The Cheap House You Can Build In Your Own Backyard

[@davidoknaian403]

The kitchen is just gorgeous! I support her decision to go with high-end materials and appliances. It makes the place!

[@sarycury]

Thank you so so much!

[@davidoknaian403]

You are so welcome!

[@Jesus_is_savior]

@@sarycuryI love the kitchen

[@epg423]

Agreed, i dropped almost 100k on appliances for 2,000 sq ft total between the main house and guest house and the outdoor kitchens, 3 total kitchens if you include the outdoor kitchen which is just a grill lol 😅. When i ordered them i thought i was buiding 3,300 total sq ft so thats a little more rational 😂

[@libbyrumary4939]

Most normal people can’t do that

[@djgroovyslug]

We live in Seattle and have a huge detached 2 car garage. We fixed ours up (the foundation, insulation & drywall, electric & lighting) and turned it into our gym. That's what's valuable for us right now and I'm very happy with it. But I once saw an AirBnB in Portland that was designed for the host's parents to "age in place with dignity and beauty." Sometimes I daydream about upgrading our garage for multigenerational living on our property.

[@denverdubois5835]

And you save so much money not having to pay for a gym membership! Look at it that way. I love the idea of multigeneration living too! But remember there are companies that will come and build a separate ADU for you for a very reasonable price as they are pre-fabricated these days. And your relative can have input in the design and features! That's another asset of having a reasonably sized house lot instead of living in a townhome or apartment with no usable land.

[@3103frank]

We went the multigenerational route on our garage. I highly recommend it when its time to convert. Luckily our gym is literally 1 mile away!

[@allthingsnu4673]

What you've done makes more sense to me than putting thousands of dollars into a remodel to create a rental since it would take a while to recoup the investment and start turning a profit. It all depends on what is valuable to you.

[@ColtraneAndRain]

That's exactly what I'm doing, only my daughter and her baby will live in the adu. Rent is crazy in our city and my home is paid for. Yes, I will have to put at least 30k into it, adding another bedroom, but I would rather have family there instead of a stranger.

[@shawkontzu3990]

We are doing the same thing renovating our detached garage into a backyard office and the kid's playroom. This is the minimum cost transforming that we can think of for better using that space.

[@karlyd7274]

Haha, I'm one of those "no garage, no deal" people! Not having to have my car sit in the hot sun or freezing cold is so important to me. Really interesting video Monica! 👍

[@hudsonjamesc]

Agreed. I don't want uv lights damaging my car paint.

[@denverdubois5835]

Not to mention it's nice to have a dry place to store things like camping gear and holiday decor. Basements are often murky, and attics can be difficult to access while carrying boxes and whatnot.

[@IceCat143]

Same here. Garage is a deal breaker.

[@SABOREAME68]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ The garage transformation exudes an understated elegance & sophistication without sacrificing comfort or function. I love the monochromatic scheme palate that Sara used, great job!!!

[@DiannaCarney]

Love these out-of-the-box real estate videos! Such a fun and unique take on one of my favorite subjects!

[@susanl8478]

I had an extra deep ... extra extra deep garage at the back of my lot. I turned the back section it into a tiny home and LOVE it. I lived in the tiny home when it was finished and rented my house ( to Graduate students) , moved back into the 'big' house when I had grand kids but am dying to move back into the casita (that is what we call them in the SW) as soon as my renter decides to leave ... She has been back there for ten years and is threatening to never leave she loves it so much. Plumbing was the biggest expense!

[@SerendipityNJ]

Enjoyable video - Sara is definitely a budding designer! I love the overall look of this ADU - the added windows, pitched roof etc. I would have designed the inside differently, as much as I love the lux kitchen & other features. I hope you are able to feature more of her designs in the future!

[@TarynClark]

Wow that Airbnb is beautiful 😍 love the house hunt at the end too. Great work Monica!

[@MonicaChurch]

Thank you!

