'In-law suites' meet today's needs

There's "an accelerating trend toward adding second units to homes, whether for extra cash or elder care," reports USA Today.  

"These tidy units — known as in-law suites, granny flats, sidekicks, backyard cottages or, in Australia, 'kangaroo apartments' — serve multiple purposes at a time retiring Baby Boomers are trying to stay in their homes despite shrinking stock portfolios, adult children can't find jobs and aging parents need help," the paper says. 

"Cities see them as a way to expand affordable housing options while promoting smart growth," USA Today says. "More are passing rules to make it easier to build second units, also called accessory dwelling units or ADUs."

"Many of the laws are modeled after one advocated by the AARP and passed by Santa Cruz, Calif., in 2003 that prompted other cities in California and the Pacific Northwest to follow," the paper notes. The article quotes numerous sources, including Michael Litchfield, author of In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats, which was reviewed recently on New Urban Network.