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Matt Baran

@mattbaranarchitect

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Architect. Developer. Professor.
Small-lot subdivisions, SFDs & ADUs in CA.
I design & build houses & housing.
Projects by the numbers & other fun ⬇️

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I don’t see constraints as compromises to architecture. I see them as the material good architecture is made from. taken in California USA by @mattbaranarchitect

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15 days ago

California just 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 to its starter home development laws.

SB 684.

SB 1123.

Now 𝗦𝗕 𝟭𝟭𝟭𝟲.

What's actually different? 🏠

I brought Matt Baran back onto the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast to break it down.

Here's the simple version:

🏗️ SB 684: Started with qualifying multifamily-zoned lots.

🏗️ SB 1123: Expanded the framework to qualifying single-family R-1 lots.

🏗️ SB 1116: Updates the existing law to address problems developers have been running into on real projects.

These laws are connected through California's Starter Home Revitalization Act, also called SHRA.

And that's an important distinction.

SB 1116 isn't an entirely separate development program.

It modifies the framework developers have already been using.

If you're developing starter homes or exploring small lot subdivisions in California, these changes are worth understanding.

💬 DM me "SB1116" @kentfaihe to get the full podcast link.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#AffordableHousing #SB1116 #SB1123 #RealEstateDevelopment #MattBaran by @mattbaranarchitect

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8 days ago

I’m so fascinated by people who believe they are entitled to walk through the world and never see anything that’s offensive or ugly (to them).

How interesting a place would it be if you only saw and heard things you liked and agreed with? by @mattbaranarchitect

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2 months ago

What if your California starter home could be BIGGER without exceeding the square footage limit? 🏠📐

Architect Matt Baran explains an important detail about California's SB 1116 and Starter Home Revitalization Act (SHRA).

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮.

Here's what Matt explains:

📏 SHRA uses a specific floor area calculation.

🪜 Under Matt's understanding of the changes, stairs would no longer count toward that limit.

🏠 That could give developers more flexibility when designing starter homes.

Why is this important?

Because when you're building on a small lot, every square foot matters.

If certain building areas are excluded from the calculation, developers may have more room to create practical layouts.

But there's an important distinction.

A SHRA floor area calculation is not automatically the same as the square footage you can advertise when selling a home.

Developers should confirm the current rules with the appropriate local agency before designing around these exclusions.

Small details in California housing law can make a big difference in development feasibility.

💬 DM me "SB1116" @kentfaihe to get the full podcast link.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#AffordableHousing #SB1116 #SB1123 #RealEstateDevelopment #MattBaran by @mattbaranarchitect

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2 days ago

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀?

It's to help them understand the law. 🏠

Architect Matt Baran shares a change in how he's approaching California housing development.

He used to get frustrated with the obstacles developers faced.

Now, he's trying something different.

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 instead of 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘦.

Matt uses wealthy communities like Atherton as an example.

His thinking?

🏠 Build more homes in neighborhoods with limited housing options.

🏠 Give more households the opportunity to move into those communities.

🏠 Potentially free up existing homes for other buyers and renters.

It's the idea that adding housing supply can create opportunities throughout the housing market.

Of course, building more homes in expensive neighborhoods doesn't automatically make every home affordable.

But Matt believes increasing housing options is part of the solution.

And his approach to cities is changing.

Instead of getting angry, he wants to help local officials understand California's housing laws so they can make informed decisions and help bring more housing to their communities.

Sometimes progress starts with a conversation, not an argument.

💬 DM me "SB1116" @kentfaihe to get the full podcast link.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#AffordableHousing #SB1116 #SB1123 #RealEstateDevelopment #MattBaran by @mattbaranarchitect

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4 days ago

What if 5 houses could legally count as 10 housing units in California? 🏠

Architect Matt Baran shares a creative strategy he's exploring under California's starter home subdivision laws.

Here's the idea:

🏠 Start with 5 residential lots.

🏗️ Design 5 homes that feel like traditional single-family houses.

🍳 Include a separate bonus space with a kitchenette in each home.

