House Hacking in San Diego: A General Look at Duplexes and ADUs
House hacking means buying a home, living in part of it and renting out another part. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the Federal Housing Finance Agency listed 2026 loan limits for San Diego County of $1,104,000 for a one-unit home, $1,413,350 for two units, $1,708,400 for three
Cash Flow, Cap Rate and Cash-on-Cash Return for San Diego Rentals
Cap rate, cash flow and cash-on-cash return are three ways to look at what a rental might earn. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts listed a median gross rent of $2,246 and a median owner-occupied home value of $854,700 for San Diego County, based
Short-Term Rental Rules in San Diego: A General Overview
The City of San Diego requires a license for short-term residential occupancy, which means renting a home for less than one month. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the City Treasurer's page said licenses come in four tiers, and it listed 8,429 licenses issued in total. This guide
San Diego Rent Increase Rules: A General Look at the AB 1482 Cap
California limits how much rent can go up each year on many homes. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the California Attorney General said the cap is 5% plus the change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 month period. For San Diego County, the Attorney G
Junior ADU vs. Detached ADU in San Diego: Which Fits Your Home?
A junior ADU, or JADU, is a small unit of no more than 500 square feet that is built inside your existing single-family home, while a detached ADU is a separate building in your yard. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the City of San Diego's companion and junior units page said a
ADUs in San Diego: Rules, Costs and Rental Income Potential
An ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, is a second home on the same lot as a main home, and in the City of San Diego it can be 150 to 1,200 square feet. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the City's Information Bulletin 400 said an ADU can be attached or detached and must have complet
Prop 19 and California Property Tax: A General Overview
Prop 19 changed two property tax tools in California, one for homeowners who are 55 or older and one for family transfers. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the San Diego County Assessor said homeowners who are 55 or older, or disabled, can use the base year value transfer up to t
Mello-Roos Taxes in San Diego: A General Overview
Mello-Roos is a special tax that some San Diego homes pay in addition to the regular 1% property tax, and it can show up as its own line on the County tax bill. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the City of San Diego said its Mello-Roos special taxes are tied to the bonds a distri
San Diego Property Taxes: A General Look at How Prop 13 Works
San Diego County property taxes start with a base rate of 1% of a home's assessed value, plus any voter-approved bonds and special charges. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) said in its March 2025 overview that Proposition 13 sets t