PIMBY: Parents in My Backyard! Building an ADU in Duarte

Many homes have oversized backyards, garages, or sheds that are collecting dust. However, parents are learning that their underutilized square footage on their property has great potential. An ADU in Duarte carries a multitude of uses especially as family members begin aging in place and new problems arise.

It’s no surprise that ADUs are on the rise, especially in Duarte, but who are the biggest supporters of this movement?

Parents. Or what we like to call Parents in My Backyard (PIMBY)

What Can Parents Get Out of an ADU in Duarte?

Move into the ADU to downsize when the extra space of the main house isn’t needed
Rent out the ADU for extra income to use towards retirement
Offer the ADU to children and their families to keep them close
Rent out the main house for even more extra income

People are realizing the vast benefits of building an ADU and are jumping on the opportunity to add this great investment to their home.

Cities like Duarte and Los Angeles have been passing groundbreaking laws to ease the application process and the numbers continue to grow. Los Angeles saw their applications jump to 67 times more than what they had received three years ago!

Many cities don’t have a minimum lot size for ADU approval and your unit can be as small as 150 square feet.

Supplement Your Retirement

Whether you decide to rent out the ADU or the main house, the extra income will no doubt be a great relief. You can continue aging in place peacefully knowing that you have a steady stream of income to keep you living comfortably.

On average, a two-bedroom home in Duarte will cost around $2,100 to rent. That brings in an extra $25,200 per year if you decide to rent out your main house. Depending on what city you live in and how large your home is, this number could be much larger.

Keep your Family Close

Many people find that an ADU also makes a great starter home for married couples like your own kids and their spouse. Some newlyweds will want to stay close to their families to care for them as they grow older. That’s exactly why Charles and Michelle from Los Angeles chose to build theirs.

“We’d have the best of both worlds in that we’d always be around to help out, and it was far more affordable than buying or renting anything in the area.”

It’s a cost-effective solution with so many benefits to everyone’s lifestyle.

Aging in Place

One of the pivotal reasons families are turning towards ADUs is because they have a family member aging in place.

Senior living and retirement homes can be costly. An apartment in a retirement community in San Jose will cost at least $4,000 a month!

Plus, most grandparents prefer to stay close to their families so that they can be cared for by the people they know and trust.

An ADU allows families to keep their elderly loved ones close enough while still maintaining privacy and independence for both parties.

Janie from Duarte built her ADU for just that reason.

“My husband and I wanted my mother-in-law to move in with us. She’s 95 years old and she’s reached a point where she is less able to care for herself. An ADU was the perfect solution because it allows her to still have her privacy while also having us close by when she needs something.

She’s been staying in it for about 2 months now and she really loves it, as do we. She’s very happy to be closer to family. We really can’t believe we waited this long to start this project.”

To read more about Janie’s beautiful ADU and see more photos, click here!

An ADU also allows full customization so you can install any amenities that your aging family member may need such as:

Ramps
Grab bars
Higher toilets
Wider doorways for wheelchair accessibility
Having a strong social network of care in the community will greatly improve the quality of life according to Blanca Castro-Paszinski, advocacy director for AARP. Many retired persons develop a sense of isolation as they grow older and this can eventually lead to chronic illness.
An ADU can help combat this by keeping your family close and within reach when they need assistance or just your company.

Stay in the Neighborhood

As parents begin to reach their retirement age and their kids move out, they have to start thinking about what they want to do with the underutilized space of their main home.

Many consider moving to a new home to downsize. However, with the rising housing costs across the state and the stress of making arrangements, this proves to be a tough feat for most.

Costs aside, you’re also leaving behind the home and neighborhood that you’ve grown so accustomed to over the years.

Rather than going through that hardship, you can build an ADU right on the property that holds so many memories.

This option leaves room for plenty of possibilities for the main home as well.

Getting Accustomed to Your Downsized Home

Just because you’re living in a smaller dwelling doesn’t mean that it has to feel smaller.

Many contractors are skilled at designing structures that utilize your square footage in the most efficient way possible.

Windows and skylights especially will give your environment the illusion of a much larger space. This will make the room feel more open and roomier. They also add value to your ADU, which you’ll surely be thankful for when the time comes for you to sell your property.

Finally, communication is the best way to overcome any tension that may build living in a smaller space in Duarte. It’s normal to feel unaccustomed at first. This may put pressure on you and your spouse, but it’s important to talk through these times and set guidelines.