Do I really pay nothing for the feasibility study?
For eligible Massachusetts homeowners, no. Because Confido is a participating Feasibility Study Provider, the MHP ADU Incentive Program pays for the study directly, and Confido charges eligible homeowners nothing beyond that. There is no cost to you and no obligation to build. If your property doesn't qualify for the MHP ADU Incentive Program, the $500 fee is fully credited toward your project if you build with Confido. Program details at
mhp.net/ADU.
What's included in the feasibility study?
The professional on-site field assessment is the next level of depth: an in-person evaluation of your site conditions, access, utilities, grading, and buildability, performed by one of Confido's certified feasibility technicians. Confido is a participating Feasibility Study Provider in the MHP ADU Incentive Program, administered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP). Your written study arrives within three to five business days of the site walk and includes a design proposal for your next steps.
Am I allowed to build an ADU? How many?
In most Massachusetts communities, you can build one ADU by right on any lot where single-family use is allowed, including many multifamily and commercially zoned properties where a single-family home is permitted. Some towns choose to allow more than one, and a second ADU is possible in some communities with a special permit. Your feasibility study confirms exactly what your lot allows.
What is the property analysis snapshot?
The property analysis snapshot is Confido's free preliminary property assessment. Using publicly available property records, parcel data, zoning information, mapping, and our structured review process, we assess whether your property may be a strong ADU candidate, including a preliminary budget picture and recommended next steps. If everything looks good and your in-person feasibility study isn't booked yet, we book it then. If it's already booked, we reach out and walk through the snapshot together. It's a desktop assessment, not an engineering report, survey, or municipal approval. The 24 hour delivery window applies to business days; requests received on weekends or holidays arrive the next business day.
Is the feasibility report really free?
Yes. The report is free and there's no obligation. It's how we help homeowners decide whether an ADU is worth exploring before anyone spends real money.
How much does an ADU cost?
Pricing depends on size and finish level. A 650 SF ADU typically runs around $260,000 at our Essential finish level, $280,000 at Signature, and $400,000 at Reserve. Each is a complete, move-in-ready project, not a base unit price. Final pricing depends on site access, utilities, foundation, permitting, sewer or septic, grading, and finishes. Your feasibility study includes a personalized preliminary cost assessment.
How long does the process take?
Most projects run roughly 6 to 12 months from design kickoff to move-in, depending on your municipality and site conditions. Projects in Boston typically take longer, mostly due to permitting. Factory-engineered construction compresses the schedule because factory work and site work happen in parallel. Your report and field assessment will give you a realistic timeline for your specific property.
Will an ADU raise my property taxes?
Adding living space typically increases your assessed value, so expect some increase, proportional to the value the ADU adds, not a reassessment of your whole property at a new rate. Many owners find the added rental income or family housing value far outweighs the tax change. Your local assessor can give you specifics for your town.
Do I have to live on the property? What about parking?
Two pieces of good news from the state law. First, Massachusetts municipalities cannot require owner-occupancy for a by-right ADU, which matters for investment properties. Second, towns cannot require any additional parking for an ADU within a half mile of public transit, and can require at most one space elsewhere. Note that some financing programs, like the MassHousing ADU Loan, do have their own owner-occupancy requirements even though zoning does not.
Can I rent out my ADU?
Yes. Long-term rentals are allowed statewide, and by-right ADUs carry no owner-occupancy requirement in Massachusetts. The one restriction: state law does not allow ADUs to be used as short-term rentals under 31 days.
Is a factory-engineered ADU the same as a mobile home?
No. A factory-engineered ADU is permanent residential construction built to the same Massachusetts State Building Code as site-built homes. It's set on a permanent foundation and is indistinguishable from traditional construction once complete. Mobile and manufactured homes are built to a different federal standard entirely.
Will Confido handle permitting?
Yes. As your local general contractor and design-build partner, we manage the permitting process with your municipality, along with design coordination, site work, foundation, utilities, factory coordination, installation, and finish work.
Do I need a special permit?
In most cases, qualifying ADUs in Massachusetts no longer require a special permit. They're allowed by right, provided the project complies with applicable zoning, dimensional, setback, utility, building, and site requirements. Whether your specific project qualifies is exactly what your feasibility study is designed to clarify.
What happens after I receive my report?
That's up to you. Some homeowners schedule the professional field assessment right away; others take time to think it over or plan financing. There's no pressure. The report is yours either way.
