Finding Flexibility
How the Rivera family stepped up for family and their future with an ADU.
The Family
The Riveras live in Fair Oaks (near Sacramento) on a half-acre lot with a 2,100 sq ft main house. Mark (43) and Lisa (41) have two children - a daughter in college and a 16-year-old son.
In 2022 Mark's brother was going through a divorce and needed a temporary place to stay that offered independence but kept him close to family support.
Initial Goals:
Create a space for Mark's brother during his transition
Plan for future uses for their daughter and teenage son through college years
Eventually generate rental income to supplement retirement
The Considerations
Like many homeowners, the Riveras had several concerns:
"We weren't sure if spending $175,000 on an ADU made sense when we could just convert our garage for my brother," Mark explained. "But we realized that a garage conversion would mean shared walls and less privacy. Plus it wouldn't add as much to our home value, and it can make your home less attractive to future buyers."
Their key questions were:
Was this a good financial investment?
Could they afford adding an ADU?
Could they design a space flexible enough for different uses?
Would managing contractors and permits be overwhelming?
The Decision
"We wanted to help out Mark's brother, and a friend from work suggested an ADU. We did a little research and realized that financing would allow us to help out family AND boost our home’s value. And after our family uses the ADU over the next few years, Mark and I will have rental income for the future.”
After looking at several options, the Riveras decided to build a 500sf, 1 Bed, 1 Bath detached ADU.
Lisa finished with this: “We found the peace of mind to move forward when we saw how an ADU really fit all of our concerns - we could help family now and improve our finances for later."
Smart Design for Flexibility
Mark & Lisa chose a turn-key solution with a builder who specialized in ADUs, and let the builder manage the entire process.
"Our friend tried to save money by managing their ADU project, but ended up spending a lot of time coordinating schedules and trying to solve permit issues," Mark mentioned. “They ended up not saving as much as they originally thought, and their build took almost two years.”
The Riveras chose design elements that fit their budget and their future:
Privacy landscaping to shield the entrance and give their brother extra independence
Standard finishes since family won’t cook often, and future renters won’t value extra cost
9' ceilings to help the space feel open and light despite the compact footprint
LVT flooring to help keep the unit clean and future-proof in design and durability
Multi-purpose built-ins that could serve as office storage or closet space
Initial Use: Family Support
Mark's brother moved in and stayed for 10 months while getting back on his feet after his divorce.
"Having his own space but being close enough to join us for dinner when he wanted was perfect," Mark noted. "He contributed about 60% of our monthly HELOC payment, and our parents chipped in a little to help. It was less than market rent, but it helped offset costs while he rebuilt his finances."
The unexpected benefit? Their relationship improved rather than became strained, which often happens when family members live together without separate spaces.
Current Situation: Flexible for Family Use
After Mark's brother moved out, their daughter came home from college over the holidays and ended up taking the winter semester off.
"The ADU completely changed the dynamic," Lisa explained. "She had grown used to independence at college, and we had grown used to our routines. Having her close but not right under our roof has been ideal for everyone. She's been paying rent while working locally."
Their son, now a high school senior, has also been using the space as a quiet study area away from house distractions. They're considering letting him stay there when he starts junior college in the fall.
Future Plans: Multiple Income Streams
With their daughter planning to return to college soon, the Riveras are exploring their options.
"We're considering testing Airbnb for a while, or possibly renting to traveling nurses from the UC Davis medical center," Mark explained. "Either option would more than cover our HELOC payment, and help us build equity at the same time."
Their property value has increased approximately $195,000 since adding the ADU (based on comps in their area), showing a significant return on their investment.
Key Insights
Flexibility became the greatest value.
"When we started, we thought we were building for one specific need. Now we've seen how the space can evolve with our family's changing situation - from helping my brother to supporting our kids to potential rental income. That adaptability has been worth every penny."
Family support and financial gain aren't mutually exclusive.
"The most rewarding part was realizing we could help family members when they needed it most while also making a smart investment in our property. It never felt like we had to choose between doing good and being practical."
Starting sooner brought unexpected benefits.
"We almost postponed the project by a year. Looking back, we would have missed the chance to help my brother when he needed it most, paid more in construction costs, and lost out on all the ways the space has served our family. The timing couldn't have been better."
Working with professionals saved more than money.
"Having experts handle everything from design to permits to construction gave us peace of mind. Our friend tried managing contractors to save money and ended up spending countless weekends dealing with problems. That time with our family was priceless."
What would it mean for your family to create your own ADU story?
Crafted Tiny Homes is here to help you find a solution tailor-made for you.