We’re not a lending institution, but we can connect you with the best loan specialists to help you get financing for your accessory dwelling unit. These experts have access to both traditional loans and hard-to-find alternative lending options.
The most popular financing choices are described below, but your specific needs and options will be covered with your financial expert once you kick off the process with us.
This is a fancy way of saying that you’re getting a new mortgage on your home for an amount that pays off your old mortgage and pulls extra cash out from the value of your equity. You then use that cash to buy your ADU. You’ll pay all the typical refinancing fees, but a cash-out refinance generally offers better interest rates than either a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage. This is the most common and simplest option for those with a good amount of equity in their primary home.
If your loved ones have money to spare, or perhaps just better credit than you do, consider tapping into their goodwill by working out a loan. Pros: The repayment terms can be whatever you both decide, and you’ll be dealing with someone who cares about you personally. Cons: The lender might lord it over you every chance they get, it might change your relationship even if you follow the terms to a T, and if you default…well, let’s not go there.
If you have enough cash in a regular savings account, using it to pay for your accessory dwelling unit is a no-brainer. No interest, no loan paperwork, no bank to bug you about repayment.
You can also borrow from your retirement fund, such as an IRA or a 401(k), which is your own cash as well. You’ll have to pay the loan back within a specified time period (usually five years) and with interest—typically the prime rate plus one or two percentage points. But all that interest will go right back into your retirement fund. You also can withdraw the money outright, but depending on your age, you may have to pay an early-withdrawal penalty. And be cautious about dipping into retirement funds for a home purchase of any kind, so you’re not left high and dry when you do retire.
Leveraging the equity in an owned home is a common way to pay for an ADU. There are two types of home equity financing.
This is a revolving line of credit, typically at a variable interest rate. A lender approves credit up to a certain amount (usually up to 80 percent of the value of your primary home), and then you can borrow from that to pay for your unit and any related costs. You can sometimes find HELOCs without fees or closing costs, but HELOCs in general are less available today than in the past; many banks have stopped offering them in many situations.
This is a loan for a fixed amount, for a term typically shorter than the first mortgage. As with a first mortgage, you’ll have to pay closing costs and fees such as for an appraisal, credit report, and more; but your first mortgage and its rate stay intact.
Unlike loans based on the existing equity in your primary home, a renovation loan to pay for an ADU is based on the price your home will be valued at once all the improvement work is finished. (Building an in-law unit is considered a home improvement.) If you have less than 30 to 40 percent equity in your primary home, this might be a good option to consider. Note, however, that the bank will want to approve the builder and will release funds over time as construction progresses—adding hassle and complexity for everyone involved.
Interest rates tend to be slightly higher than for refinancing (about 0.125 percent), you’ll have to pay closing costs, and it’s a short-term loan (usually a year or less). But often a renovation loan can be a one-time close, meaning that any remaining debt when the term is up is automatically converted to 30-year financing—so, there’s no reapplying or additional origination fees.
If you have no savings, don’t own a home yet, have no loved ones who can help, and have good credit and a sizable income, your only option may be getting a personal loan or line of credit from a bank or credit union, or drawing on a credit card. All of these typically are free to set up, but the interest rates are so high that you should consider them a last resort, and you likely won’t be able to borrow as much as with other options ($100,000 is generally the max).
Private-money lending, or hard-money lending, can be a good fit for real estate investors or multifamily-property owners. These loans, which are given by an organization or a wealthy individual, require rental income streams to support paybacks and property valuations, and are often designed for a short-term bridge or construction period. The interest rates are higher, but the terms are often discretionary, to allow for creativity and flexibility in their structure as well as simpler, faster underwriting and approvals.
Both the federal government and local agencies offer financial help for ADU buyers either directly or indirectly.
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a housing choice voucher program, which guarantees market-rate rental income by paying the difference between what a low-income renter could afford and the market rate. While this doesn’t directly help pay for ADU construction, it does reduce the risk in taking out a loan to build an ADU. And the U.S. Department of Justice offers financial benefits and protections to service members and others—including dependents and loan cosigners in some cases—via the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Every state also has housing finance agencies created to meet affordable-housing needs. Assistance programs vary, so contact your local agency directly.
Tech advances and the rise of crowdsourcing have been a boon for ADU buyers, leading to peer-to-peer financing options. Point invests in a portion of homeowners’ equity, paying cash for construction costs. PeerStreet is a “two-sided marketplace for investing in real estate debt.” And there are scads of other general peer-to-peer lending services online. These are all too new for us to recommend them wholeheartedly, but they’re worth checking out.
We can connect you to a lender who can discuss your specific financing needs. Start by entering your complete street address below.
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We serve the Austin, Texas area, and also the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California (Los Angeles County and Orange County).
