I built a 655-square-foot tiny home in the backyard of my San Diego rental property and rake in $2,500 a month renting it to a college water-polo team

Wed, 02/01/2023 - 15:30

Chu's ADU from the street — Eugene Chu's property and accessory dwelling unit.
Courtesy of Eugene Chu.

Eugene Chu, 52, owns a five-bedroom property that he rents out to UC San Diego students.
He built a two-bedroom accessory dwelling unit in its backyard to bring in extra cash.
Chu's property now houses half the school's women's water-polo team.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eugene Chu, 52, a Bay Area field-operations manager for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a college faith organization. He has an investment property in San Diego and recently built an accessory dwelling unit on the lawn. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Insider has verified Chu's income.