ADU Finance Program
The San Diego Housing Commission’s (SDHC) Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Finance Program helps homeowners with moderate income in the City of San Diego build ADUs on their property. The program provides financial assistance in the form of construction loans (up to $250,000) and technical assistance that helps homeowners understand and complete the process of building an ADU.
Participating homeowners may generate wealth for themselves through the increase in their property’s value and the rental income from their ADU. In addition, the program helps create affordable rental housing in the City of San Diego because the rents for the ADUs built with help from the program are required to remain affordable for seven years.
For more information, contact adu@sdhc.org.
Eligible Households
- Income up to 120% of San Diego’s Area Median Income, for example, $128,300 per year per year for a family of four
- Residential property (detached single-family residence) in the City of San Diego
- Main home must be owner-occupied
- Minimum Credit Score of 680
- Owner’s Contribution equal to 1% of the construction loan amount
Technical Assistance (Help with the Process)
- ADU Consultant provided by SDHC to help with pre-design, permits, and construction
- Vendor selection tips
- Project management support
- Potential landlord-tenant training and help with leasing
- No cost to the homeowner
Construction Loan Details
The SDHC construction loan funds the ADU construction. The SDHC construction loan is then refinanced into a permanent first mortgage. SDHC is collaborating with a partner lender bank for this program to fund the permanent first mortgage loans; however, homeowners may refinance with a lender they choose.
- Maximum loan amount: $250,000 (subject to SDHC and first mortgage lender underwriting)
- 1% fixed interest rate
- Maximum 75% Loan-to-Value ratio
ADU Development Pilot Program
To help San Diego homeowners understand the process related to ADU construction, the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) built ADUs in the available yard space at five single-family homes SDHC owns and rents as affordable housing in the City of San Diego.
Through this process, SDHC documented “lessons learned” with regard to site feasibility, design, construction, cost, timeline, oversight needed, and other development-related aspects that may arise with the development of ADUs.
Lessons Learned and Key Takeaways for Homeowners
Additional Information and Resources
Source of New Housing
ADUs are one of the top five main sources of potential additional housing units for the City of San Diego through 2028, according to SDHC’s report, Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis: San Diego Housing Production Objectives 2018-2028.
The report estimated ADUs could produce 2,700-5,500 units over 10 years.
City of San Diego ADU Bonus Program
Please contact Genevieve Hernandez at genevieveh@sdhc.org or 619-578-7588 if you have questions regarding ADU Bonus Program affordability requirements.
