It was the letter every renter in the bay area dreads and Anna knew instantly she would not be able to afford her apartment. She had just learned a new building owner planned to double the rent. Retired and living on a fixed income, Anna did not know what to do. She headed to her daughter Veronica’s house, down the road in Pacifica, for a chat.
“I think, we can build a little house here for me,” she announced to a skeptical audience. Tired of increasing rents, the idea of trading uncertainty for a fixed loan payment appealed to Anna. She also liked the idea of her keeping her money in the family. Plus, a small backyard second-unit would allow her to be close to her two grandsons.
Veronica was initially hesitant because neither she nor her mom knew anything about construction. But the positives outweighed the challenges and they moved forward. Anna knew she wanted a “small and cute” beach-style house. And she wanted a local architect and builder, people she knew she could trust with such a critical project. She didn’t drive, so she set out on foot around Pacifica to find the perfect fit. She soon found an architect and a builder who could do the job right.
“My mom’s resourceful like that,” Veronica said. The new home took only a few months to complete. Today, three generations barbecue on the patio and the dogs run back and forth between the homes.
“I love it,” Anna said. “It’s the perfect amount of space. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” And when asked about her plans for the future, when her mom is no longer there, Veronica had this to say, “Maybe I’ll move in. The boys can have the big house.”
