Few family responsibilities in life are greater than making sure our parents are comfortable in their golden years — but the options can be daunting. Finding a quality nursing home can feel overwhelming, as can the price tag attached. You might be in the position to share your home with your parent as a solution — or that option might be a nonstarter due to space limitations or other obstacles.
Especially if you’re a member of the sandwich generation, you might recognize yourself in this scenario, and you may be searching for an alternative setup — and a granny pod might just be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Where to buy Granny Pods?
Many of you would be skeptical right away thinking that nowadays there are no affordable small homes judging by astronomical real estate prices. Luckily, there are a few options that can work out for people even with a very modest budget.
Prebuilt Granny Pods – Tiny modular homes by Boxabl
Let’s start first with boxable homes – the ones that are shipped to you folded and can be set up literally in one day.
https://box.tapfiliate.com/user/edit/?ref=donghoshin&tap_a=105482-c26149
At the time of writing, this US-based company – Boxabl.com – is still working on setting up a brand-new factory in Las Vegas to start manufacturing their 375 Sq. Ft. unit called Casita. This granny pod comes to you completely loaded with everything from the kitchen appliances and the fridge to a mini-split silent air conditioner.
What you’ll have to do before getting this amazing granny pod:
- Check if you are allowed to build this tiny house;
- Purchase the land or make sure you have enough space in your backyard for this 20 FT x 20 FT tiny modular home;
- Figure out what kind of foundation is needed in your case for this granny pod;
- Make sure that the site has a wide enough access path for the delivery trailer and truck. The unit folds down to 8.5 ft and can be deployed right off the truck without additional equipment;
- Find out the shipping cost if you live far away from Las Vegas – shipping this unit to New Zealand may cost as much as the granny pod itself.
Good news for some US residents – shipping is free to AZ, NV, CA, and UT! Shipping to the US destinations is roughly $2 per mile counting from Las Vegas.
To summarize, besides $50,000 for the granny pods you’ll need to pay for:
- All building permits;
- Foundation;
- Delivery to other than AZ, NV, CA, and UT states;
- House setup (Boxabl will connect you with a local licensed installer);
Judging by the rapidly-growing number of reservations, thousands of future customers already figured out that these granny pods are well worth the $200 registration deposit. If you’ll decide to jump in as well, we have a special link for the reservation page. You’ll still pay $200 for reserving the unit but you’ll get $100 OFF your granny pod’s price.
Still not sure? Imagine what you’ll be getting for your parents:
- Full-size kitchen with a large fridge, double sink with a view, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and shaker cabinetry;
- Bathroom with deep shower/tub, vessel sink, large counter, backlit mirror, sliding glass barn door;
- Living Area with 9’6″ ceilings, 8′ doors, and windows, wide plank composite flooring, washer & dryer, and silent heating and air conditioning unit (economical mini-split);
- Super-low utility bills due to advanced insulation, LED lighting, and economical mini-split air & heating unit.
It looks like in 2-3 years this granny pod may pay for itself when compared with average expenses for assisted living apartments. In our list of assisted living alternatives, these tiny modular homes for seniors are definitely in the first place!
Are granny pods legal in the United States?
You’re going to need to look into your local zoning laws to determine whether or not a granny pod is legal for you. Zoning laws may dictate whether you can have an ADU on your property, and also how much total space on your land may be covered by a structure.
Of course, you may face additional obstacles if you are part of a homeowners association and bound by its rules, or if you’re in proximity to certain parks or watershed areas for which you’ll need to obtain a variance or exemption.
AARP notes some additional legal considerations: reach out to your local power, sewer, or water agency for clearance. And check on the septic system as well. Adding an ADU with its own kitchen and bath may mean your system no longer complies and needs updating.
While you may have to file for a variance or special exemption from local regulations, and that can take time, AARP notes — most of these potential obstacles don’t disqualify you off the bat. So if you think a granny pod is right for you … keep at it.
