The ADU = Granny Flat Revolution
The Revolution started for me in 2010 which was also when the Great Recession was taking everyone in the Real Estate profession by storm. In the muck of marketing luxury condominiums that were not selling, I attended a conference, Build Small Live Large in 2012.
As a broker I knew there was a shift towards smaller households and small space living. All my clients were dumping the McMansions straddled with large mortgage payments and property taxes. At the conference I learned how the City of Portland was waiving System Development Fees, saving homeowners any where from $10,000 – $20,000 to build a small home in your own backyard.
The one day Housing Summit brought together architects, builders, developers, realtors, policy makers and community members wanting to build small and live large. I left the conference inspired, making my own sketches for an ADU in back of my house and began this blog, Downsizemyspace – Right Size My Lifestyle.
Book Signing with Guru Kol Peterson
I followed this guru, Kol Peterson and his wife Deb, who designed and developed Caravan- TheTiny House Hotel. This property consists of six Tiny homes on trailers connected to city water and sewer, designed by a variety of contractors, carpenters and like minded enthusiasts.
Kol also started a website called AccessoryDwellings.org and went on to teach ADU classes to real estate brokers as well as his consulting company. When he ask me to put my new 400 sq ft ADU on the 2nd Annual Accessory Dwelling 2015 Tour, how could I refuse? I wanted to spread the word and teach others about the benefits of ADUs. There were over 135 people who went through my Garden Studio!
I am so proud of Kol to have written this definitive guide to ADU development, so other communities can start their own revolution. Go here to order his Backdoor Revolution and here for his Web Course.
“Accessory Dwelling Units are a form of residential infill housing poised to revolutionize urban development. The ADU movement is being driven primarily by homeowners, rather than professional developers. Backdoor Revolution reveals the opportunities, challenges and best practices for ADU development.” Kol Peterson
My Airbnb Provides Income & Interesting Guests
My Garden Studio ADU is now a legal short term rental on Airbnb, allowing me to have extra income and pay for my son’s college tuition. I also think it will make a great retirement home, many years away! It’s easy to try out a small space by spending the night.
If you have questions and want to meet up to discuss living small and building your own ADU, or need to dump the big house for something smaller, lets get together. Perhaps you have a basement or a backyard that could be an ADU, Granny Flat, or Mother in Law apartment, call what you want, join the Revolution!