Nowhere is the boom in popularity for Accessory Dwelling Units, or prefabricated homes, more intense than in California. There is a simple reason for this: demand. According to the California Association of Realtors Housing Affordability Index, only 17% of households can afford to purchase a single family home. This is almost double the national average. Across the state, people are seeking alternatives to purchasing either a starter home or something a bit more affordable as they retire and downsize. To put the housing crisis and the role of ADU’s in context, between 2017 and 2021, a little under 70,000 ADU’s were built in California. Those units would not be enough to cover the demand for new housing units just in San Francisco alone.

While larger cities (Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Diego) are experiencing the highest demand for new housing, smaller communities are feeling the pinch as well. In Sonoma County, the trend is particularly strong. The cost of an average single family home has risen 31% since 2019. Additionally, a rise in interest rates led to a decrease in the value of homes throughout most of the Bay Area. But four ZIP codes in Sonoma County still saw an increase in home value in 2022. The lack of housing and the increased demand to live outside of the cities due to the rise of remote work has made the North Bay resistant to trends in which there has been a slight dip in home value throughout the surrounding counties.

Sonoma Manufactured Home Installation has recognized the market trends towards smaller accessory units that help ease cost for those looking for an affordable housing option. Building these units helps the Santa Clara and Sonoma County housing stock catch up to demand. If you are someone who is seeking way to exit the hyper-inflated rents of the city but cannot afford a traditional home, we can help you find a plan to secure the financing and purchase of your manufactured home.