9 Ways to Solve Your Personal Housing Crisis

Whether you want to buy a home or get more from one you already own, there's a clear path forward for you.

If you’re looking for a home for yourself or a loved one, it’s nearly impossible to escape the shadow of the housing crisis. The fact is there simply aren’t enough homes in California to meet demand. That’s the large-scale issue, but what does it mean for individuals and families?

It means over a million people are experiencing their own personal housing crises.

They want to own a home but believe they can’t afford to buy.

They want to move to a great neighborhood but can’t find a suitable home there.

They want to take care of their loved ones, but they don’t have the resources, or they can’t find a nice place that’s close enough to home.

Or they have a home they love in a neighborhood they love, but that home leaves them feeling drained instead of fulfilled.

We’ve seen it all, and we’ve helped hundreds of people find their way out of their own housing crises. We’ve guided them into home ownership, helped them build their dream communities to share with loved ones, and helped them create homes that do exactly what they want them to do.

We’ve been doing it for well over a decade, and we’ve learned a lot in that time—so much that we’ve built a tried-and-true list of ways to solve just about any personal housing crisis.

Mix and match to find the right path for you.

1. Diversify your income.

California state law allows you to add multiple homes to your existing property. If you already own a home, consider adding a second and/or a third home to your property. You can sell or rent them, diversifying your income and adding security to your future. Pay off your mortgage. Pay for education, travel, retirement…anything you may need now or in the future.

If you’re looking for your path to home ownership, consider purchasing a home and then adding an additional home or two. The income from the sale or rental of the additional homes will pay for the project costs and your mortgage payments, making home ownership not just possible, but profitable.

2. No property? Take advantage of programs designed to help first-time home buyers.

If buying a home or adding homes to land you already own isn’t right for you, there are other options. Funding is available through first-time homebuyer programs, and the New Avenue Fund adds affordable homes to great neighborhoods. Contact us for more information.

3. Move your parents/kids/grandkids in (without compromising on privacy).

There’s a reason accessory dwellings are often called “in-law apartments.” Of course, they’re not just for in-laws. A homeowner can do so much for their loved ones just by adding a home to their property.

Mom can build an accessory dwelling for herself and revitalize the main home for her adult son’s young family.

Parents can build two additional homes behind their own and move their kids’ families in for a big family homestead where the generations support each other.

A family can build a second home so they can live next door to their grandparents. They get all the benefits of multiple generations living side by side, each with their own space.

4. Keep the kids at home (sort of).

Young adults need their freedom, but it can be nearly impossible to find suitable housing. Whether they’re going to college or going out on their own in the world, living near their families without living “with” their parents can really help. A new home right next door to Mom and Dad will give them a strong start, and the whole family benefits from the reduced housing costs.

5. Stay where you are and expand your prospects.

If you own a house in a neighborhood you love but don’t quite feel at home, you can keep your property and turn your house into a place you love. Lift it and add more space beneath the current layout. Add a second story. Expand outward. Or simply re-create the space within the existing walls. Adding a home office, a new great room, or a guest house will give you more usable space. Working with a talented, experienced design/build team will make it possible to get what you want in the space you already have.

6. Team up with your favorite people.

What if you could choose your neighbors? By combining resources with family or friends, you can double or triple your purchasing power. Because you can now add multiple homes to an existing property, you can choose your neighborhood, buy a home, and turn it into the community you’ve always wanted. Everyone gets a luxurious home and neighbors they already love.

7. Build for the present and the future.

Versatility—it’s an inherent benefit of adding a new home to an existing one. The second and third homes on your property can be anything from an office or studio to a guest house or rental home. We’ve built so many projects for people who say, “I want a workshop, but I might rent it out as a home in a few years,” or, “I need a place for my daughter to live, but she won’t be there for long. I may use it as a music studio or move into it myself down the line.” The space you imagine for yourself can solve housing concerns now and address other needs later—even if you’re not sure what the future will bring.

8. Focus on sustainability (on every level).

Sustainability means you can keep going. At New Avenue, we deal with multiple levels of sustainability in every project. We work to secure environmentally friendly materials and minimize waste. We design environmental systems that will continue to be sustainable, taking advantage of natural light, renewable energy, and eco-friendly climate control technology. We also focus on financial sustainability, working with our clients to design and build projects that stay within their target budget and will pay off in income, savings, and value appreciation.

9. Work with the most experienced people you can find—a team that will act as your partner and guide.

If you’re looking to solve your own housing crisis amidst the challenging market on the West Coast, know that it can be done. And you don’t have to find your way alone.

At New Avenue, we’ve designed, permitted, and built enduring, adaptable custom homes for hundreds of families. We’ve worked through all kinds of challenges related to budgeting, design, permitting, sustainability, and construction.

The problems and solutions may be unique, but the journey always begins in the same way: we help current and future homeowners discover the path that’s right for them.

Let us guide you through the process of creating a home or complex that will meet your current needs and evolve with you into the future.

Your Custom ADU Journey Begins Here

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a free call with us today, and together, we can begin your unique project, creating a space that enhances your lifestyle and serves as an investment that will pay off for generations. Your custom journey starts here, with New Avenue Homes.