Posts Tagged ‘seattle cottages’

It is the reality of our times that many people are looking for additional space in Seattle home they are shopping for.  Wether it be children moving home after school, or just taking longer to move out, aging parents, or taking on renters to help pay the bills, many Seattle home shoppers are looking for homes that have more flexibility. 

There is a bit of a maze of lingo when it comes to additional space with a home, so lets clear that up first.

ADU – Accessory Dwelling Units – These are in house living spaces that meet specific guidelines set out by the city.  They need to have a separate entrance, kitchen capabilities, at least a three quarter bathroom, etc.  Many people have never heard the term ADU before and refer to them as Mother-in-Laws.  They are very similar with one distinct difference.  ADU‘s have gotten the stamp of approval from the city.  This would indicate that they meet a more stringent standard on average then Mother-In-Law.  Mother-In-Laws may not meet the strict standard to be qualified as an ADU or the owner simply has not jumped through the hoops to get a permit.  Often owners fear a tax increase if they report a MIL as an ADU and so avoid the permit process. 

Either way houses with additional living space either as an ADU or MIL can offer a lot of flexibility for home shoppers.

Both Accessory Dwelling Units and Mother-In-Law units are within the walls of the existing home.  If you build a separate structure outside the framework of the existing house, you are now talking about a cottage. 

Cottages used to be forbidden.  A few years ago however the city embarked on an experiment to start allowing a limited number as a test.  the success of that experiment and current economic and social reality, prompted Mayor Nichols last month, to announce that the city is considering extending the allowances of cottages.  The City of Seattle would set standards for size, set back from lot lines, etc. and if individuals had the space and got the permits, as many as 50 a year would be permitted to be built per year.  

to read the full article on the Seattle DPD web site click here:

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/news/20090319a.asp

This is an interesting development for those looking for additional living space.  Nice to see that the city of Seattle is trying to be more flexible for those with extended family or those simply looking to have space to rent within their property.

If you need help shopping feel free to e-mail me or give me a call.  I’ll be happy to show you what is available right now in any Seattle Neighborhood for any price point.

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Rob Graham, Accredited Buyers Representative

Windermere Real Estate

206-321-6349

robgraham@windermere.com

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