NestLonger
Accessory Dwelling Units

A second home on your property,
so they can stay close.

An ADU lets your parent live near you without giving up independence. We help you scope what’s possible, sort out financing, and match you with a contractor who’s done it before.

$275
per sq ft, roughly where ADU project costs start (City of Boston)
$500K
total cost some MA building inspectors reported (EOHLC)
By right
up to 900 sq ft, or half your home’s floor area, in any MA single-family zone

Since February 2025, one ADU of up to 900 square feet, or half the primary home’s floor area if that is smaller, can be built by right in any single-family zone in Massachusetts, with no special permit. Details and limits at mass.gov. On cost, the City of Boston gives a rough benchmark of $275 per square foot and up, and the state’s housing office reports that some building inspectors it surveyed said code, septic, labor and materials can drive the total to $500,000 (EOHLC).

ADU-experienced contractors
Zoning & feasibility check
Free to families
Two-day match
Is an ADU right for you

More family time, less institutional care.

ADUs aren’t right for every family or every lot. They’re the right move when proximity matters more than the perfect home, and when you’d rather invest in a permanent solution than a recurring monthly bill.

A small backyard cottage with a porch, mature trees, and warm interior light at dusk.

A second front door, not a wing on yours.

The right ADU gives your parent privacy, autonomy, and dignity, their own kitchen, their own routines, their own friends visiting at the door. You’re across the yard, not across the country.

Done well, it’s also the most flexible asset on the property: caregiver suite today, rental income later, adult-child landing pad after that.

01

Independence with proximity

Your parent has their own front door, kitchen, and routine, and you’re a short walk away when something comes up.

02

More flexibility than memory care

ADUs adapt as needs change: caregiver suite today, rental income later, equity all along.

03

By right in Massachusetts

Since February 2025, one ADU of up to 900 square feet, or half your home’s floor area if that is smaller, can be built by right in any Massachusetts single-family zone (mass.gov). We tell you what’s allowed on your specific lot.

How it works

Three steps. From feasibility to a real contractor.

  1. 01

    Tell us about your lot

    Address, what you’re hoping to build, and your timeline. We pull zoning and feasibility for you.

  2. 02

    We match a contractor

    Vetted, ADU-experienced, and licensed in your state. Usually within two business days.

  3. 03

    From plans to keys

    Design, permitting, construction, and inspection. We stay on the sidelines making sure it stays on track.

Cost & financing

Four ways families actually pay for it.

Costs can start around $275 per square foot (City of Boston). Here’s how families fund them, we’ll help you stack them.

1

Cash-out refinance

If you have meaningful equity, this is usually the cheapest capital. We help you compare to a HELOC.

2

HELOC

Flexible draw, interest-only during construction. Typical for projects under $200K.

3

Renovation loan

Fannie Mae HomeStyle and FHA 203(k) can both finance ADU construction.

4

State ADU programs

California, Oregon, and a growing list now offer ADU-specific loans and grants. We track them.

We’re not a lender and we don’t take a cut of your financing. We connect you with vetted brokers who specialize in ADU projects.

Common questions

What families ask us first.

How can families finance an ADU?

Four common financing paths: cash-out refinance (cheapest with strong equity), HELOC (flexible draw, interest-only during construction), renovation loans like Fannie Mae HomeStyle and FHA 203(k), and state ADU programs in California, Oregon, and a growing list of states.

Will an ADU increase my property value?

Published estimates vary widely, from roughly 7% to over 40%, and nearly all of the research comes from California and Oregon markets with acute housing shortages. There is no reliable Massachusetts figure. The dependable returns are rental income and the option of housing a parent nearby, not a specific percentage lift.

Are ADUs allowed everywhere?

Not everywhere, but in Massachusetts the statewide rule is settled. Since 2 February 2025, one accessory dwelling unit of up to 900 square feet, or half the primary home’s floor area if that is smaller, can be built by right in any single-family zone, with no special permit. Local zoning still governs details like setbacks and parking, so NestLonger checks what’s allowed on your specific lot before matching you with a contractor.

Get ahead of it

Build the second home
before you need it.

The families who do this well start a year before the move-in. Give yourself the runway. Tell us about your lot and we’ll tell you what’s possible.