OURchitecture

Jul 27, 2010

Financing for ADU's

  1. Financing is an important component of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program
    1. Santa Cruz's award winning ADU Program provides financing incentives
    2. Honolulu currently provides low interest (no interest?) loans to homeowners that meet certain income restrictions. Extending this assistance to building ADU's will help the private sector create additional dwelling units and ease housing affordability.
  2. ADU will help create a source of revenue/free up equity for Seniors who may be Land Rich, Cash Poor
    1. Retired persons without a job or ability to verify an income, may find it difficult to obtain financing to build an ADU or a means to sustain themselves once reverse mortgage funds are exhausted or expenses exceed monthly income.
    2. However, after the ADU is built, it can provide a supplemental stream of passive income. It can also increase the equity or property value, making subsequent financing, re-financing possible.
    3. As a community that cherishes its kupuna, ADU's can help provide a means of earning an income when their wage-earning days are past and decreasing our dependence of government subsidies.
  3. New construction will be built to a higher energy-efficiency standard. 
    1. Honolulu has adopted the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), opening possibility that borrowers may also benefit from energy-efficiency improvement loans or increase the ease or eligibility of Hawaii to apply federal funds to improvements at the local level.