How Can You Get Your Home to Pay for Itself?

What if your next home could actually help pay for itself? It's possible, and it's one of the smartest ways to build wealth through real estate: an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

An ADU is an extra living space on your property, a backyard cottage, a converted garage, a basement apartment. A recent survey found nearly a quarter of agents say buyers are actively searching for homes with one, for the extra rental income, flexible space for aging parents or adult children, or a home office. I see this firsthand with my own buyer clients in the East Bay.

The upside: passive income potential. A built-in rental unit could generate $1,500 to $3,000 a month, extra cash toward your mortgage or savings. If you'd rather not rent it out, it can house family instead, aging parents, adult children, long-term guests, while keeping everyone's privacy intact.

ADUs can also add real value to your home when it's time to sell. Some cities even offer grants, low-interest loans, or relaxed zoning to encourage ADU construction, worth researching if you're considering one.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. If you're house hunting, let's find a property that already has an ADU, or one that's a great candidate for adding one.