Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are growing quickly in popularity as they provide additional living space, rental income, or a separate but nearby housing option for family members.  One of the questions we hear most often is “How long does it take to build an ADU in Atlanta?”  At ATL ADU, we provide a turnkey service which means we handle all aspects of your ADU project from start to finish.  This includes surveying, site planning, permitting, construction and project management and our timeline is roughly 8-11 months all in.  In general, that includes 4-5 months for pr ..read more

We're excited to have our ADU featured in ,,‘ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution’! This coffee table book profiles “25 of the most beautiful and efficient accessory dwelling units in North America”.  Featured is our 2bd/2ba ‘Kwood’ model in Peoplestown, affectionately called ‘Fern’ (named after its street… but also we dare you to provide a cuter name for an ADU). From the author Sheri Koones: “The ADU matches the aesthetic of the primary house and the surrounding neighborhood.  Both the primary and secondary units are long-term rentals so they separated utilities on this project rat ..read more

We've had the pleasure of working with real estate investor Molly Gunn on three ADU projects. Details of the first two were captured in a Q&A we did with Molly last year, and now ADU number three is complete! Each project is unique, which hopefully provides more insight for those looking to add an ADU to their property, or purchase an "ADU friendly" home.   The first unique factor here was the relatively small backyard, coupled with the fact that Molly wanted to build the 2 bd / 2ba 'KWood+', that maxes out the allowable square footage for an ADU in City of Atlanta at 750 sft. The pr ..read more

Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you lived in Atlanta? (Brad) I was a professor of biochemistry at the University of Louisville and retired in January of 2023.  Upon retirement we wanted to be closer to our daughter and she wanted to be closer to us, so we moved to Avondale Estates in September of 2022.  Our daughter lives .3 miles away. The 'East Lake' Studio / 1 bath is 308 sft. This is our first completed 'East Lake' - we currently have two others under construction and one in the COA permitting process. What led to your decision to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit ..read more

Tell us a little about yourself and your position as Planning and Economic Development Director for the City of Decatur. My role as Decatur’s Planning Director started in 2015. In 2019 my role expanded to Planning and Economic Development Director. I have oversight of both the planning, zoning, and permitting services division as well as the economic development division. I’ve been in local government for over 18 years and previously worked with the City of Asheville (my hometown), City of Atlanta, and the City and County of San Francisco. I think the City of Decatur is the perfect size for g ..read more

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can be utilized in multiple ways including extended living space, a home office, multigenerational living, or as a rental unit. If your goal is to create rental income, you’ll want to know the cost to build, financing options, and rental comps. We’ll cover each of those factors here so you can make sure your ADU will be cash flow positive! 1 bed / 1 bath RTown+ in Grant Park. Financed with a home equity loan. Currently, ,the cost of our one bedroom, one bathroom, 504 square foot “RTown+” ADU is in the range of $190,000 - $215,000 all in. Some will see $420/sft ..read more

Interest in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) is growing rapidly around the country for various reasons. Homeowners love the ability to create rental income or a separate space for family and friends. Municipalities desperately need to create more housing and are keen on urban infill and housing diversity (something other than 200+ unit apartments). And as the real estate market finds itself in a stalemate, the option to add more housing to existing properties is appealing to investors. So, naturally, everyone's first question is, “What do ADUs cost?” ATL ADU 1 bed, 1bath, 504 square foot 'RTow ..read more

When considering how to approach your ADU project, the DIY route, and its potential savings, can be appealing. For every client we’ve had over the years there's a couple others who engaged our service then decided to go the DIY route. Occasionally we hear back from those courageous DIYers, but when we do, it’s because things are not going well. We’d like to highlight one of those ‘DIY gone wrong’ stories to perhaps make you pause a moment before deciding, “Yea, I got this!” ATL ADU turnkey project that finished on time and under budget! A couple years ago we were approached by an investor wit ..read more

The interest in Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, is growing rapidly among city officials, homeowners, and real estate investors for various reasons. They occupy a rarified space in our society where, for the most part, everyone finds them beneficial as home prices soar, property taxes increase, and housing shortages escalate. Here are five reasons why ADUs have burst on the scene and why you should consider building one in your backyard. 1. CREATION OF RENTAL INCOME As detached structures in desirable residential areas, ADUs are very profitable as short, mid, or long-term rentals. This is w ..read more

Whether you hope to build an ADU in your backyard, or you’re looking for a home that is ‘ADU friendly’, the first question to ask is, “Can I legally build an ADU on this property?” Before getting lost in designs and dreams of becoming an ADU influencer, there are a few important, less glamorous steps to address first. We’ll lay out each of those steps here, but if you aren’t interested in the DIY approach, ,ATL ADU CO will handle everything from start to finish! The first step is determining what municipality your home (or potential home) is located in. Every municipality in Metro Atlanta has ..read more