Fannie Mae Just Made It Easier to Invest in ADUs—Here’s What That Means For Investors

BiggerPockets Blog
Published: January 3, 2026
Regulations & Compliance

Summary

Fannie Mae has expanded financing options for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allowing homeowners and investors to add rentable units. Hosts can now finance up to four units on a property, including ADUs, and potentially increase revenue. Before investing, hosts should verify zoning compliance and assess ADU costs.

Key Insights

  • The ADU update includes major improvements to HomeStyle Renovation loans; up to 50% of renovation costs can be disbursed at closing.
  • Fannie Mae will purchase loans for two-to-three unit homes that include an ADU, allowing for up to four units total on a property, including the ADU.
  • When using an ADU as a short-term rental, only one ADU’s rent can be used for a refi, and its revenue is capped at 30% of your total qualifying income.

Action Items

  • Consider the cost, which varies from $60,000 to $285,000, depending on size, scope, and location, to determine the project's feasibility.
    Effort: medium
    Impact: medium
  • Before adding an ADU, double-check that your dream property complies with applicable zoning guidelines to ensure compliance.
    Effort: low
    Impact: high

Tools & Resources

  • Angi: According to home renovation site Angi, the average ADU costs $180,000.

Common Mistakes

  • The new Fannie Mae ADU rules are good, but they’re not good enough to overcome prohibitive zoning. Failure to comply with zoning guidelines can prevent the use of the ADU.

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