BackyardRent
Your backyard could pay you rent.
We find Bay Area homes with room for a small rental home in the backyard — an ADU — and show you what building one could earn.
See what your backyard could earnHow it works
- 1
We look at your lot
Public records tell us your lot size and what's already built. That's enough to see if an ADU could fit.
- 2
You see the numbers
A build-cost estimate, a rent range for your neighborhood, and how long the ADU takes to pay for itself.
- 3
We talk, if you want
If the numbers interest you, we walk the next steps together — zoning, permits, builders. No obligation, no pressure.
What the numbers could look like
All figures are estimates based on typical Bay Area costs and rents. Your property, zoning, and site conditions will change these numbers.
Typical for a Bay Area 1 Bedroom. Edit freely.
Pays for itself in
9.3 years
Estimate
Net yearly rent
$25,920
Total ADU cost
$240,000
5-year return
−46%
((net yearly rent × 5) − build cost) ÷ build cost
We'll pull your lot size from public records and send back numbers for your specific property.
How we calculate this
Net yearly rent = monthly rent × 12, minus the vacancy + expenses percentage.
Payback = build cost ÷ net yearly rent.
5-year return = ((net yearly rent × 5) − build cost) ÷ build cost.
Assumes a cash build — no loan, no property appreciation. Cost and rent defaults come from typical Bay Area ADU projects and the CA HCD ADU handbook's guidance on unit sizes.
Get a personalized estimate for your address
Tell us where the property is and how to reach you. We'll reply with numbers for your specific lot — no obligation.