LONG BEACH— Recent state legislation regarding Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, more popularly known as granny flats or backyard homes, has created a lot of buzz and opportunities for Long Beach residents.

And Bill Cavanaugh, one of the owners of San Diego Accessory Dwelling Units, with years of experience in the prefab home business, is committed to providing education and assistance to homeowners.  

As state laws work to ease the housing crisis by making the permit process easier with reduced or eliminated permit fees, more homeowners are considering backyard homes. 

Bill Cavanaugh and his team have made backyard homes their primary focus.

Cavanaugh, a resident of Carlsbad for 25 years and now a resident of Encinitas, has been in the prefab home business for most of his life.  

“These new laws have definitely enhanced awareness of the possibilities of ADUs and are making it more affordable. However, the biggest misconception is that small means inexpensive even with jurisdictional fee reductions.  In today’s labor shortage environment, California construction can never be considered cheap.”

Bill holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in business from the University of Connecticut and for the past 20+ years he has been involved with the development of single family homes, condominiums, student housings apartments, land entitlement and commercial buildings. Those projects have ranged in value from $150,000 to $10 million.  Bill is experienced in all facets of the industry and has been building accessory dwelling units using prefab construction for the past decade.

“The main draw for ADUs tends to fall in several categories:  extra income as a rental unit, independent living for a family member, or even a guest house.

“ADU’s can provide an additional revenue stream for homeowners in Long Beach,” Cavanaugh said. “But I caution people to do the math and make sure they are able to recoup their investment.”

With the onslaught of Baby Boomers wanting to age in place, Cavanaugh has also seen an increase in people wanting units for family members that offer independent living and privacy but in close proximity to the main home.

“For older family members, it allows them to be in a familiar and loving environment as they begin to require more care,” he said. “We’ve also seen units occupied by grown children who have moved back home while paying off college debt.” 

Some families wish to have a backyard home in Long Beach for a full-time caregiver to reside on the property. Also, those with large estates may want a private dwelling for a full-time groundskeeper or onsite housekeeper.

Also popular are pool cabanas, also known as guest cottages or casitas. “Sometimes homeowners want to have self-contained units for accommodating visitors,” Cavanaugh said.

While the future growth for backyard homes is clear, plenty of confusion continues to surround the ADU industry and the new legislation.

To learn more about building an ADU in Long Beach or find out if your property qualifies to build contact info@umodularinc.com or 888-987-6638

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