If those spaces qualify as separate dwelling units, each home could potentially be classified as a duplex.

𝟱 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀. 𝟱 𝗱𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗲𝘀. 𝟭𝟬 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀.

Why would a developer consider this?

Because minimum density requirements have sometimes forced California developers to squeeze too many small homes onto a property.

Matt's strategy explores whether developers could meet those requirements while creating homes with more practical layouts.

But there's an important catch.

Matt says this specific approach had not been fully tested or vetted when we recorded the episode.

A kitchenette alone doesn't automatically make a space a legal dwelling unit. The design must satisfy applicable requirements and receive the necessary approvals.

Still, it's an interesting example of how developers are thinking creatively about California's housing laws.

💬 DM me "SB1116" @kentfaihe to get the full podcast link.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#AffordableHousing #SB1116 #SB1123 #RealEstateDevelopment #MattBaran by @mattbaranarchitect

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6 days ago

People will need to find housing one way or another. We can let it be built, or we can let it be accumulated. taken in USA by @mattbaranarchitect

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6 days ago

This project has been under construction for over 10 years. Sometimes I think it might be cursed.

It started during the “solar panel salesman turned entitlement flipper (using credit cards) sells property to personal trainer turned developer who hires junk hauler turned general contractor” part of the last cycle.

The 5 unit project (3 existing rehab, 2 new) has been around since roughly 2015 when we entitled it. Construction began in 2017.

Things started going sideways when the GC stopped following the drawings. Small mistakes added up to big mistakes.

We got a call for help (after the damage was done - no CA because of course he was ‘saving money’). We did what we could to help at that point until he stopped paying.

Apparently this guy had several other troubled properties (surprise surprise). Eventually he filed bankruptcy, and the investors were left ~4mm in the hole with a not even half finished project.

They tried to sell for 3mm, lowered it to 2mm, then lowered it to 1mm, never fast enough. It sat there untouched for almost a decade.

It recently sold under 1mm. Construction started in March of ‘25. This is where we are now.

I remain unconvinced. taken in Oakland, California by @mattbaranarchitect

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9 days ago

We once gave a proposal to a client for a project in a city where getting approvals was notoriously difficult (but we’d done it many times before).

They said too expensive, we have a guy.

A year later they came back because they couldn’t get the approvals. We gave them a new proposal, and they asked why the fee went up. It’s been a year we said.

They said too expensive, we have a guy.

A year later they came back because they couldn’t get the approvals. We gave them a new proposal and they asked why it went up even more. Well, we said, this one includes starting over because I can see why you aren’t getting approvals.

They signed. We got approvals. The end. taken in Emeryville, California by @mattbaranarchitect

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13 days ago

What if your California R-1 lot already has a house, but you want to build MORE homes? 🏠

That existing house used to create a major problem for certain SB 1123 projects.

Why?

Because the subdivision framework required a vacant lot.

And many properties in California's urban neighborhoods already have homes sitting on them.

Architect Matt Baran explains a potential workaround:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.

Here's the idea:

🏠 Keep the existing house.

✂️ Separate it onto a remainder lot.

🏗️ Create a qualifying vacant portion for new housing.

Instead of automatically tearing down the existing home, developers may be able to preserve it while pursuing additional units on the remaining land.

But there's an important catch.

The remainder lot cannot simply be used to serve the new development, and local subdivision requirements still matter.

That's why understanding the difference between SB 684, SB 1123, and the latest SB 1116 changes can be valuable when evaluating California development opportunities.

💬 DM me "SB1116" @kentfaihe to get the full podcast link.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#AffordableHousing #SB1116 #SB1123 #RealEstateDevelopment #MattBaran by @mattbaranarchitect

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7 days ago

Spending some time here in Virginia and feeling the influence. Introducing the ALL ORNAMENT house! taken in Woodbridge, Virginia by @mattbaranarchitect

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a month ago

It’s great to love what you do, but you still have to find a way to pay the bills. 💵 taken in California USA by @mattbaranarchitect

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a month ago