Builders Turn to ADUs to Fast Track Affordable Housing

In the wake of ever-rising mortgage rates and a near tipping point of inflated home sale prices, housing experts are seeking out fast and innovative solutions to create more affordable housing, and many say that Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADU) offer just that. ADUs and DADUs can be customized to any home site and, in many areas, are legally permitted on properties occupied by existing homes. Best of all, they provide affordable housing options to those who would otherwise be priced out of the housing market and forced into an equally volatile rental market.

As they become more commonplace and more widely accepted in regional markets across the U.S., builders are incorporating DADUs and ADUs into their portfolios to meet rising demand head on, Forbes reports.

Pacific Northwest-based Johnston Architects has addressed the concept with its Twisp Cabin, which was originally designed as a vacation cabin located in the Methow Valley of Washington State. The home design has since proven remarkably adaptable.

The 1,300-square-foot Twisp Cabin, whose plans can be bought for $7,000, is one of a number of Johnston Architects’ customizable home designs available for purchase.

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