[@sarycury]

Thank you 😊

[@nicolaxoxo1]

Before you buy, check with your local laws. Where I live, str (short term rentals) are NOT ALLOWED with large fines if caught….and guaranteed someone will turn you in. Minimum rental term is 3 months and you have to pay a fee to the greedy city to rent anything

[@MichaelPriceOfficial]

This will be another banger from Monica. This is perfect too, as I'm looking to build a tiny home in my backyard.

[@sabrinakingsley798]

You haven't even watched yet lol

[@MonicaChurch]

Curious what you think of the video! Would you do a garage conversion if you had a detached garage?

[@sabrinakingsley798]

@@MonicaChurch for sure, especially to accommodate relatives

[@sabrinakingsley798]

​@@MonicaChurch just saw the price tag.. maybe not. Great video tho

[@NormanF62]

@@MonicaChurch Have you thought of using your Airstream trailer you’ve been rehabbing as an ADU? You could make back some of the money you’ve spent on it if you’re not planning to take it out that often on the road.

[@MsCdngrrl]

Absolutely loved this. Sarah’s place is so cute!

[@angelaforbes8476]

What an interesting video! I live in California and my parents actually converted their garage into an air bnb after getting the idea from me when I would use the garage as a study space. We have so much parking in the driveway that we didn't need the garage other than for storage. So they downsized and threw out all the clutter and got a shed to put all the remaining items behind the garage. But the laws changed and they weren't allowed to do air bnb anymore in Inglewood so now I rent it out haha

[@cujoenyo]

As long as there is a homeowner why not have air bnb. Stupid law

[@cameronbennett8151]

@@cujoenyo LA has a huge homeless population. Airbnb, particularly in Los Angeles, is a contributing factor to the housing crisis we live in. An airbnb is one less house for a person/couple/family to buy and live in or rent out to someone long-term.

[@sandy949]

This was an interesting video! Sara did a really nice job creating a cozy home while maximizing space.

[@pirhan]

Given the rise of catalytic converter theft here, I definitely want a garage and not a rental. I also agree with Julia's post that it's sad to see these homes bought up and removed from first time home owners. *Especially* when bought by developers to convert into town homes, removing the ability for people to grow their own food or have their children play in the yard.

[@yaboi9419]

Boomer

[@NoMoreHeroesAnymore1334]

They don't want us growing our own food, and they want your kid glued to a screen to be programmed into being the next wealth emitter for the parasite clsas.

[@djkenny1202]

Have you considered generational living? These are fantastic for parents to live in as aging, perhaps near grandkids? Instead of a place to put a car that sits 90% of the time, its an income earning house.

[@travisjacobs6068]

Lol you are lost and blame is misplaced.

[@denverdubois5835]

@@djkenny1202 Income earning is what jobs are for. Not to mention if you really need extra money, if you own a home you can choose to convert your basement or attic to apartments or simply rent out a room. As for your garage--whether your car is electric, gas or whatever, it's a major expense and if you live somewhere that mass transit is unsafe, impractical or nonexistent, it makes sense to shelter your vehicle from theft, damage and weather when you are not using it. THAT is being smart with your resources, especially if you didn't buy an inexpensive used car. And all that is especially relevant if you don't live somewhere with a gentle climate like coastal California. Weather is very destructive to vehicles in much of the USA.

[@LydiaTaverne]

So cool! This is one of my favorite transformations I’ve ever seen.

[@BrigetGstar]

Based on my 6 years of experience with dividend investing, my best advice is to adopt a long-term mindset. While dividends offer attractive income, their true potential lies in the remarkable compounding effect that unfolds over time. With a $350,000 portfolio, I'm now seeking to optimize its performance by adding high-potential companies. I'd love to hear your ideas and insights

[@SophieLoschy]

Many people underestimate the value of financial advisors until they've suffered losses due to emotional decision-making. I learned this lesson the hard way after my divorce a few summers ago. To keep my business afloat, I sought out a licensed advisor with exceptional credentials. Thankfully, I found an expert who has been instrumental in growing my reserves despite inflationary pressures, increasing my wealth from $275,000 to $850,000. Her guidance has been invaluable, and I now recognize the importance of seeking professional advice to navigate complex financial situations.

