elder cottage housing in highline times

A nice story about elder cottage housing is featured in the Highline Times. It features an interview with a client who built a backyard cottage for his mother. The cottage allows his ageing mother to live close to family while maintaining her indepedence.

burien mother-in-law backyard cottage

aging in place - elder cottage housing

What is a backyard cottage?

Backyard cottages are detached accessory dwelling units, a separate dwelling on the same lot as a primary residence in a residential zone. They are also called granny flats and laneway homes or ECHO housing. Unlike many types of ECHO housing they are permanent structures built to the same standards as new construction. Increasing numbers of municipalities are allowing backyard cottages. Backyard cottages are popular with municipalities because they provide affordable housing options and help them to meet growth management goals. They are popular with residents because they provide housing options that allow people to live where they work and play.  Backyard cottages are regulated by zoning codes that limit their size, height, and location.  In most cases the owner of the property must live in either the main house or the backyard cottage.

What backyard cottages are used for?

Aging in place

Aging in place is a catch phrase for seniors maintaining independence by living at home as long as possible, a goal most of us share. Unfortunately, many factors may conspire against this dream. Typical houses and living environments often don’t often favor seniors. In many instances our homes are not accessible for those with mobility impairments and may be located away from family and services.

Backyard cottages are a great option for many seniors. On one hand, families may be able to build a backyard cottage on their lot enabling all the benefits of multi-generational living. However, unlike moving into a room in the main house, seniors and their parents are able to maintain their independence. Because new cottages can incorporate universal design standards that facilitate mobility they may be cheaper than remodeling an older house to say add a downstairs bath, or a residential lift. There are many other considerations like efficient environmental controls, easy to use hardware and appliances that will enable a senior to live and function comfortably in their home. A senior may also build a cottage on their own lot to house a caregiver or a family member.

Beyond the immeasurable benefits of having family close by, there may be real financial incentives as well. In home assistance is much less expensive than assisted living or a nursing home care which runs in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 per month*. The cost of a cottage financed through an equity line of credit is in the range of $1,000 per month and increases the value property.

 *Genworth Financial 2008 Cost of Care Survey

Home office/guest cottage

Even those who embrace the downsizing ethos often need extra space.  Because backyard cottages are new construction they cost less to build and are less disruptive than many additions.  Backyard cottages can be an affordable alternative to leasing office space especially when factoring in the cost and time involved in commuting to and from work.

Investing where you live

Backyard cottages have distinct advantages over most investment properties. Because they share a lot with a primary residence the land they occupy is essentially free to the owner. And their construction may often be financed with an inexpensive equity line of credit.  As a result, rental cottages in good markets can reasonably be expected to generate a net rate of return more than double most rental properties.  

my grandkid could design that - backyard cottage design challenge

                                                
Announcing a soft launch of our international my kid could design that - backyard cottage design challenge. The challenge is open to children 12 and under and will test their creativity and be a lot of fun. Loosely patterned after the backyard cottage design challenge last spring in Seattle we would like to unleash the creativity of our youngest citizens. The competition is for the best designs of a backyard house or cottage. For our competition, we would encourage our participants to think outside of the box. So the rules are no rules. Awards will be given for various age categories so we would ask that parents not interfere too much.  Prizes will be awarded to the winners and their designs will be featured on our blog and the microhousenw web page.  Design ideas may be presented in almost any media from finger paints to gingerbread to computer google sketchup models. An image of entry will be need to be submitted in jpeg or pdf format for judging and should include a verbal description of the entry. We are working on an entry form until then please contact info@microhousenw.com. with my kid could design that in the subject header.

Entries Due:
December 2010

Awards Announced:
January 2011

Categories:
Most Creative
Most Buildable
Most Sustainable
Popular Vote

Jurors:
J. Crone- and works
Bruce Parker - Microhouse
Sharon Khosla - 16th Workshop
Popular Vote

Awards/prizes:
To be determined

Downsizing - Backyard Cottages and McMansions

We are seeing people around us cutting back and slowing down. There is a growing trend to downsize and simplify lifestyles. Partially, this is the result of the new economy. The positive side of this trend is a renewed focus on family and friends, and time spent together.  Backyard cottages have a role to play in the new economy allowing extended family to live closer together. Cottage housing also, with smaller interior spaces and an emphasis on shared community space will likely also continue to grow in popularity. 


A compilation of recent data shows further erosion in consumer demand for larger houses. Obviously there are a combination of factors that affect consumer sentiment. The economy and the real estate market being perhaps the biggest two. According to research by Trulia.com 9% of consumers now believe that their ideal home is 1,400-800 sq.ft.. Granted an equal percentage feel that their ideal home is over 3,200 sq.ft. and probably need 800 sq.ft. just to park their hummer, but it is a significant change. For more detailed breakdown see the attached link.


Consumers Declare McMansion Era Over