"Finally, A Profitable Way to Fill Up Your Backyard!"

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"Finally, A Profitable Way to Fill Up Your Backyard!"

It’s widely understood that there's a scarcity of modest and affordable housing in pretty much every major city in California. Factors such as expensive land, labor shortages, high construction costs, and difficulty in obtaining permits have resulted in a situation where only sky-high rents and home prices can offset the cost of doing business. With those considerations in mind, California lawmakers recently started to ease restrictions on alternative housing options to help relieve some pressure on the State’s rapidly declining middle class. And one such option, commonly referred to as ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units), have experienced a surge in popularity as homeowners look for creative ways to generate additional income right from their own backyards.

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"The Case for Upzoning"

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"The Case for Upzoning"

Last month, the city council of Berkeley, California approved a resolution that called for the end of exclusionary zoning by 2022. It might not be surprising that a progressive enclave like Berkeley passed such a measure but communities of all political leanings are starting to reconsider both the intended and unintended consequences of restrictive zoning laws. That begins with the acknowledgment that many of those laws have been used to discriminate in housing far beyond the Fair Housing Act of 1968, while also advancing the perception that thriving suburbs consist of for sale, single family homes surrounded by manicured lawns and picket fences. Thankfully, municipalities are challenging those narratives by using upzoning to combat housing shortages and affordability concerns, which in turn will help make suburbs more accessible and inclusive.

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