Sarah Foster Sarah Foster

How much will my property tax increase when I build an accessory dwelling in Berkeley?

New Avenue recently created a two-story accessory dwelling unit for a couple in Berkeley. They needed a place to live during remodels on their main home, and they wanted a guest house that could be used for their adult children or as a rental unit. This project includes a garage, a living room, a kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, laundry facilities, and a deck.

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Floor plan for a 476-square-foot accessory dwelling  in Los Gatos, California
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Floor plan for a 476-square-foot accessory dwelling in Los Gatos, California

In an interesting twist on a garage conversion, a homeowner in Los Gatos, CA, contacted New Avenue to add an ADU that could one day be converted into a garage if necessary.

Here’s the floor plan.

The homeowner will be able to rent this home out for more than $3,000 per month, or they can use it for family and guests. If the owners decide they need this space as a garage later, it can be converted.

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Sarah Foster Sarah Foster

How much will my property taxes increase when I build a home addition or accessory dwelling  in Livermore?

For this project, there was only an 8.5% increase in property taxes. The family paid an additional $527 in taxes annually once the addition was built. By providing a home for their parents that was on their own property, these homeowners saved the family at least $2,000 per month. That makes the monthly tax increase of $43.92 well worth the investment.

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Cost to add a 430-square-foot backyard cottage in Berkeley
costs, projects, ADU, Accessory Dwelling Unit Sarah Foster costs, projects, ADU, Accessory Dwelling Unit Sarah Foster

Cost to add a 430-square-foot backyard cottage in Berkeley

The backyard’s slope provided a lovely view from the rear of the yard, and Betsy hoped to take advantage of that in adding an ADU for her family. A New Avenue design professional created an ADU that could serve as a comfortable home and gave it a large deck and stairs to accommodate the unique backyard. The plans include a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area.

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Building a backyard office and darkroom in Berkeley
projects, design, accessory building Sarah Foster projects, design, accessory building Sarah Foster

Building a backyard office and darkroom in Berkeley

When Valerie and Tim wanted to add a darkroom and home office to their property in Berkeley, they contacted New Avenue. The space in their backyard was perfect for a detached accessory structure, and New Avenue’s design professional created a place that would work as storage, a creative studio, and a workspace for the homeowners. The space includes ample storage, an important consideration for those who want more space for their work and hobbies.

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Big changes in policy benefit CA homeowners
Guest User Guest User

Big changes in policy benefit CA homeowners

If you own residential property in California, new legislation is opening doors for you. This year’s ADU legislation is truly revolutionary and may make 2020 the best year ever to build the perfect accessory dwelling (or two) on your property.

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Converting a garage to a music studio and adding an accessory dwelling in Berkeley

Converting a garage to a music studio and adding an accessory dwelling in Berkeley

A Berkeley homeowner, asked New Avenue to remodel his existing garage into a music studio and storage area. He also wanted an ADU to use as a guest house, additional space when needed, or rental home. New Avenue’s designer created a design for both buildings and worked with the city to permit the entire project. Here’s the design.

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$50K to build, $150K to fix
Sarah Foster Sarah Foster

$50K to build, $150K to fix

Legalizing an un-permitted ADU isn’t easy, but can be done. We’ve helped a lot of people turn their un-permitted spaces into a legal and rentable unit…

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Start your journey

Reach out to New Avenue today to begin the transformational process of adding an ADU, renovating your home, and designing and building a custom house for your family.