In this episode, I sit down with Jared Jones — real estate investor, developer, and co-owner of Power of 2 Realty and Middle Housing Partners — to break down what’s really happening in small-lot development, middle housing, and scalable density in today’s market.

With over 1,200 transactions, 450+ flips, 600+ developed doors, and more than $200M in managed real estate assets, Jared shares what it actually takes to build at scale — and why new housing legislation like SB1123 is changing the game for investors and developers.

We dive into:

• Why investors are excited about starter-home and build-to-rent micro developments
 • SB1123 explained — small-lot subdivisions, sellability, and market impact
 • How to stack ADU laws and housing bills to unlock density
 • Utility delays, TA letters, and real-world legislative bottlenecks
 • Why passive investors often outperform active operators
 • Compressing development timelines to unlock massive value
 • How Jared is building AI systems to automate real estate development
 • Why defining your “why” matters before you scale

This episode is a masterclass on modern development strategy — blending policy, systems, financing, and technology to create scalable middle housing in a market that desperately needs it.

If you're serious about ADUs, small-lot subdivisions, build-to-rent, or long-term development plays, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

@stephsellsADUs

adugginvestments.org

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Wilson, a seasoned real estate investor, developer, and lending professional with over 30 years of experience navigating multiple market cycles.

Rob has seen it all booms, busts, stalled projects, rising interest rates, and deals that only worked because they were structured the right way. We go beyond spreadsheets and pro formas to talk about what actually determines success in real estate: resilience, smart financing, strong partnerships, and understanding risk before it shows up.

We dive into:

• How real estate cycles really work and how to invest through them
• Common mistakes investors and developers make when structuring deals
• The developer-lender mindset and why financing strategy matters more than ever
• Lessons learned the hard way that can save you time, money, and stress
• How to think long-term in an uncertain market

Whether you’re investing in ADUs, multifamily, development, or value-add projects, this episode is packed with real-world insight you won’t find in a textbook.

@stephsellsADUs

adugginvestments.org

In this episode, Steph sits down with Nancy Kenny, a construction-focused loan officer with over 40 years of lending experience, to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in California real estate: how ADUs and SB9 projects are actually financed.

Many homeowners and investors assume there’s a special “ADU loan” or “SB9 loan” that exists behind the scenes. The truth? These projects are financed using traditional and non-traditional construction, renovation, and investor loan programs and knowing how to structure them correctly makes all the difference.

Nancy shares:

• Why there is no ADU-specific loan (and what lenders really use instead)
• How renovation HELOCs, construction loans, and investor programs fund ADUs
• How appraisers determine after-repair value (ARV) for ADU properties
• Why SB9 projects are often easier to finance and appraise than traditional ADUs
• Real-world examples showing how ADUs can turn a single-family home into a cash-flowing asset
• What lenders look for when evaluating ADU and SB9 feasibility
• Why ADUs and lot splits are becoming essential to making California real estate pencil

We also discuss what’s coming next including potential Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updates, upcoming educational events and why building the right ADU-focused team is critical for success.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to add income, or an investor exploring ADUs and SB9 strategies for 2026 and beyond, this episode delivers practical insights you can actually use.

Connect with Nancy:

Website: https://vintagelending.com/

Email:  [email protected]

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nancykennyloans/

Connect with me:

📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

In Episode 89 of the Steph Sells ADUs podcast, Steph sits down with Joshua Bennett - U.S. Army veteran, land use planner, and founder of ADU Wizard to unpack what’s really working in the ADU world right now.

Joshua shares his journey from government planner to national ADU strategist, where he reviewed zoning, land use, environmental regulations, and critical areas for residential projects. That hands-on experience revealed a massive knowledge gap for homeowners looking to build ADUs which ultimately led him to start his own consulting business and later partner with LuxMod Homes to expand scalable, panelized housing solutions across the U.S.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why so many homeowners get stalled by zoning and conditional use permits
• How ADUs are shaping the future of housing nationwide
• Why panelized and steel-frame builds are gaining momentum
• How boomers can leverage ADUs for downsizing and rental income
• The growing labor gap in the construction trades
• Why California is setting the national standard for ADU development

Joshua also discusses how prefabricated and modular ADUs can reduce build time, labor costs, and long-term maintenance while still achieving top-tier property values.

Whether you’re a homeowner, investor, builder, or housing advocate, this episode is packed with insight on how ADUs can solve housing challenges and unlock long-term wealth.

🎧 Tune in now to hear Joshua’s take on the future of housing, zoning and scalable ADU development.

Connect with Joshua:

Website: https://www.theaduwizard.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaduwizard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADUWizardofficial

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-bennett-aduwizard/

Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

In this power-packed episode, I sit down with Ryan O’Connell, founder of How To ADU and one of California’s leading voices in housing reform. Ryan manages a 200K+ member community helping homeowners, investors and professionals navigate the ever-changing world of ADUs and SB 9 development.

Together, I and Ryan break down the newest California housing bills, from SB 1211 and AB 253 to SB 489 and explain how they reshape the ADU landscape for 2026 and beyond. They dive deep into:

🏗️ How the new third-party plan check law empowers homeowners to bypass city delays
🏠 Why ADUs and JADUs are finally gaining parity under state law
⚡ How to leverage SB 9, AB 1033 and other middle-housing bills for more units and higher ROI
📜 The growing role of HCD oversight and what it means for local cities
💡 Why transparency and accountability are the biggest wins for investors this year

Whether you’re a homeowner planning your first backyard home, a multifamily investor scaling your portfolio or an ADU consultant navigating new policies, this episode is your roadmap to staying ahead of the curve.

