| An elder cottage housing opportunity, or ECHO, is a | | | | unit, an ECHO can reduce the value of your property, |
| small, temporary housing unit that can be installed in a | | | | so be sure to sell the ECHO and move it off your lot |
| backyard -- most commonly used to accommodate | | | | before you put your home on the market. ECHO |
| older adults. ECHO housing units are self-contained | | | | housing is easiest to install in settings where zoning |
| prefab homes (usually between 400 and 800 square | | | | laws accommodate alternative housing options. These |
| feet) that allow someone to remain largely | | | | include both high-density areas with rental housing |
| independent while still living within earshot of your | | | | shortages (Santa Cruz, California, or Seattle, for |
| family. ECHO housing usually includes includes all the | | | | example) and rural areas with minimal zoning laws and |
| amenities of a house -- a kitchen, a bedroom, a | | | | large lots. Families with smaller lots may want to |
| bathroom, and a living room -- albeit on a very small | | | | consider other senior housing options. Finally, ECHO |
| scale. They first gained popularity in Australia, where | | | | housing can be hard to remove. Finding a service |
| they're known as granny flats, in the 1970s. ECHO | | | | that's willing and able to haul the unit away without |
| housing caught on in the United States in the late | | | | damaging it may be a challenge in areas where |
| 1980s and has since been promoted as an | | | | ECHOs are rare. And the price of removal can add |
| inexpensive housing solution for older adults. | | | | considerably to the overall cost of the unit. |
| These homes enable older adults to live near their | | | | ECHO units can be a fairly affordable housing option |
| kids and grandkids without actually moving in with | | | | when compared to, say, a few years in an |
| them. They give everyone involved privacy while | | | | assisted-living center. A new, basic 500-square-foot |
| allowing homeowners, usually adult children, to keep a | | | | unit might go for $25,000, while a bigger, higher-end |
| close eye on frail or vulnerable parents or other | | | | carriage house can cost as much as $100,000. Expect |
| family members. Because ECHO housing makes caring | | | | to pay extra to pour a foundation and set up the |
| for older adults easier, it often helps families avoid | | | | utility connections. In some places, the cost can be |
| putting family members into an assisted living or | | | | offset slightly by a state "caregiver" tax credit, |
| nursing home -- at least for a while. Older adults who | | | | available to adults who provide ongoing care to their |
| live in ECHO housing units often spend more quality | | | | aging parent. (In California, for example, this is $500 |
| time with their grandkids and help out with household | | | | per year per parent.) Depending on your area's zoning |
| tasks -- involvement that contributes to their sense | | | | laws, ECHO housing units can also be rented out and |
| of purpose and belonging. And because they're living | | | | used to generate monthly income after a family |
| right in your backyard, they're far less vulnerable to | | | | member moves out. ECHOs can be bought or leased, |
| criminals and con artists. You'll also be able to recover | | | | new or used. You may be able to find a used unit |
| some of your investment in the ECHO senior housing | | | | through your local classifieds or an online buy-sell |
| unit eventually; when it's no longer needed, it can be | | | | resource like Craigslist.org. Search for phrases like |
| removed and sold. | | | | "modular home," "manufactured home," "carriage |
| Getting approval for an ECHO can be a Herculean | | | | house," and "mobile home." |
| task. Zoning departments tend to frown on the idea, | | | | Before moving forward with an ECHO senior housing |
| and neighborhood associations sometimes fear that | | | | unit, ask yourself these five questions: |
| ECHOs compromise the quality of the neighborhood | | | | 1. Most important, are you willing and able to |
| by attracting renters and creating a higher density | | | | integrate your parent or other family members into |
| environment. Some even consider ECHOs eyesores. | | | | your home life and provide the care needed? |
| Although manufactured housing has improved in | | | | 2. If so, do your zoning laws restrict this type of |
| recent years, and newer styles include attractive | | | | structure? Check with your local zoning or planning |
| touches like rounded sheet rock and tiled roofs, | | | | board. |
| these inexpensive units sometimes look more like | | | | 3. Is there adequate yard space for the ECHO? |
| trailer homes. "Each city has a different take on | | | | 4. Are utility hookups available? |
| zoning," says Bob Clay, who sells ECHOs senior | | | | 5. Will the ECHO add to the value of your property? |
| housing units through grannyflats.net. "But typically | | | | If not, would it be straightforward to remove? |
| you need to have side yard clearance, you can't face | | | | If you and your parent (or other family member) |
| a busy street, and you can't convert the two | | | | decide that an ECHO housing unit makes sense for |
| properties to condos and sell the granny flat | | | | your family, it can be a wonderful way to help a |
| separately." Some zoning departments stipulate that | | | | loved one remain independent -- and strengthen your |
| the unit can only be used for a family member. If | | | | family ties. To locate ECHO suppliers, search online |
| your city places restrictions on who can live in the | | | | using keywords elder cottage housing opportunity. |