You come out ahead. Guaranteed.
What actually happens to the lot?
New property lines are drawn. Your back fence comes in 20-30 feet.
Original Lot
Lot Split
After
What is built on the new lot?
A beautiful, brand new, small home that should add value to all the properties in your neighborhood.
Frequently asked questions
What will be built on the land that I sell?
A new single-family home (or duplex) will be built.
How will this affect my property value?
Following the lot split, we generally expect the value of your existing property will decrease 5% to 10%. As part of the Yardsworth process, an independent appraisal is conducted to determine your home’s new value. Learn more here.
Why have I never heard of this before?
Because it wasn’t possible until now. Senate Bill 9 (SB9) – also known as the California H.O.M.E. Act – was signed into state law in 2022, giving homeowners the ability to split off and sell backyard land (in order to create much-needed housing). Here is a great overview from the California Senate.
Is this an alternative to building an ADU?
Yes. It can take up to 18 months and $150,000+ to get an ADU built in your backyard. ADUs typically require taking out additional financing on your home. This means even if you get $2,000 per month in rent, you’re only walking away with $1,000 in (taxable) income after paying off your loan, maintenance & management costs, etc. With Yardsworth, you can get up to 15 years of rent in 1 lump sum (tax-free) payment without any of the hassle. Best of all, you’d be giving up about the same amount of land.
Is this an alternative to a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or 2nd mortgage?
Yes. In fact, we discourage you from taking out additional debt on your home, particularly in this sky-high interest rate environment. Yardsworth is a debt-free alternative to HELOC / home equity loans. Instead of adding to your monthly debt burden, Yardsworth offers a 6-figure lump sum to buy a portion of your underused backyard.