There's really no need to pay off your home early.

What you will find is they typically appraise for far less than the hands off cost to add the ADU.  

You might have to dig into off-market deals, though, since inventory is tight.Multi-Family: Always a safe bet if you can snag a good deal.

Hi Anthony-You asked about the best ways to find off-market deals for your in-laws to buy and move into and you are focussed on the Santa Barbara, CA area which I have been to and it is gorgeous.It kind of reminds me of an Ann Arbor on the ocean. :)Anyway, I like your strategy of driving and looking for houses in need of repair and sending handwritten letters and contacting rentals for the reasons you gave.

FWIW, I'm going to base this off a 1,500 SF single family new build, but I'll predict the build cost will be a little over $200/SF.

That was my 20s...Spinning my wheels, working ALL of the time, and living off of nothing.

Only thing I'd add is consider off-market as well.

@Tayvion Payton   -  my guess is that you are still too far off the price, at least in the interim but it is always good to put in an offer, because they may come back to you down the road. 

Personally I never listen to what the seller states the income is as they are sometimes way off.

Starting off you will not do a zero sum investment plus get other people to invest.