A few days ago, we caught up with Mark at his home in Southern Marin County to talk about his new M4 one-bedroom ADU, how it came together, and why he'd do it all over again.

Mark in front of his 1960’s home. Surrounded by large oak trees and very noisy birds.

Hi Mark! Why an ADU?

Haha, hard question to start the conversation with. The answer is probably a common one. We were looking for housing options for my aging father-in-law. We realized it wouldn't be a forever option because of the stairs leading up to the backyard, but it would work out for the short term. That’s what got us started—over three years ago now.

I’m definitely the planner in the family, so I took the lead on the project. It was an evolving issue, not yet super urgent, but something we wanted to be prepared for.

So, is your father-in-law living there now?

Funny thing is, he actually isn’t. About a third of the way into construction, he was offered a beautiful home in San Francisco, where he now lives permanently. But obviously that didn’t stop the project.

Spill the beans. What made you keep going with the project?

The possibilities it had to offer. A rental property, a place to have friends over. A place to simply get out of the house and have a mini vacation close to home.

The yard behind the house is sloped, making this M4 particularly unique.

Why Masaya Homes, how did you find us?

I first found Masaya Homes on Facebook. After seeing them a few times it sparked the idea and I started looking into it more seriously. Specifically, after I spoke with Olin (co-founder) and his dad, it just seemed more achievable than I thought. Other builders and general contractors posed more challenges, especially with the complexity of our land.

What type of complexities?

Our lot is pie-shaped, about a third of an acre, surrounded by oak trees and sloped. Even using a crane would have been tricky. Masaya Homes’ Panelized System made the most sense for our site and was very cost-effective. Plus, I had incredible support from my neighbors to help with access and logistics. I couldn’t have done it without them. Shoutout. It was really amazing to see parts being carried into the lot and how fast it went up.

The new M4’s all Teak kitchen comes with every Home.

What was the biggest surprise—good or bad—during the build?

Honestly, how easy and quickly it went. Once construction started, we saw the shape of the ADU within two weeks, and it was spot-on. The final finish took a bit longer - little things like appliances and roofing materials - but nothing major impeded the progress. Masaya Homes also had good relationships with local inspectors, which helped keep everything on track. Thanks to Joel, the construction director, who also helped with permitting and communication with utility companies.

What advice would you give to someone considering an ADU?

Do your due diligence. Know what you need and why—it impacts size, cost, and design. Comparison shop. Also, budget for unexpected costs. Site prep alone can be as expensive as the ADU itself. And if you're comfortable using tools like ChatGPT, AI can help organize your planning. This all really matters, and it is okay to take your time.

Would you recommend us to others?

Absolutely. In fact, our neighbors up the road also chose Masaya Homes. They built a beautiful 800 square foot unit with two bedrooms, and the project generated a lot of noise in the neighborhood recently. Its gorgeous.

Has the ADU changed anything in your daily routine or life?

Not much in terms of daily routine, but it’s been a great source of passive income. We’ve had a couple of tenants, and the current one is on a six-month lease. It really is a huge thing for our otherwise empty backyard to be generating passive income.

The hallway to the bedroom has a huge window and provides all that beautiful California Sun to come inside of the Home.

What has the rental experience been like so far?

Pretty good so far, no bad reviews from either side. The tenants walk through our deck to reach their unit, but otherwise, we barely see them. It works well, and I’ve been a landlord before, so I know the importance of vetting tenants, especially when they’re living on your property.

Still have friends and family staying over?

Yes, my sister and some friends stayed there and were really impressed. They really loved how quiet and peaceful it is up there. The deck gives it a treehouse feel - everyone raves about the unit itself.

What’s your favorite part of the ADU?

Definitely the deck. Before renting it, I’d sit out there in the mornings with coffee or take calls. The view down the valley is incredibly peaceful.

Would you ever build another one?

In a heartbeat, and I would go for Masaya Homes again. The craftsmanship is impressive. With everything being made of teak, it just feels (and is) so solid. The insulation of the ADU is way more efficient than my own home from the ‘60s.
The other day, I tried putting up a frame on the wall and I realized the hard way, that even the walls are made out of solid hardwood. Spared no expense.

Thank you for opening up about your experience!

No problem! Thank you for the Home, *laughs.

Huge thanks to Mark for sharing his ADU story with us!
Talk to us using info@masayahomes.com and explore the right ADU for you.

Small Stories. Talking with Mark about the M4, the challenges, and if he would do it all over again.

The brand that aims to ease deforestation through ADUs.