ADU Friendly Cities in San Diego

[Michael Shea]

Hello All,

I'm looking into selling a condo and rolling the equity into a new investment SFR here in San Diego. The second phase of the plan is to build an ADU. I've reviewed the ADU rules on some of the different city's websites, now I realize how much variance there is just within the county...For example, Santee has a new owner occupancy requirement that will go into effect on any ADU's permitted after 2024 and a strict no STR policy, La Mesa on the other hand seems really ADU friendly.

Does anyone here have recommendations on which cities in SD county to avoid and which to explore for ADU's?

thanks!

[Dan H.]

Quote from @Michael Shea:

Hello All,

I'm looking into selling a condo and rolling the equity into a new investment SFR here in San Diego. The second phase of the plan is to build an ADU. I've reviewed the ADU rules on some of the different city's websites, now I realize how much variance there is just within the county...For example, Santee has a new owner occupancy requirement that will go into effect on any ADU's permitted after 2024 and a strict no STR policy, La Mesa on the other hand seems really ADU friendly.

Does anyone here have recommendations on which cities in SD county to avoid and which to explore for ADU's?

thanks!

City of San Diego is one of the more friendly ADU cities in the state.  

I would not worry about Santee owner occupied requirement as state law will ensure ADUs do not require owner occupancy.  

Even with jurisdictions being ADU friendly, adding an ADU is one of the worse RE investments.  Here are some reasons why:
1) The value added by the ADU addition is often significantly less than the cost of adding the ADU. Search the BP for ADU appraisals to encounter numerous examples. This creates a negative initial position. This negative position can consume years of cash flow to recover. Make sure you know the value the ADU will add to the property before building the ADU.
2) the financing on an ADU is typically far worse than for initial investment property acquisition or is often not leveraged (HELOC, cash out refi, etc). Leverage magnifies return.
3) The effort involved in adding an ADU is comparable or larger than a rehab associated with a BRRRR. However if I do a BRRRR I can achieve infinite return by extracting all of my investment. Due to item 1, adding an ADU can require years to start achieving any return (once the accumulated cash flow recovers the initial negative position).
4) Adding an ADU is a slow process. It can take a year or more to complete an ADU. During this time you are not generating any return from the money invested in the ADU. This amounts to lost opportunity because if you had purchased RE, at the closing it can start producing return.
5) ADUs detract from the existing structure whether this is privacy, a garage, or just yard space.
6) this is related to number 1, but there are many more buyers looking to purchase homes for their family than there are RE investors looking to purchase small unit count properties. This may affect value or time required to sell.
7) Adding an ADU does not make the property a duplex. For example in many jurisdictions I can STR units in a duplex but cannot STR an ADU (some jurisdictions will let you STR if you owner occupy). Duplex have different zoning that may permit additional units. Duplex can always add additional units via the ADU laws.
8) Related to number 1, purchasing a property with an existing ADU is cheaper than buying a property and adding an ADU. Why add an ADU if it can be purchased cheaper?
9) adding multiple ADUs or adding an ADU to a quad looses F/F conventional financing. This reduces exit options and affects the value.
10) Small number of small units is the most expensive residential development there is. This implies residential units can be built at lower costs and provide better return.
11) adding an ADU to SFH can make the SFH fall under rent control.

good luck