Cottages

Tiny Houses for SERIOUS Downsizers

These are for SERIOUS downsizers! Houses/sheds/spheres from 89 to 500SF, Plus a unique bed that rises to the ceiling to create living space underneath. Includes links to manufacturers if you want one

I think this one from local Modern Shed is the best looking, and the Zero House (#7 in the slide show) is amazing in it claims to be completely self-contained off the grid, including water and waste.

See slideshow of  Tiny Houses here

 

 

Backyard Cottage Design Challenge

Inspired by Seattle’s new backyard cottage ordinance, Method homes sponsored a design competition for backyard cottage designs that could be built as pre-fabs (to lower costs).

It drew a lot of entries from tiny to big, modern to craftsman, and all were pretty cool , take a look.

Now you can be just like the Kennedys and have your own family compound! Backyard cottages are fantastic solutions for extra living space or a studio, multigenerational housing for returning kids or parents. As years go by, you can even move the kids and their family into the main house, and you can downsize to the smaller one out back. And they will have free babysitters!

Another scenario can have the new cottage as an Accessory Dwelling Unit, which can be a legal rental as long as you live on the property.   The Backyard Box website has examples of cottages with prices. From a financial standpoint, these are a make-sense real estate investment in that they would provide a positive cash flow from the start, and provide an decent return on investment.

Seattle Homes and Accessory MIL Apartments

Accessory units seem to be the theme of the week. I have buyers looking for them, looking at them, and figuring out how to create them. Also, more of my recent listings have had them.

As I show homes, more and more homes seem to have these extra separate living spaces.  Usually it is a finished basement that features a separate kitchen, bathroom, and entrance. Homes with basements seem to lend themselves very well to creating accessory units, although sometimes I see them as an addition onto a main level, or sometimes in a separate building in the lot, often a converted garage structure. (not all cities approve of converting garages to living space, check with your local building dept.)

Many of these units are built for extended family living, older parents come back home, or sometimes children, sometimes with families, moving back home. The separate living quarters allow extended families to live close, but keep some parts of their lives separate. For some people, when children grow up and move way, it is a way for the parents to remain in the home and resist the downsize move. Some rent to college students to keep youthful energy around the house.

Another reason so many have been built is to generate income in a house that is too big, or to pay a mortgage that has become otherwise unaffordable.  Later in life, having an extra unit in the house can allow homeowners to live independently for longer by utilizing the apartment for caregivers to live in.

Many apartments in homes are built illegally, in other words permits have not been taken out build them. I think its always a good idea to take out a permit to make sure the work is done safely and correctly, especially the electrical and plumbing.  As a Realtor,  I can say that homes with unpermitted work can be more difficult to resell at times. Most towns and cities allow accessory units either in or attached to an existing structure. Recently, the City of Seattle has been working on a project to allow more back yard accessory  units in the name of increasing density and affordability. Here is more info.

Here is a link to a nice USA TODAY Story on backyard cottages.

Small Homes, Cottages Score Big With Buyers

Also check out this Seattle Times Article here

More and more buyers are interested in smaller homes that consume less energy. If you are looking for the ultimate in compact, ecologically sound housing, and prefer to know your neighbors, you may want to consider a cottage. Cottages are popular with first-time buyers as well as empty-nesters. Developers in Seattle, Boston, Milwaukee and California have been building cottage homes to satisfy this need for several years. The best-known local builder is the Cottage Company, which builds designs by architect Ross Chapin. In the area, you can find cottages in Seattle, Shoreline, Kirkland, Mukeltio, Everett, Lynnwood, Whidbey Island, and more are being built all the time.

Cottages range in size from 1000 sf to close to 2000 sf. They are usually at least 4 in a development, and are arranged around a central landscaped area. Parking is usually in a separate structure near the street that houses all of the garages, and sometimes a separate shed or small work area. Because of all the common areas and structures, they are owned as condominiums.

Well-designed and build cottages are not inexpensive when priced by the square foot. All of the things that were packed in to a house are packed into a cottage, and some of the inexpensive things, like extra room are left out. Many cottages feature extensive built-ins to allow multiple uses of the same space. Those get expensive too.

In the Puget Sound area, cottage developments have been build in many cities and towns that have added cottage ordinances to their zoning codes. There is a variety among the different city’s codes that result in a vairety of sizes. Some are limited to 1000 sf, others are larger. When I talk to city planners, they are very enthusiastic about cottages and how they meet the needs for smaller houses in resideantial neighborhoods. Some neigbors of cottage communities, however, aren’t always excited to see them. They feel the increased density (usually 2 cottages can be built in the space one house could be) leads to a lowering of home values. Cottages usually sell form $100,000 to $200,000 less than the prices of similar-aged nearby homes that are much larger.

If you  are curious about what cottages may be avialable, contact me for a list of current listings. Also check the Featured Properties section of this website, there may be some there.