[@NoahNollens]

Impressive gains! How can I get your advisor please, if you don't mind me asking? I could really use a help as of now.

[@SophieLoschy]

*Julianne Iwersen-Niemann* is the licensed advisor I use. Just google the name and you’d find necessary deets. To be honest, I almost didn't buy the idea of letting someone handle growing my finance, but so glad I did.

[@NoahNollens]

Thank you for the lead. I searched her up, and I have sent her a message. I hope she gets back to me soon.

[@Vanessa_Martinez]

Gorgeous!!! She did her thing with that!

[@kharithoughts2679]

wow, she is a very good designer, that space looks great

[@sarycury]

Thank you!!

[@Privatemb]

I think this idea is great however I am one of those buyers who would think golly g why would you lose a whole garage for an income producer. If I wanted to have an air bnb or rental I’d make a “she shed” of sorts or make a container home rather than take away a garage. But I not only have a motorcycle and various outdoor hobbies and equipment but I have a lot of tools and build and make things: so to me a garage or a shop is essential . Interesting take on the market! I hardly find her remodel or the overall real estate pricing there to be even remotely reasonable or affordable but I think to someone with a lot of money yes this is a great option to further produce more money, and could be done more budget friendly in other cities and geographical areas. As always great video Monica!

[@lavapix]

I never would have thought of several of the things she used for the decor. It looks great. Being older and having fewer possessions I could easily live there. But, in my younger days, I needed a garage. Not just for the vehicle but typical garage stuff too. It's also a place to work on home projects.

[@carlabarrick8538]

Sara put a lot of great decisions into that space that makes it so marketable. I live in the area and will tell everyone about it.

[@sarycury]

Thank you so so much! We’d love to host you or any friends!

[@denverdubois5835]

Honestly I just love it aesthetically, but in practical terms it was ridiculous to spend so much money--especially as I don't believe it increases the amount of rent she can realistically charge. It was a vanity project imo. Again it's totally gorgeous, though!

[@christinahaythorne3633]

What a beautiful space! I absolutely love what she did to that garage.

[@sarycury]

Thank you so so much!

[@dannywalker1635]

Garage conversions are good. I have a friend who had an older house here in Florida with a detached garage and he turned it into an apartment with a small kitchen. It paid off big when he sold that property.

[@tracy_cakkes]

Very cool Monica! Thanks for this content. Her Airbnbs very pretty.

[@Luciferisking512]

This was probably the best and well thought out video you’ve done yet. Really enjoyed it!

[@tiffanyhollywood2108]

🤯A-MAZING!!!!!!!!😱 W😮W I L🤍 V E IT!!! 🏠 You go girl!!!!! And props to your sister also...I wouldn't have ever thought that that muruel was not wall paper!! 😱 Y'all did your thang!!!! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 Girl Power!!! 😁

[@JujuGurgel]

Please tour her dad's property, I'd love to see the $40K version.

[@sarycury]

One of the major reasons his was cheaper was because there was an existing bathroom already in the garage. So existing plumbing and electrical is super helpful if you’re looking to do a garage conversion. They would be my top two things to look for 😊

[@JP-gg1og]

Awesome video I would love to see more of these type of ADU videos. Both garage conversions are really nice. I would personally only convert the detached garage If I can add a small attached garage to the main house. I think it’s such a value to whoever lives in the main house.

