Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and ADU construction are getting plenty of attention lately … and with good reason. Property owners, renters and municipalities alike are turning to ADUs as a ready way to accomplish their goals: Homeowners want the income ADUs can provide, or they need to create more space for aging parents Renters are desperate for affordable places to live Cities and counties are scrambling to address housing shortages A 2020 Freddie Mac study found 1.4 million property listings that include an ADU. That study also tallied first-time ADU listing growth approaching nine perc ..read more

“What is an ADU?” We get that question often, so here’s the answer: An ADU is an “accessory dwelling unit.” What? That didn’t help much? ADUs are like “tiny homes,” but ADUs can be separate from the main residence, attached to the main residence, or even inside the structure of the main residence. They help property owners, renters and municipalities solve problems with their financial and residential needs.  ADUs are changing individual investment strategies, revamping the fabric of neighborhoods, and giving local governments a new way to achieve community development objectives.   ..read more

ADUs are not a magic bullet that will solve affordable housing on their own, but they are an essential tool. Capital Gazette ADU Tips From Redfin The Redfin blog recently surveyed ADU builders nationwide to get their best tips for anyone thinking about building an ADU. Our own ADU expert, Austin Willis, took part in the survey. Check his tip at #2 in the article. Here’s that link: Redfin Real Estate Blog. ADUs in Bend, Oregon: Good News The Bend Planning Division recently updated the Accessory Dwelling Unit Quick Reference Guide. Highlights include the following: Bend implemented an easier ..read more

Can you build an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in Oregon? If you own property zoned rural residential, you’re one step closer to that possibility. Oregon Bill SB391 is making its way through the Oregon Legislature. Here’s the official summary of Oregon’s ADU bill, SB391: Authorizes county to allow owner of lot or parcel within rural residential zone to construct one accessory dwelling unit on lot or parcel, subject to certain restrictions. Specifies that single-family dwelling and accessory dwelling on same lot or parcel are considered single unit for purposes of calculating exemptions from g ..read more

If there’s one name associated with ADU education, it’s Kol Peterson. Kol literally wrote the book on ADUs. That’s why the ADU Advice team was excited about hearing Kol speak in person at an event in Bend. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to speak with him in depth about the future of ADUs. First: “ADU” is an acronym for “accessory dwelling unit.” ADU’s are “tiny homes” that aren’t on wheels. They’re real homes in every respect … except smaller. ADUs can help reduce urban sprawl and provide much-needed livable housing. It began with the ADU Portland scene Kol took creative home buying to a w ..read more