(Example of Custom Additional Dwelling Units Built by ADU Specialists Anchored Tiny Homes, which Recently Opened in Bend | photo courtesy of Anchored Tiny Homes)
Anchored Tiny Homes Launches in Bend as Interest in Secondary Space Soars
An idea born out of the tiny home revolution is seamlessly turning property owners’ vision for Additional Dwelling Units (ADU’s) into reality, while simultaneously helping tackle the housing availability crisis.
The attraction of adding secondary living space is gaining traction nationwide and Anchored Tiny Homes — which recently launched a presence in Bend — is providing a blueprint for helping the cause of homeowner financial freedom.
Started by Colton and Shylia Paulhus, along with Colton’s younger brother, Austin, and his father, Scott, the company is helping homeowners across the nation “earn more money, bring family closer together and create more space to thrive” with high-quality, affordable custom-built ADUs based on 30-plus years of industry experience.
Concepts like Anchored Tiny Homes, which recently opened in Bend and will expand to Portland soon, are not only helping solve housing shortages but also aiding those who are struggling to afford traditional single-family homes, as legislators navigate how ADUs fit into the overall housing landscape.
The Anchored models are stick-built on site, versus being prefabricated and hoisted in place, giving more feasibility, including flexibility in positioning — which almost completely eliminates access issues that may prevent some people from being able to build an ADU. A range of standard floorplans and designs are available, as well as fully custom options.
Colton Paulhus said, “We are a family-owned business with over two generations of building experience, dedicated to crafting high-quality, customizable anchored accessory dwelling units (ADUs) tailored to clients’ unique needs and preferences. Our mission is to create innovative living spaces that blend quality, functionality and style seamlessly.
“After three decades of servicing the Northern California community, we decided to do our part to positively impact the earth and the lives of those we serve more widely by building ADUs to help families stay closer together, earn rental income, and help solve the housing crisis that we are facing across the country.
“Our vision is to help people become financially free, keep families close and make housing options available for more Americans.”
Paulhus said his team of industry-leading experts collaborates closely with homeowners to design and construct a variety of tiny home solutions.
Specializing in detached, attached and garage conversion ADUs, as well as garages and pool houses, the company prides itself on expert craftsmanship, attention to detail and commitment to using quality materials.
Paulhus added, “We handle the entire process for you from start to finish. Starting with the design, then putting together plans and blueprints, getting everything submitted and approved for permits, building your ADU on your property, and hooking everything up to utilities. In the end, you get a completed, move-in-ready ADU right in your backyard!
“We are passionate about creating unique living spaces that reflect the personalities and aspirations of our clients. “
The technical definition of an ADU is a secondary living space, such as an apartment or small home, sometimes called “mother-in-law quarters,” or simply “guest house” constructed on a lot where there is already a primary residence.
Locally, ADUs are permitted uses on residentially zoned lots or parcels with a single-unit dwelling, townhome, or manufactured home.
Part of the appeal of an ADU lies in its multifunctionality, whether used for rental income, family housing, a home office or workout space.
In Oregon generally, with the recent adoption of House Bill 2001, homeowners have more options to add additional housing to their lots, while the legislature just passed a $376 million housing package to address the state’s worsening affordable housing and homelessness crisis through passage of Senate Bill 1530 and Senate Bill 1537.
The Emergency Housing Stabilization and Production Package provides significant state investment to support renters, encourage housing production and infrastructure, fund homeless shelters and changes to state land use laws to make it easier for cities to build safe and healthy homes.
This comes after Governor Tina Kotek issued an executive order on January 10, 2023, setting a target of 36,000 houses to be built per year.
For its part, the City of Bend says increasing the supply of affordable and attainable housing to support Bend’s growing population is one of its guiding policy principles, with adding an ADU to a property seen as one of several ways to help add workforce housing to the community.
A spokesperson added, “The City of Bend is encouraging the development of more diverse housing units and recognizes that ADUs are an integral part of the housing continuum.
“Since 2016, we continue to take meaningful steps towards removing barriers within our codes and permit processes and seek to incentivize the production of ADUs wherever possible.”
Paulhus said his company can build on most lots in Oregon, whether that be in urban or rural settings, depending on the particular rules for each jurisdiction. The company has more than 25 different plans, ranging from small studios coming in at around $80-$90,000 all the way to a 1,200+ sq. ft. three-bed model retailing at between $350,000 and $400,000. The majority are 500 to 700 sq. ft., with one or two bedrooms and design and plans included.
The benefits of an Accessory Dwelling Unit include:
- Creates more housing opportunities in existing neighborhoods with existing community;
- Takes advantage of existing and often costly infrastructure;
- Creates opportunities for intergenerational living, onsite caretakers, or assistants such as childcare or assisted living;
- Provides financial benefit and or property value to the property owner;
- Triggers economic development at a local scale through local builders/contractors;
- Contributes to the density efforts in a more gentle community-based approach;
- Provides for more diversity in neighborhoods.
Paulhus added, “We really deliver a turnkey anchored system, starting with the design, then putting together plans and blueprints, getting everything submitted and approved for permits, building your ADU on your property, and hooking everything up to utilities. In the end, you get a completed, move-in-ready ADU right in your backyard!
“We are passionate about creating unique living spaces that reflect the personalities and aspirations of our clients.
“We are growing rapidly and expanding franchise opportunities. We are now in 35 different markets across the country and continuing to widen our reach.
“If someone is interested in exploring the possibility of an ADU, we can have an expert in the field come to your property and give an analysis of the site’s options and a free estimate or proposal.
“Each jurisdiction has its own nuances but typically units can be built within an 8-12 month timeframe, and we support franchisees with everything from a business blueprint to marketing and lead generation.
“We see this movement as fulfilling a major need for housing considering the widespread shortages — maybe kids are coming out of college and need a place to live while they find their way, or the unit could be rented out to generate additional income.
“We started doing ADU’s in 2019 after seeing a growing niche that needed filling. I had run a marketing company and was looking for the next endeavor.
“Initially, I went to my dad who has a lot of experience in the construction industry, about building a tiny home on wheels. I put a feeler out on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested and had over 300 responses! The rest, as they say, is history…
“We decided to take a stick-built approach rather than pre-manufactured as the biggest size market was perceived as building on site.
“We are growing rapidly and expanding franchise opportunities. Proof of the demand out there is that we hit over $100 million in sales last year, and our next goal is to reach $200 million.”
