B4 • Friday, March 25, 2022
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
ADUS GET ANOTHER LOOK Katherine Roth ASSOCIATED PRESS
Amid a persistent housing crunch in many parts of the country, some people are finding a solution in Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, also know as granny flats, in-law units or backyard bungalows. These small homes — separate from the main house — tend to be low-impact and energy-efficient. Where legal, they can add housing to a neighborhood while causing less disruption than constructing new apartment buildings, proponents say. They’re getting a new look in today’s tight housing market; the last couple of years have seen a shortage of homes for sale, and many are selling for above listing price, according to economists and real estate brokers. Sheri Koones, whose new book, “Bigger than Tiny, Smaller than Average” (Gibbs-Smith, March 2022), features several examples of ADUs, says they are part of a shift toward smaller, more affordable and energy-efficient homes. High ceilings, abundant natural light, built-in furniture and open floor plans can make ADUs feel more livable than their modest footprints might indicate, says Koones, who has written extensively about small homes and sustainable building.
In tight housing market many look to accessory dwellings
where ADUs are allowed nationwide and which architects or builders specialize in them. Homeowners should check with their local municipality for rules, since ADUs are sometimes restricted to a certain height, for example, or their footprint must be limited to a certain percentage of the property. According to Peterson — who built his own ADU and has been living in it for more than a decade — the units help mitigate housing shortages. They provide homeowners with a way to make a little rent money in neighborhoods that have grown expensive, he says, and offer renters spaces that rent for ERIC STAUDENMAIER PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIGGER THAN TINY, SMALLER THAN AVERAGE VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS less than larger, traditional houses. An example of an Accessory Dwelling Unit, a small home separate from a main “They add density without house. Proponents say ADUs are a low-impact, energy-efficient way to create adding large new housing more living space. structures,” says Koones. Peterson says ADUs are “In our experience, a small doors instead of swing doors derly parents or adult chilmore feasible where laws and plenty of built-ins. It’s a space can truly be a generdren to live, or can be used have been mandated at the lot like what you see in RVs as home offices or guest ous living experience,” state level, such as in Califoror custom vans,” Mooney homes. In some areas, they agrees Scott Mooney, an arcan be rented out or, as with nia and Oregon, as opposed chitect in the Portland, Ore- says. An ADU could be created the Mooneys, provide hous- to places where it’s up to logon, area who designed an by converting a detached ga- ing for the homeowners, ADU with his wife, Lauren cal authorities and proposed Shumaker, a construction who then rent out the main legislation can end up being rage, or building an apartengineer. house. onerous. ment above an attached They’ve been living in it “Thousands of jurisdicIn localities, an ADU is garage. It could be part of a for over four years, sharing basement, with a separate tions across the country, pri- sometimes required to have the 624-square-foot space its own parking space, for entrance. Or it could be a marily on the West Coast, with their toddler and dog. new structure if the property permit ADUs. In much of the example, something that’s They rent out the larger often not an option. is large enough; there are country, though, rules vary 1950s bungalow that had al- prefab ADUs or blueprints But the rules are changing widely from one jurisdiction quickly. available to buy. to another,” says Kol Peterready existed on the “Pretty much every day While, for the most part, 5,000-square-foot property. son, editor of the online site now we’re seeing more muthese units cannot be sold “The key is maximizing AccessoryDwellings.org, a outdoor access, with lots of separately from a home, clearinghouse for informanicipalities that are deciding they can be places for ellight, lots of views, pocket to start allowing ADUs,” says tion. The site keeps a list of
Long-term mortgage rates up to 4.42%, highest since 2019 ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Average longterm U.S. mortgage rates jumped again this week as the 30-year loan rate climbed to its highest level since January of 2019. The increase comes after the Federal last week increased the key rate — which it had kept near zero since the pandemic recession struck two years ago — by more than a quarter point. The central bank has signaled potentially up to seven additional rate hikes this year. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan this week jumped to 4.42% from 4.16% last week. They’ve risen more than a half-point in the past two weeks. That’s a sharp contrast from last year’s record-low mortgage rates of under 3%. A year ago, the 30year rate stood at 3.17%. The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, rose to 3.63% from 3.39% last week. Home prices are up about 15% over the past year and as much as 30% in some cities. Homes available for sale have been in short supply even before the pandemic started two years ago. Now higher prices and rising loan rates will make it even harder for would-be buyers as the spring homebuying season gets into gear. The government reported last week that wholesale inflation in the U.S. shot up 10% last month from a year earlier — another sign that inflationary pressures remain intense at all levels of the economy.
Peterson. “From 2018 to 2020, Californian jurisdictions permitted 33,881 ADUs and 22,695 ADUs were added to the state’s housing supply,” Peterson says. In Portland, around 2 percent of all single family homes now have an ADU, he says. That’s more than any other area in the country. Vancouver, Canada, is another city in which ADUs are popular. “The cost of housing is skyrocketing here. My parents had built a new house and weren’t allowed to build a lane house (ADU). Then the rules changed, and my parents are aging and we thought, ‘Let’s go for it’,” says Tanya Dang, who lives with her partner in a 650-square-foot remodeled garage. “We moved in July 2020, and before that we were living with my parents. So when we moved in, we thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have all this space now!’” High ceilings and an ample patio help make the space feel larger, she says. The home, designed by Lanefab Design/Build, has enough storage space for the couple’s outdoor gear plus things her parents had kept in the garage. “We have a pullout couch and a half bathroom downstairs, so we can even have guests,” she says. “People are always surprised at how big it feels.”
245-8808
3-3222 Kuhio Highway, Lihue Corner of Kuhio Hwy & Ahukini Rd. | Open M-Th 9am to 6pm; Fri 9-5
FLOORING SALE! March 13th - 31st
Scan QR Code for Website & Details
SAVINGS UP TO 25% ON HAWAII STOCK FLOORING!
Wide selection of Carpet, Ceramic & Porcelain Tile, Hardwood, & Waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Discount for Flooring Materials Only Installation & Accessories Sold Separately