These snazzy homes are built in a factory, installed in backyards, and cost as little as $95,000 — take a look inside
September 30, 20240
The Kantor family sits outside their completed ADU in their LA backyard.
Villa
Villa builds homes to be put in backyards, also known as ADUs, with each unit starting at $95,000.
The startup has about 20 homes, ranging from 440 to 1,200 square feet, for sale from $95,000.
See the factory where its homes are built and some properties already set up in people’s backyards.
Bay Area-based startup Villa sells homes that are built in a factory and then installed in backyards.
These homes, called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have their own address, separate from the main house they sit near.
The company offers units that range from a 440-square-foot studio to a 1,200-square-foot three-bedroom, with 20 basic floor plans available. According to Villa, models are priced between $95,000 and $180,000, though that doesn’t include the cost of installation and other expenses. Villa permits, builds, and installs the ADUs for its customers.
In California, ADUs have become increasingly popular especially since the state passed legislation in 2020 that made it easier for homeowners to install them.
Across the country, a growing focus on sustainability and affordability has also increased their appeal. For many Americans, they represent a tangible way to reduce their ecological footprint, a budget-friendly alternative to traditional housing, or a means to earn extra income.
“We’ve run some surveys on why our clients are purchasing ADUs; more than 50% of them do so for a family member,” Heather Miksch, Villa’s vice president of operations, told Business Insider. “ADUs are a really interesting way to keep families together in closer proximity, especially in California where housing prices are so high.”
Take a look inside some of Villa’s tiny homes and meet their owners.
This is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that Villa placed in a Los Angeles backyard.
A one-bedroom Villa ADU.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
To begin construction, clients pay for the ADU itself and then cover additional permitting, groundwork, and installation costs.
Construction costs alone can exceed $100,000, according to Villa cofounder James Connolly.
Here’s what the one-bedroom home in San Jose looked like right after a crane lifted it onto its foundation.
The exterior of the one-bedroom in San Jose.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
After installing the house, Villa adds other features, such as the steps shown above, for easy indoor-outdoor access.
Villa built this two-bedroom, two-bathroom abode for the Kantor family in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
A shot of Villa employees at the factory where the two-bedroom house was constructed.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
Everything in the Kantors’ home was installed at the factory except the flooring.
While the factory construction was finishing up, plumbers, electricians, and general contractors prepared the foundation in the Kantors’ backyard.
A crane lifting the ADU.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
The house arrived at the Kantor property in two sections, delivered by truck.
The Kantors chose an open floor plan with a large kitchen, a farmhouse sink, and quartz countertops.
The Kantors’ bathroom.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
Villa also offers doorless showers, according to the company.
This is the living room in the Kantors’ ADU.
Washers and dryers in the Kantors’ house.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
Customers can install them after the house is put on the foundation, Connolly said.
The Kantor family turned their Villa home into a guest house.
An aerial view of Kuchta’s backyard.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
The unit includes a bedroom, a full bathroom, and a kitchen. The total cost, including permitting fees, was $240,000.
Todd Kutcha and his wife built the home for their adult son Jacob, who cannot live entirely alone.
The exterior of Kuchta’s ADU.
Villa/Nicholas Miller
The ADU has increased accessibility for Jacob and his parents and made his living experience more comfortable overall.
“Jacob living on his own has made an enormous difference for our family,” Kutcha said. “Our stress has significantly decreased, and we have peace of mind knowing we can still provide the necessary emotional support he needs.”
