ADU Living
A backyard unit changes the math on multigenerational living. Close enough to share meals, far enough to have your own front door.
More American families live in multigenerational households than at any point since the 1970s. The reasons are practical: rising housing costs, aging parents who need proximity but not a nursing home, adult children saving for their first home, and the simple desire to keep family close. An ADU makes this possible without anyone giving up their independence.
Unlike converting a spare bedroom or finishing a basement, an ADU is a fully self-contained living space — its own kitchen, bathroom, entrance, and address. That distinction matters. It means your parents can host their own guests. Your adult child can have a life. And everyone gets to choose when to be together.
The average cost of assisted living in the United States is over $4,500 per month. For many families, an ADU is both a better experience and a better financial decision. A single-story, accessible backyard unit lets aging parents live independently while being close enough for daily check-ins, shared meals, and the peace of mind that comes from proximity.
Design matters here. Wide doorways, zero-step entries, grab bars in bathrooms, and single-floor layouts aren't afterthoughts — they're the starting point. Strata helps you plan these accessibility features into your budget and scope from day one, so nothing gets value-engineered out later.
Young adults are staying home longer than any previous generation — not because they want to, but because the economics of housing have made it necessary. An ADU gives them real independence (their own space, their own routine) while letting them save for their future. When they're ready to move on, the unit becomes rental income or a guest house.
The best family ADU arrangements work because they're intentional about boundaries. Separate entrances, separate utilities, separate addresses — but a shared yard, shared holidays, and the ability to walk over in thirty seconds when someone needs help. The physical design of your ADU directly shapes how the living arrangement feels.
This is why planning matters. The difference between a family arrangement that works for years and one that creates tension often comes down to details that get decided during the design phase, not after construction.
Describe your project and get a real estimate backed by thousands of data points from actual ADU builds.