🎧 Tune in, geek out and learn how to ADU smarter not harder.

Connect with Ryan:

Website: https://www.how-to-adu.com/

IG:https://www.instagram.com/ryanohousing/

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Connect with me:

Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

In this illuminating episode, Steph sits down with Agapeh Allahverdi, award-winning lighting and interior designer, to explore how light shapes the way we feel, heal and live within our spaces. 🌞💡

From circadian lighting and color temperature to creating cohesive design between your main home and ADU, this episode dives deep into how thoughtful lighting design can elevate well-being, improve sleep, and even attract the right tenants or buyers.

Agapeh shares how she blended physics, interior design, and art to “paint with light,” plus her firsthand experience designing and living in her own ADU in Los Angeles - a story that will inspire any homeowner or investor looking to build mindfully and intentionally.

You’ll learn:
✨ The science behind tunable white and dim-to-warm lighting
✨ How lighting influences mood, energy, and performance
✨ Why layered lighting (ambient, task, accent, and decorative) creates balance and flow
✨ Tips for cohesive design between ADUs and main homes
✨ The power of landscape and water lighting to expand and calm a space

If you’ve ever walked into a room and thought “something feels off,” this episode will show you why and how to fix it.

Connect with Agapeh: 

Website:www.agapehlighting.com
IG: @AgapeLighting

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Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the intersection of construction, technology, and trust. My guest, Ethan Wolferman, has helped build over 280 ADUs across LA and San Diego and worked with hundreds of contractors, giving him a rare inside look at what’s really happening behind the scenes in today’s build process.

We unpack how outdated systems and communication gaps create major headaches for homeowners, and how new tech tools are finally bringing clarity, transparency, and efficiency back into construction.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to read a contractor’s bid and avoid costly change orders
• Why communication and trust matter more than the lowest price
• The role of tech and AI in transforming construction workflows
• How garage conversions and ADUs can be built smarter — and faster

Whether you’re an investor, homeowner, or builder this conversation will change how you think about construction and collaboration in the ADU space.

📲 Connect with Ethan: https://www.andhaus.co/

Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

This episode dives deep into the next wave of housing innovation where ADUs, SB 9 and SB 1123 collide with private equity to reshape California’s housing market.

I sat down with Jared Jones, Co-Founder of Middle Housing Partners, a real estate powerhouse managing over $200M in assets and pioneering micro-developments across Southern California.

We talk about:
 ✨ How Jared turned the 2008 crash into a $200M portfolio
 🏘️ Why “middle housing” is the key to solving California’s housing shortage
 🚧 The truth about SB 1123 and how it unlocks 10 units where one used to stand
💰 How private equity and policy are creating a new class of real estate wealth
💡 What it really takes to scale, lead, and execute at the next level

This isn’t theory... it’s what’s actually working in today’s market.

 If you’re an investor, developer or realtor looking to build smarter, scale faster, and understand the policies shaping California’s future, this one’s for you.

📲 Connect with Jared:
 Website: middlehousingpartners.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middlehousingpartners/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jared-jones-9a3694168

=====================

🌊 Connect with me:
 Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

Website: https://adugginvestments.org

🎧 Tune in, share it with your real estate circle and tag me with your biggest takeaway. Let’s keep building intentional housing together!

In this emotional and strategy-packed episode, I sit down with RJ Jaramillo - a seasoned mortgage expert and fellow ADU trailblazer who joins us live from his own backyard JADU in San Diego. 💥

We dive into:

• How one 80-year-old used his backyard to create a caregiver unit for his wife with dementia 💔➡️❤️
• The 3 “empty nester” options every homeowner should consider before retirement
• How RJ built a modular ADU + JADU on his San Diego lot before the pandemic hit then rented his main house to a military family 💰
• What a reverse second mortgage is and why it's a game-changer for boomers looking to build without touching their low-interest-rate first mortgage
• Why Clever Tiny Homes and modular units with fixed costs are changing the financing game for aging homeowners, millennials, and fire-displaced families alike

This episode isn’t just about financing, it’s about future-proofing your family and investing in care, community, and flexibility. 🏡✨

🔁 Know a parent, client, or neighbor who’s sitting on equity? Share this episode with them. It could change their life.

🎧 Hit subscribe for more stories like this, and don’t forget to leave a review if you loved it!

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Connect with RJ Jaramillo:

 📞 (619) 807-0287 

IG:https://www.instagram.com/richard.rj.jaramillo/

Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs

In this episode, I sit down with Felipe Hernandez, an ADU designer, permit consultant, and former building plan checker for the City of LA. Felipe brings the real insider knowledge because he used to be the one reviewing and approving your ADU plans. 👷🏽‍♂️📐

We dive deep into:

• His transition from working at LADBS to launching his firm, LA Lots
• The most common (and costly) ADU mistakes homeowners and investors make
• Why AB 2533 is a game-changer for unpermitted garage conversions 🔓
• Real talk on serving our Latino community with transparent design guidance
• How to build legally, ethically, and profitably without getting stuck in city hall red tape

Whether you're an investor looking to build income units or a homeowner trying to do things right this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Stay tuned ‘til the end for a quick breakdown in Spanish for our comunidad 🙌🏽

Connect with Felipe:
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Instagram: @lalotplans
🌐 Website: https://www.la-lot.com/

Connect with me:
📧 [email protected]
Website: www.adugginvestments.org
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@stephsellADU
Instagram: @StephSellsADUs