[@nicolaxoxo1]

Good idea but if you really think about it, many homeowners have their garage full of junk and can’t use it to park anyway. Unless someone likes having a workshop area, a garage apartment is a good option, in many areas rent is so high that you could make a lot even if you make it a long term rental

[@sarycury]

We’ve totally thought about that, we have plenty of parking for both the DADU and the main house on the property. The existing garage wasn’t functional so that’s why it made sense for us. 🤍🤍 thanks for watching

[@amr_adel0]

Imagine how would it be the world without Monica's adventures in buying and selling houses in US? It would be faint. ❤️

[@thecjlife7682]

the kitchen looks amazing, really nice for a small space

[@northwoodfalls1403]

My mother bought what was once a summer cottage that had been upgraded to a four season home. It came with a detached building that was half auxiliary living space/storage and the other half of it was a car port. She has ample parking space that has some shelter to it so the car port wasn’t really necessary. But since it had a roof and a concrete pad she had it enclosed, had sky lights put in the roof and converted the space into her art studio. She is nearly done with her main living space renovations and is planning the renovations for the additional living space that is attached to what was the car port and is now her studio. The conversion is phenomenal. You’d never guess that it was once a car port. Our home has a large lot for a suburban home with no builds behind us. It has a large shed that was very well built. When we bought the property we absolutely included the possibility of converting that shed into auxiliary living space in the future. We are planning on turning it into office space (my husband works primarily from home) and guest quarters. The main house already had an in-law suite in the basement. That suite needs some updating as it has been used by our teenage sons since we have lived here but one of our sons works in the home building trades and would rather exchange his labour for staying here rather than spend a fortune on rent elsewhere. It’s definitely worth it to take your time (if you can) and find a property that has the possibility to expand it’s livable space especially if that additional space can bring in passive income, house your parents/adult children, and add value to your property. More municipalities are embracing these auxiliary spaces to help ease some of the high demand for housing. There are plenty of companies out there now that specialize in prefab tiny dwellings if you don’t have an existing building that could be made fit for purpose.

[@VonSolo5]

The decor is beautiful, love it.

[@jalqassar]

Oh my Gosh...its not too elaborate. Its gorgeous. I love the entire thing. The brass fixtures are classy.

[@carenkaren27]

I’d love to live there! Stunning.

[@alainamaeve9937]

I would want to move into that garage - it is perfectly adorable and in line with my dream house from childhood! Off to find my dream garage to rent the house out and live tiny! 🤍

[@bhadams1]

I live in an HOA community with detactable garages leading into an alleyway. I keep my cars and tools, and other stuff in the garage. But making it into a rental or community living sounds like something feasible. Thanks for this video-gives me ideas (as always :)

[@Chichirivichi]

Wow, love it. I so love your videos and your energy! Thanks Monica and thanks to Sarah from The Landing. She did a magnificent job! ✴ 🌟⭐🌟✴

[@mayrablanco2013]

I love Sara's choices. She's made that garage a beautiful and well thought out AirBnB . . . so pretty and quaint. Great video!

[@livinginseattle206]

It is so chill. I love the vibe.

[@kristinrodriguezrealtordmv3434]

I love this! As an Airbnb owner/host I just love to see what other folks do with their properties. The kitchen in the garage conversion is gorgeous

[@lou196t]

This is a gorgeous “garage.” I could live in this space it is so beautiful. Well done👏❤

[@notinvogue4287]

Perfect. It came out beautiful.

[@tlste2784]

This is beautiful. Love.

[@emilieclarke5074]

Oooooof that last house... I would 100% convert that attached garage to a livable space! So many options!!!

[@thethriftyfawn]

Absolutely beautiful! 😊

[@NormanF62]

An ADU isn’t for everyone. If you have the space and your county/city planning office allows it, you can have an income-producing asset near your home as well providing guest space for family and friends who come to visit. If your situation permits, definitely go for it!

[@Susan.I]

It’s beautiful!

[@mimichy4138]

Her kitchen is everything I want for mines so awesome

[@robyn_southafrica]

Absolutely amazing 😍😍

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

Love this little house ! ❤

[@rick5653]

Wow. It looks incredible. You should be an interior decorator.😊

[@NA-ko4ub]

I love it.

[@dvinedzine]

So beautiful.

