Living Spaces

Living Spaces: ADUs & Garage Conversions

Discover the possibilities of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for your property. An ADU, legally defined as a secondary dwelling on a primary property, offers various options, such as guest houses or apartments above detached garages. However, zoning regulations may vary based on location.

Examples of an ADU could be a guest house or a detached garage with a rented apartment above. The establishment and use of an ADU will fall under different zoning rules and regulations depending on where you live.

Living Spaces we design and build:

ADUs
Garage Conversions
Basement Conversions
Stilt Foundation Conversions
Additions and Extensions

Explore Your ADU Options

Detached ADU: Create a separate living space in your backyard, ideal for renting out or as a guest house.
Attached ADU: Similar to a detached ADU but connected to the main house for convenience.
Carriage House Conversion: Utilize your garage with high ceilings to create an apartment above while keeping the downstairs area as a garage.
Home Addition: Expand your home's square footage with separate living units, available as one- or two-story structures.
Junior ADU (JADU): JADUs are limited to 500 sq feet. They are attached and share amenities with the main house.

Our expertise spans various architectural styles, including Craftsman, Mediterranean, and Contemporary, ensuring your ADU complements your property's aesthetic seamlessly.

Garage Conversion

Transform wasted garage space into something extraordinary with our professional ADU installation services. Our team, led by a skilled structural engineer, will collaborate with you to design and execute your garage conversion seamlessly.

The Benefits of Additional Living Space

Extra income: You can rent out the space for an additional income stream.
Increased property value: More square footage can boost your property value.
Additional space: It's easy to host guests and family with an on-site ADU.

CalHFA ADU Grant Program

The California Housing Finance Agency's (CalHFA) ADU Grant Program provides up to $40,000 for preconstruction costs associated with an ADU.

To qualify, the homeowner must first obtain a loan from a CalHFA-approved lender.
You also need to meet the income range, which varies by county.

What exactly does the grant cover?

Earlier we stated that the funds would only be applicable for pre-construction costs (also known as soft costs)  We want to clarify what those types of costs are to prevent any confusion.  

Pre-construction costs include the following:

Architectural or Engineering Plans - these are the plans that will determine how your ADU will be designed.
Permits/City Fees - permits are issued by your local city or county in order to obtain permission to build your ADU.
Soil Reports/Inspections - If required, the soil report will help determine the integrity, strength and other factors of the land where your ADU will be built.
Impact Fees - these fees are paid to the municipality. They offset the financial impact of the new development on public infrastructure.
Topographical Survey - This report will be used to determine boundary lines and other restrictions of your property so the ADU is not obstructing or encroaching anywhere it shouldn't.
Energy Reports - These reports will give information about the ADU's energy use. The most common report requested for ADU's in the State of California is Title 24.

The grant cannot be used for construction costs such as material or labor.

Here are the steps in order to qualify!

Homeowners in LA and Orange County must meet the CalHFA income requirements. As of 2023 the household income requirements are:

Los Angeles County: $84,160

Orange County: $84,160

The homeowner needs to pull a construction or renovation-type loan.

This is because the program is designed for homeowners who need financial assistance.

Pre-approved Lenders

Once the loan is approved, the lender will forward your paperwork to CalHFA. If it is approved, $40,000.00 will be added to the pre-existing loan funds. We do want to clarify that the $40,000.00 will not be handed to you.

If the application process is successful, the following will be made available to you:

$40,000 from CalHFA's grant to cover pre-construction costs.

Who is eligible for the grant? ‍

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

‍ There are two primary requirements in order to be eligible:

You need to live at the property where the ADU is being built.
You need to meet the income limits. Income eligibility requirements vary by county.

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

If you've already paid for costs covered by the grant, reimbursement isn't available. However, the grant can lower your loan principal if applied by your lender. Save receipts to provide to your lender for reduction purposes, ultimately decreasing your loan repayment amount.

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

If preconstruction costs are under $40,000, surplus funds can be applied to non-recurring closing costs. These one-time fees, like loan fees and interest rate buy downs, can reduce loan interest, benefiting you in the long term.

Contact Us at +1 (213) 550-5106

Living Spaces: ADUs & Garage Conversions

Explore Your ADU Options

Free Estimate

Garage Conversion

The Benefits of Additional Living Space

CalHFA ADU Grant Program

What exactly does the grant cover?

Here are the steps in order to qualify!

Who is eligible for the grant? ‍

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

Contact Us at +1 (213) 550-5106

Living Spaces: ADUs & Garage Conversions

Explore Your ADU Options

Free Estimate

Garage Conversion

The Benefits of Additional Living Space

CalHFA ADU Grant Program

What exactly does the grant cover?

Here are the steps in order to qualify!

Who is eligible for the grant? ‍

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if you already paid out of pocket for these costs?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

What if the preconstruction costs are less than $40,000.00?

Have questions? Contact us today for free consultation. Call +1 (213) 550-5106

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Who is eligible for the grant? ‍