Let your backyard pay your mortgage
An all-in backyard home that earns rent every month. We handle design, permits, factory build and installation — you collect the rent.
Free · no obligation · HCD-approved plans #1585366
San Jose, Q3 2026
Try it
What could your backyard earn?
Pick your city and a model. Rents are median asking rents for comparable homes; payback assumes cash and a 5% vacancy reserve.
Your city
Model
Estimates only, not financial advice. Rent: median asking rent for a studio, 1- or 2-bedroom in each city (Q3 2026), no rent growth assumed. All-in price with launch pricing (through December 31, 2026). Your rent depends on your street, size and finishes.
The path
From empty yard to first rent check in about 6 months
Week 1
Free lot check
We check zoning, setbacks and utilities and give you a fixed all-in price.
Months 1–3
Permits & site prep
We file the permits — the city must decide within 60 days of a complete application. Your home is built in our factory meanwhile.
Month 4–5
Installed in about a week
Delivery, crane, utility hook-ups and final inspection. No months of construction in your yard.
Month 5–6
First rent check
List it, pick a long-term tenant and start collecting. Our free landlord guide walks you through it.
Design, permits, foundation, factory build, delivery, installation, utility hook-ups and final inspection — one team, one fixed price.
Choose a model and finishes, sign, and pick your tenant. That's it.
Which model rents best
Best models for rental income
Smaller homes pay back fastest; bigger ones earn more each month and attract longer-staying tenants. San Jose numbers shown.
Small Studio
256 sq ft · studio
- All-in price
- $124,900
- Typical rent
- $2,250/mo
- Gross yield / yr
- 22%
- Pays for itself
- 4.9 yrs
Lowest entry price. Great first rental for a single professional.
See the modelLarge Studio ADU
320 sq ft · studio + deck
- All-in price
- $154,900
- Typical rent
- $2,750/mo
- Gross yield / yr
- 21%
- Pays for itself
- 4.9 yrs
Studio living plus a 64 sq ft deck — feels bigger than it is.
See the model1 Bedroom ADU
480 sq ft · 1 bedroom + deck
- All-in price
- $214,900
- Typical rent
- $2,750/mo
- Gross yield / yr
- 15%
- Pays for itself
- 6.9 yrs
A real bedroom door is what most renters look for. Easy to rent, tenants stay longer.
See the model2 Bedroom ADU
640 sq ft · 2 bedrooms + deck
- All-in price
- $271,900
- Typical rent
- $3,250/mo
- Gross yield / yr
- 14%
- Pays for itself
- 7.3 yrs
Room for a couple or roommates — the biggest monthly check.
See the modelGross yield = a year of rent ÷ all-in price, before tax, insurance and upkeep. Payback assumes cash and a 5% vacancy reserve, with launch pricing through December 31, 2026.
Landlord-ready from day one
Built to rent — and to keep tenants happy
A fully separate home: private entrance, its own kitchen and bathroom. Tenants get privacy, so do you.
Every model from the Small Studio up includes laundry — one less reason for a tenant to move.
Water-resistant luxury vinyl plank floors, quartz countertops, stainless fixtures.
All-electric, ENERGY STAR appliances, insulation beyond California Title 24, solar-ready frame.
Built on a steel container frame in our factory — strong, square and durable.
Every home has a 2-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship.
Honest answers
What new landlords worry about
“Will I find a tenant?”
Bay Area rents keep climbing — average asking rent in the San Jose metro is up 36% since January 2021 (Zillow, Aug 2026). A private, brand-new home with laundry is easy to rent.
“Can I put it on Airbnb?”
Usually not for stays under 30 days — many Bay Area cities require long-term rentals for ADUs. Plan on long-term tenants: steadier income, less work.
“What about rent control?”
A newly built ADU is exempt from California's statewide rent cap and just-cause rules for 15 years after its certificate of occupancy. Some cities add local rules — check yours.
“Do I have to live on the property?”
No. California doesn't let cities require you to live on site to rent out an ADU (Gov. Code §66315).
“Will my property taxes jump?”
Only the new ADU's value is added. Your house keeps its current Prop 13 assessment.
“I don't want to be a landlord.”
Then don't be one: a local property manager can find tenants and handle repairs for a fee. Or use it for family first and rent it later.
10 simple steps — city rules, deposits, screening, leases and taxes — plus a printable landlord checklist.
Go deeper
Run the full numbers
Add a loan, down payment and rate — see your monthly cash flow.
Open the ROI calculatorFind the best way to pay
6 quick questions: HELOC, cash-out refi, construction loan or cash.
Take the financing quizSee the market
ADU permits and Bay Area rents over the last 5 years, in official numbers.
See the market dataRental income questions
More in our landlord guide and FAQ, or call (209) 214-6845.
How much rent can an ADU make in the Bay Area?
About $1,750–4,000 a month depending on size and city, based on median asking rents for comparable studios, 1- and 2-bedrooms (Q3 2026). A 1 Bedroom ADU in San Jose typically rents for about $2,750.
Which ADU is best for rental income?
The Small Studio pays for itself fastest; the 1 Bedroom is the easiest to rent because most tenants want a separate bedroom; the 2 Bedroom brings the highest monthly rent.
How long does an ADU take to pay for itself?
Paid in cash, about 4.9–7.3 years for our rental models in San Jose with a 5% vacancy reserve — less with the current 30% launch discount.
Can the rent cover a loan payment?
Often, yes. In our San Jose 1 Bedroom example, $2,750 rent covers a $1,678 loan payment (10% down, 8.5%, 20 years) and leaves about $934 a month. Your numbers depend on your loan.
Can I rent my ADU on Airbnb?
Usually not for stays under 30 days. Many Bay Area cities require ADUs to be rented long-term.
Is a new ADU subject to rent control?
A newly built ADU is exempt from California's statewide rent cap and just-cause rules for 15 years after its certificate of occupancy. Some cities have additional local rules.
Do I have to live on the property to rent out an ADU?
No. California doesn't allow cities to require owner-occupancy for an ADU.
How soon can I start renting?
Typically 5–6 months from signing: permits and site prep, factory build at the same time, installation in about a week, then final inspection.
Free · no obligation
See what your backyard could earn
Send your address. We'll check your lot and local rents and send you a fixed all-in price with the monthly numbers.
HCD-approved plans (#1585366) · 2-year warranty · factory in Lathrop, CA
- 1Send your addressAbout a minute
- 2We check your lot & rentZoning, setbacks, utilities and rents on your street
- 3Get your income planModel, fixed price, timeline and monthly numbers
Sources: median asking rents by city and unit size (Q3 2026, as on our Rental & ROI page); Zillow Observed Rent Index (Aug 2026); California Gov. Code §§66315, 66317; Civil Code §§1946.2, 1947.12; Rev. & Tax. Code §71. Estimates only — not financial, tax or legal advice. Updated October 2026.