[@KashturkA]

Great idea and great execution!

[@cindychesna829]

Super cute!

[@juanjaquez3752]

Excellent. Very creative.

[@LisaSoulLevelHealing]

I'm converting mine as well.

[@garthtagge3526]

You did a great job!

[@brentfisher6484]

America was duped in in the 1930's and 40's that the automobile was THE only way to travel and that has led to so many misguided choices (here is a zoning choice) including that every house MUST have (and needs) a garage. This duping has cost America it's railroads and an explosion of suburbs that are largely unsustainable in a future with less gasoline.

[@heroknaderi]

Awesome 😎

[@HalleluiaJesusLives]

Beautiful

[@SuperShortie02]

Been watching your videos for years && love how your content has developed in the real estate realm! 10/10 💪🏼

[@IL0VEU2]

Fabulous!!!

[@BarryRackley]

Great video!! Currently working on a remodel and this was a super informative video with several tips!! Thanks for the project lesson.

[@juliaswortz]

Heartbreaking to see the semi-affordable properties near Seattle being bought up and turned into rentals and Airbnb’s. No doubt these people own near million dollar properties in the city. Leave the properties for people to purchase and actually live in, don’t be a landlord.

[@EGomezBruno]

Not a huge fan of Airbnb's but I think it's great to encourage people who live in the main house on these type of properties to become landlords and create more housing in this crisis by converting their garages into long-term rentals or building ADU's in their yard that people can actually live in. We need more housing availability!

[@sct4040]

I agree wholeheartedly.

[@susanfudge1737]

Why? I have the right to rent out property that I OWN. This is capitalism. Nothing wrong with being a landlord. We provide a service for people who can't save up for down-payments/ credit.

[@kirish43]

Airbnbs aren’t filling up any more. Lots of thee people will need up having to give the house back

[@sterlingmarshel6299]

Airbnb are over saturated and all the people late to the fade will suffer loses. Hopefully more cities will limit ownership and days of rental.

[@Lisakaylindsay256]

Our house in Edmonds built in the 1950’s was remodeled to turn the garage into the primary bedroom, then they added a detached garage since they lost the garage. I remember wishing they’d convert the detached garage into a separate house or apartment so I could move out but have my own space nearby, since we hardly ever parked our cars in the garage.

[@davidadamson3664]

In most urban environments, parking is a substantial part of property value and often a requisite for permitting. Convert your garage but you must have parking, even if it means sacrificing your front or back yards.

[@Anti-democratChick]

Great idea 🎉

[@megwriter3power-gg6ml]

Absolutely beautiful and a great idea I can do as well.

[@hollywhiteside2582]

I think the only way I would do this is if I had relative in my immediate family that needed cheap housing or couldn’t live “alone”…an adult child with special needs or an aging parent.

[@alvinmousseau1100]

Awesome video

[@191AAN]

Great idea😮

[@Michelangelo-m1o]

You are beautiful and talented, Monica!

[@karalewis8654]

In canada, they are called laneway houses and are pretty common in the Vancouver area.

[@Courtney-Alice-Gargani]

Don't you need to notify the city or county to get a permit before you convert your garage in a bedroom / mini house? I think in some states you have to do this.

[@MonicaChurch]

Yes, definitely! Otherwise it won’t count towards square footage when you sell. In cities like Seattle it’s getting easier to get these permits. You have to also ensure the garage was permitted when it was originally built, as some are built without.

[@karentucker2161]

I know in Florida and Tennessee you have to get a permit to build it and in Florida it it to build or to convert.

[@sarycury]

Many cities are encouraging garage conversions as they create more housing in suburban areas where housing is getting harder to find.

[@Courtney-Alice-Gargani]

That garage converted to a place looks so nice. I love the stove. How did you find this?

[@sarycury]

It’s an ILVE range, I saw them on a few different designers instagrams and fell in love.

