The New Avenue blog

  More than decade of content on the things we love: your home

Mason Blake 1/27/20 Mason Blake 1/27/20

Addressing the Housing Crisis: Hayward, CA, Joins the ADU Conversation

Mason Blake 1/27/20 Mason Blake 1/27/20

Three concepts for a detached ADU in Palo Alto

An accessory dwelling brings huge rewards, but it’s also a big commitment. When you’re investing your money, time, and energy, you want to know you’re getting the best possible ADU for your property and your needs…

Mason Blake 1/24/20 Mason Blake 1/24/20

Why should I pay for a construction bid?

Mason Blake 1/15/20 Mason Blake 1/15/20

Permit rules for an accessory dwelling in San Francisco (and advice for future ADU owners everywhere)

Mason Blake 1/13/20 Mason Blake 1/13/20

Cost to design a one-bedroom, one-bathroom ADU in San Jose

Mason Blake 1/10/20 Mason Blake 1/10/20

How much will my property taxes increase if I build a second-story addition in California?

When adding an addition or building an accessory dwelling, your property taxes will go up. In general, we expect an increase of one-half of one percent of the total cost of the project. In this case, the family will see a tax increase of $2,625 per year. The total cost of a project like this is $525,000. That includes everything: design, permitting, engineering, all the red tape, site work, and construction.

Mason Blake 1/2/20 Mason Blake 1/2/20

What is the increase in property taxes when building an accessory dwelling unit in Oakland, CA?

As with any accessory dwelling project, the property taxes will go up once construction is complete. In California, we generally see an increase equal to one-half of one percent of the total cost of the project. Here’s what that means for this Oakland three-bedroom ADU.

Mason Blake 1/1/20 Mason Blake 1/1/20

Costs of typical project types, from ADUs and conversions, to remodels and custom homes.

Here is an overview of actual project costs for a range of projects we have completed over the years…

Mason Blake 1/1/20 Mason Blake 1/1/20

Cost to design, permit, and build an attached accessory dwelling in Berkeley

When Lori decided to add an attached apartment to her Berkeley home, she contacted New Avenue. Lori needed a nice home for her mother that could be rented out later. A New Avenue design professional created an attached ADU with a kitchen, a dining/living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The designer also designed a deck with a trellis and a new driveway for the property.

Mason Blake 12/28/19 Mason Blake 12/28/19

How much do property taxes increase when building an ADU in Berkeley?

The property taxes for this property in Berkeley were $6,055 before adding the ADU. In Berkeley, we typically see a 15% to 30% increase in property taxes when adding an ADU. Here’s what that means for one of your Berkeley projects.

Mason Blake 12/20/19 Mason Blake 12/20/19

How much do property taxes increase when building an accessory dwelling in Oakland?

In California, property taxes tend to increase by one-half of one percent of the total cost of the project. In this case, the total cost of the accessory dwelling was $470,000. Here's what that means for property taxes.

Mason Blake 12/19/19 Mason Blake 12/19/19

Think your ADU project is out of reach? We have good news.

Mason Blake 12/4/19 Mason Blake 12/4/19

Cost to add a one-room accessory dwelling to a home in Menlo Park

This project, built in 2018, cost a total of $290,964.78 for design, permitting, and construction.

With a versatile design like this one, the family will be able to use the ADU as a gathering space, an additional home, or a rental for additional income. Over time, the ADU can serve multiple purposes, evolving to meet the owners’ needs.