THE ULTIMATE SEATTLE HOUSE HACK (no, it is not renting out rooms)

[Adrian Chu]

This is a summary of learnings from a recent project I personally completed.  

Steps involved:

1. Buy a home with a large backyard

2. Get permits to build a detached ADU (DADU)/backyard cottage in the backyard

3. Build the DADU for around $200k-300k. I used a construction loan.

4. Split the two homes into detached condos.  (The City of Seattle allows this. Most other cities do not.)

5. Sell the DADU for $500k-750k+ (or keep it as a rental and cash out refinance.)

6. You get a great house to live in $150k-300k less than what you would otherwise pay for OR sell the main house as well for maximum profit.

Photos are of a recent project from 2017. I was one of the early adopters for this kind of project. Ask me anything!

Original home (retained)

New DADU