Ryan Hoefler is passionate about creating beautiful living spaces. After three years, he has almost finished building a backyard home and has added a duplex to his house. For years he dreamed about building a backyard home to care for his family’s changing needs. When his mother-in-law lost her husband, it was time to create an affordable place for her to live nearby. But until recently, backyard homes and tiny homes were not permitted in Kitchener without a zone change. Someone in the permit office suggested he add a second unit onto his 800-foot bungalow instead.
Ryan took this suggestion and ran with it. He has transformed his 1951 bungalow into a two-story duplex with a ‘Muskoka lake-house’ appeal. From the outside it looks like a single-family dwelling, but it includes an apartment on the second floor. Ryan’s mother-in-law now enjoys this airy, one-bedroom unit complete with vaulted ceiling and clear-story windows. More importantly, she enjoys the loving support of her daughter, son-in-law, and thirteen-year-old granddaughter who live next door.
In 2021, Kitchener changed its zoning laws to permit backyard homes, or Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs). This was good news for Ryan. He eagerly launched his second construction project. He has now almost completed constructing a stunning, 860-square-foot home in his backyard. This newly built ADU will become the surprisingly palatial retreat for his mom and her husband to enjoy. The entryway into the home is beautiful and vertically spacious. Its split-level staircase opens downwards to the basement and upwards to the main living area. The chalet-style vaulted ceiling draws the eye toward clear-story windows on one side and a loft on the other. The use of space seems almost magical.
Ryan’s parents will trade their expensive retirement home life for this beautiful backyard dwelling next to the family’s swimming pool. They will join other family members for summer meals in the outdoor kitchen under Ryan’s new, covered porch. Ryan is delighted that his parents will now use their significant savings in rental fees toward vacations and travel. He looks forward to his parents and mother-in-law developing their friendship and sharing life together with his family.
Jeff Van Gyssel of Just Working Construction shares Ryan’s deep commitment to multi-generational living spaces. He started his company to help establish new immigrants to Canada, and he has learned much from them. Many of them have come from cultures steeped in generational closeness. Extended families often share living spaces, where both the young and the old can be cared for. He himself has invested in his family’s future by renovating his home to include multigenerational options.
Rising costs and re-discovering priorities
In recent years, building backyard homes (ADUs) and tiny homes has become a trend for homeowners and realtors. However, since 2020, the cost of building materials has increased by record levels. This has diminished profit margins for real estate developers. It has also squeezed homeowners looking to backyard homes to provide a rental income stream.
The cost of Ryan’s building materials has increased dramatically since he began. This has added 14% to the total cost of an already expensive project. This dramatic increase in building materials has taken its toll on Ryan’s financial resources. Despite the increasing cost of materials, Ryan remains effervescent about the project. He is willing to take on this extra financial burden because his focus is on his family. His care for his mother-in-law is touching. And he calls his own mother “the saint of my life.” He exudes thankfulness for this opportunity to serve them, to give back to them.
Like Ryan, Jeff and his company are committed to building for the right reason. Jeff has a deep concern about the current housing shortage and skyrocketing housing costs. He understands that the lack of affordable housing means hardship and poor outcomes for many young families and individuals. His company has built beautiful, energy-efficient backyard homes for their clients who want to care for family members.
Daniel Hall of Collaborative Architecture Inc. agrees that backyard homes must be built for the right reason. He has skillfully guided many clients through the design and permit-seeking process for backyard homes. He understands that the increasing costs of construction are making them less attractive as a source of rental income. He notes that 11 of the 15 backyard home projects he is working on are for multi-generational use. They are not being built as income properties.
Creative solutions to finance multi-generational housing
Ryan had more advantages than most homeowners. He was able to finance 85% of his building costs from his own resources. His mother provided the last 15% to offset the rising cost of materials. He also did 90% of the construction labour and carpentry work himself. Unlike Ryan, however, many homeowners find it difficult to finance a backyard home. This is true even if they expect to receive rental income from it.
For most people, building a backyard home becomes affordable only if family members can pool together their financial resources. Daniel and colleague Ana Gascon Marco have helped clients find creative solutions to provide backyard housing for family members. For instance, a couple’s aging parents might sell their condominium to help finance their son’s backyard home. Or a retired couple might move into an additional dwelling on their property. Their son or daughter might then take over the main house and pay off the loan for the smaller unit. These are the kinds of solutions that might present themselves when families pull together to support one another. Daniel also notes that there may be tax advantages to sharing the title on your home with your children. He suggests homeowners consult with their tax advisors about offsetting housing costs for the next generation.
A new chapter for Ryan
Until last June, Ryan was employed as an onsite superintendent for a large industrial-commercial construction firm. As his building project took shape, a new desire began to grow. Ryan had become weary of the increasing emphasis on profit-making over excellence and craftsmanship in the construction industry. One year ago, Ryan left his employer of 15 years to start his own construction business, Hoffcon Building Group Inc. Ryan will now work full time doing what he loves best: crafting beautiful spaces for individuals and their families.
Like Just Working Construction and Collaborative Architectures, Ryan’s company is prioritizing families and community over profit. All three companies collaborate where possible with others who share a similar vision. This is because they care deeply about people and the environment they live in.
