magyar’s ADU: Friend Next Door & Nest for Me and Ruby Perry & Andy Simon’s ADU: Inspiration for the Neighborhood. Also, check out 10 Ways Your ADU Can Support Your Retirement. Lina Menard Brooks & Brain’s Attached ADU & Primary Dwelling Quick Facts Owner Names: Brian & Brooks City & State: Burlington, VT Designer Name: Brian Builder Name: DC Construction  Year Built: 2018 Approx Square Footage: 600 Approx C ..read more

Editor’s Note: This post is an extended case study from the AARP VT Is There an ADU in Your Retirement Plan 2-Pager published in 2022. The other posts are Ruby Perry & Andy Simon’s ADU: Inspiration for the Neighborhood and Brooks & Brian’s ADU: A Retirement Plan for Mom & For Us. Also, check out 10 Ways Your ADU Can Support Your Retirement. Lina Menard Amy Magyar in front of her ADU, a 420 square foot converted carriage house Quick Facts Owner Name:Amy Magyar  Tenant Name: Christy Moore (friend of owner) City & State: Burlington, VT Designer Name: Amy Magyar Builder Name ..read more

Editor’s Note: This post is an extended case study from the AARP VT Is There an ADU in Your Retirement Plan 2-Pager published in 2022. The other posts are Amy Magyar’s ADU: Friend Next Door & Nest for Me and Brooks & Brian’s ADU: Retirement Plan for Mom & Us. Also, check out 10 Ways Your ADU Can Support Your Retirement. Lina Menard Ruby & Andy’s Backyard ADU Quick Facts Owner’s Name: Zpora Perry (daughter) & Leighton Johnson (son-in-law) Tenant Name: Andy Simon & Ruby Perry (parents) Location: Burlington, VT Designer Name: Ruby Perry Consulted Architects: Missa Aloisi ..read more