New Avenue Blog
The Blueprint
How much will my property tax increase when I build an accessory dwelling in Berkeley?
New Avenue recently created a two-story accessory dwelling unit for a couple in Berkeley. They needed a place to live during remodels on their main home, and they wanted a guest house that could be used for their adult children or as a rental unit. This project includes a garage, a living room, a kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, laundry facilities, and a deck.
Legislation update: AB 68, AB 881, and SB 13 address California’s housing crisis through ADUs.
t New Avenue, we are all about solving the housing crisis and empowering homeowners. That means changing the way housing works in places like California, where we are facing a shortage of three to four million units…
Floor plan for a 476-square-foot accessory dwelling in Los Gatos, California
In an interesting twist on a garage conversion, a homeowner in Los Gatos, CA, contacted New Avenue to add an ADU that could one day be converted into a garage if necessary.
Here’s the floor plan.
The homeowner will be able to rent this home out for more than $3,000 per month, or they can use it for family and guests. If the owners decide they need this space as a garage later, it can be converted.
How much will my property taxes increase when I build a home addition or accessory dwelling in Livermore?
For this project, there was only an 8.5% increase in property taxes. The family paid an additional $527 in taxes annually once the addition was built. By providing a home for their parents that was on their own property, these homeowners saved the family at least $2,000 per month. That makes the monthly tax increase of $43.92 well worth the investment.
Cost to add a 430-square-foot backyard cottage in Berkeley
The backyard’s slope provided a lovely view from the rear of the yard, and Betsy hoped to take advantage of that in adding an ADU for her family. A New Avenue design professional created an ADU that could serve as a comfortable home and gave it a large deck and stairs to accommodate the unique backyard. The plans include a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area.
Building a backyard office and darkroom in Berkeley
When Valerie and Tim wanted to add a darkroom and home office to their property in Berkeley, they contacted New Avenue. The space in their backyard was perfect for a detached accessory structure, and New Avenue’s design professional created a place that would work as storage, a creative studio, and a workspace for the homeowners. The space includes ample storage, an important consideration for those who want more space for their work and hobbies.
We just saved a client $20,000. (Sometimes city officials don’t know state law.)
Often, the city can’t keep up with changing state laws (which is, frankly, almost impossible). We pointed out a new law. As a result, the city building department agreed not to create $20,000+ in work.
How much will my property tax increase when I build an ADU in Emeryville, CA?
A property in Emeryville assessed at $500,000 costs around $6100 per year in taxes. Building an ADU similar to the one we created for our client will result in a small tax increase. Here are the details.
A Berkeley homeowner traded an old garage for a beautiful ADU
Alex, a homeowner in Berkeley, CA, realized that he could do more with his property. He envisioned converting his old garage into an office or an accessory dwelling unit, so he explored the possibilities.
Big changes in policy benefit CA homeowners
If you own residential property in California, new legislation is opening doors for you. This year’s ADU legislation is truly revolutionary and may make 2020 the best year ever to build the perfect accessory dwelling (or two) on your property.
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