By 2030, when the baby boomers will have all reached retirement age, and there will be over 72 million Americans aged 65 or older, according to the Census Bureau. But what can you do when grandma refuses to live in an assisted living facility and doesn’t want to give up her own home? The solution is…
The California Department of Housing and Community Development approved accessory dwelling units from the 1st of January 2019 owing to the many benefits of this type of dwelling. Previously, accessory dwelling units were not legal as they violated the construction codes. With the approval, however, even previously constructed accessory dwelling units can now get approved. This offers…
Are you looking for a comfortable and affordable living situation? Regardless of whether you’re looking for a place to settle down in your old age, a place to retire to after doing your fair share of labor, or somewhere to call home while you’re out there pursuing your dream, a house should fulfill 2 things. Living in…
Since 2005 California has had a housing shortage of 180,000 units. The persistent housing shortage in the state has caused prices of homes to shoot upwards out of the reach of many residents. One alternative Californian authorities are turning to ease this pressure is the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). ADUs, also known as granny flats or…
Soaring housing costs are leading our nation into an affordable housing crisis. According to studies done by Harvard, the national median rent cost has increased by 20% with the median housing cost increasing even quicker by 41%. Income for low to moderate income families has only raised between 3-5%. This has created a challenge for many…
Designing and personalizing a small, completely independent home like an ADU, is a wonderful, rewarding challenge of residential design and flow. No property is alike, no home is alike, yet every solution must provide a safe, comfortable, private, and independent space for our family. At Acton ADU, one of our core philosophies is to always provide…
If you are thinking about building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for your property, you might be wondering: When should I begin my project? You’d think that with California’s mild climate, any time of year would work. Or better yet, this summer would be perfect because the weather will be dry and perfect for building, no…
Multigenerational households are becoming more common than ever. Particularly in Northern California, where housing costs are rising and families face a growing need for housing solutions that can meet the needs of older family members. For homeowners who have the right kind of property, accessory dwelling units (ADU) are providing an affordable and empowering living…
How to build a successful construction company, in one of the most competitive markets in the world, during an economic downturn. It seems simple at first. A man in a truck (aka Joe) is told by his boss that the construction company he works for is running low on work. Joe’s boss doesn’t have a…
On July 29, 1985 at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, I watched my father launch into earth’s orbit on the Space Shuttle Challenger. I won’t say it was like any other ordinary day. It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. Watching a spacecraft launch is amazing and transformative. And at 3,500 miles per hour (that’s roughly 1 mile per…
In recent years, a growing number of homeowners are building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their properties. And it makes sense. ADUs provide an excellent way to accommodate family and invest in your property in the long-term. That said, building a home in your backyard represents a significant investment, and you shouldn’t trust this type…
The Grandfather Tree. It was 2007. My wife and I were sitting next to an iron stove in a cabin in the Santa Cruz mountains, admiring the majesty of the old growth redwood trees peering out at the pacific ocean. I remember wondering what was up there at the very top and how the view…