[@CADreemz]

Cute 🎉. I think the original garage picture is enough old charm, but I don't think the same about the old laundry room door 😂

[@danielyang3995]

Thanks for sharing!

[@michelejeican830]

Yeah, check with your local zoning first though. We had planned on using a garage kit to build as a cottage and we live in NY so the garage roof specs do not support the snow load for habitation so you couldn't use it to live in.

[@beyondtheradio]

I live in a guest house built by an older couple near DC. Best place I've ever rented. If you lived nearby, I'd let you tour it haha It's so damn quiet, pay one bill, and in a great area with good parking/neighborhood. I think it's like 650 sq ft? We got it because we don't really want a house but hate apartments, and since our credit is so good, we're usually first choice LOL not as nice as this one but we also have more rooms/less open space which I don't mind. plus the "fancier" the place is, the higher the rent,

[@TheRaoManahil]

Really impressive

[@drbettyschueler3235]

Back in the days of dinosaurs, I had an attached garage added to our house. The garage cost about $30,000 and consisted of the garage part and a full, vaulted, second story that can be converted into an efficiency apartment. The garage added $100,000 to the value of the house. I had everything built to normal housing specs so that the whole unit could be turned into a second home, of about 720 sq ft., for a minimal amount of money. I've haven't done the conversion, but if I ever needed another source of income it would be a economical way to get more income.

[@PrincessDie187]

This girl has great taste

[@VutbttrillionaireLe]

Great my Friends ❤😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@littlewigglemonster7691]

Great i just need my own back yard now

[@heidik-lady8135]

great information thanks 🙋‍♀️

[@brendafurgason4486]

Love it. Love those kitchen hanging lights where to get them I want them

[@kirksway1]

Monica is a doll ☺

[@madnatty]

Makes me think of some old series, can’t remember what, but it was common for the garage to be two-storey with a living area above that had it’s own access. Then you’d have the best of both worlds, I guess.

[@jazziered142]

Zoning is a big issue when it comes to converting garages.

[@sterlingmarshel6299]

Not in Seattle. They encourage it and permits are streamlined

[@truckingwithtobee]

This is what we doing with our garage in the new property we just purchased in Vegas. It has a small garage in the back of the property just like this one where you are going to do the exact same thing. Our daughter who is attending UNLV and will live in it for the next year. Then we will rent it out on Airbnb. We are located only 2 miles south of the raiders stadium in Vegas so we couldn’t be in a better location.

[@roseebud]

Only 620 thousand dollars? ONLY?? 💀 Get out. For a 800 sqft home that is absurd

[@nadiainthesky]

Damn, $120k is kind of absurd for a garage remodel. Assuming they actually consistently get $2500 a month without any unexpected down periods or other repair costs, it’ll take them 4+ years just to break even on their investment. And that’s not taking into account the income tax they have to pay on their rental income… so it’ll likely be even longer before they’re making any sort of real profit.

[@Jules1280]

I can see the value if the garage is detached. But I live in Iowa and the winters here are brutal sometimes. And whether the garage is detached or attached, having no garage for me is a super deal breaker.

[@patassion]

I like the walk through on homes

[@cmackscott761]

It's amazing how much money can be saved by doing work yourself. In our area, we see a lot of new construction. Many of the people are semi-skilled laborers. Flooring is not that difficult. Framing is not that difficult to learn. Foundation work is a non-genius learning curve. Plumbing is always a pain but doesn't take a brain surgeon.

[@NavinTourVlogs955]

Very nice video mam

[@UjamesH]

This garage was too old and rickety for a car so why not house a human in it. Lol seriously good job though. 😅

[@arabrabann]

Nice place. Your statements sounds like questions when you use that communication tool termed "up speak". Make the user sound unsure of what they are saying . Nice house!!

[@HelloBombshell21]

$336,000 + Garage House Reno: $50,000 Rent: $2,000 / month ROI: 25 months / 2 Years Garage Reno: $120,000 Rent: $2,500 / month ROI: 48 Months / 4 Years