California’s Funding for ADU Construction Running Out Fast

In an effort to create more affordable housing, California re-opened a program Dec. 11 that provides up to $40,000 for homeowners  to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), sometimes called backyard cottages or granny flats, in their backyard. Qualifying applicants can use the grant to reimburse some “pre-development” costs such as site prep and architectural designs, according to state officials, in addition to non-recurring closing costs, such as a home protection plan, attorney fees, and a home inspection, to name a few. To qualify one must be considered low-income, which is for households earning below 80 percent of the county’s median income, which translates to $84,160 in Los Angeles and $126,560 in San Francisco, for example....