This California Prefab Builder’s Website Lets You Visualize an ADU on Your Property

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When California began relaxing regulations surrounding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in 2016, James Connolly wanted to help lower the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area by adding housing stock. But as he started looking into the new codes, he found that the planning, permitting, and construction of ADUs remained prohibitively complex. "There had to be a better way," Connolly remembers saying.

So in 2019 he founded Villa, a prefab builder that could handle everything from fabrication, to permitting, to installation. While the company initially focused on ADUs, they now design ready-made homes as large as 1,200 square feet. Here, James shares how Villa has strived to simplify building new houses and ADUs for California residents.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

One of our favorite projects is a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. We helped to add much-needed housing in Bolinas for families who would otherwise be unable to afford the area. Thanks to this collaboration, one of the families has been able to start their child in a terrific school. We’re excited to do more projects with Habitat for Humanity in the future.

We also love bringing families together. Many of our projects are specifically designed to house adult children or allow retired parents to move closer. According to recent survey data, 61 percent of homeowners cite multigenerational housing as a primary motivation for why they built an ADU, and 20 percent of homeowners build ADUs to create affordable housing in their neighborhood.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

Villa homes start at $225,000. That price includes permitting, site and foundation prep, off-site construction costs, appliances, utility hookups, and installation of a complete unit. We believe in transparent pricing and outline all costs up front before any work begins, including any underlying site conditions or logistical challenges that could influence the total cost. We are also actively designing additional models, which will make ADU construction even more feasible for homeowners on a limited budget.