Alameda County is developing a pilot to help older homeowners remain in their communities by moving into accessible backyard homes and selling their original houses.
Under the county’s Scalable Housing Infill Funding Toolkit, participating owners would build an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, on their property, move into it, divide the lot and sell the main house. The sale proceeds would help repay the ADU construction loan. The plan draws on California laws that have eased ADU construction, allowed eligible owners to transfer a lower property-tax basis and enabled certain lot splits.
Housing Director Michelle Starratt said the county heard from older homeowners who had substantial home equity but too little income to qualify for conventional loans. Some had considered building rental units, but managing a landlord-tenant relationship posed challenges. The county’s proposed approach aims to add homes while giving those owners another way to stay where they live.
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