These are the three sources that actually helped me build and rent my unit.

1. How To ADU (Justin Wood)

Best For: Understanding California Legislation & Budgeting.

Justin is the gold standard for ADU education. While other channels focus on "Getting Rich," Justin focuses on "Getting Permitted." He breaks down complex legislation (like SB9 and AB68) into plain English and offers realistic budget spreadsheets. He is a genuine expert who demystifies the zoning code without the sales hype.

Check him out: Link(opens new tab)

2. Robuilt (Rob Abasolo)

Best For: Short-Term Rental Strategy & ROI.

Rob is a massive Airbnb investor who started his journey exactly where I did: building a single ADU in his backyard in LA.

The Warning: You have to look past the clickbait titles and "YouTuber" thumbnails.

The Value: Once you get past the packaging, Rob is a sharp operator. He gives away high-value advice on house hacking, hospitality design, and the financial mechanics of running a rental. He sells a course, but his free content is better than most paid programs.

Check him out:Link (opens new tab)

3. Kerry Tarnow

Best For: Evaluating Modular vs. Stick-Built.

If you are considering a Prefab home to save time, Kerry is your required reading. He covers the modular housing industry with a dry, self-deprecating wit that I appreciate. He cuts through the marketing gloss of prefab startups (many of which go bankrupt) to show you the reality of costs and delivery.

Watch this if: You think "Prefab" automatically means "Cheaper."

Check him out: Link (opens new tab)

1. Housable

Best For: Feasibility, Drafting, and City Permitting. This is the platform I personally used to get my project from a napkin sketch to a city-approved permit.

The Process: I used them for everything: initial property evaluation, drafting concept plans, and eventually generating the full architectural engineering set.

The Reality: Was it instant? No. We went through many rounds of corrections with the City of Walnut Creek. But Housable handled the back-and-forth technical revisions so I didn't have to hire a local architect for $15k.

Check them out: [Housable.com]

2. ADU Solutions

Best For: Regulatory Deep Dives & "How-To" Guides. When you are confused by the difference between an attached ADU, a detached ADU, and a JADU, go here.

The Value: They offer a comprehensive "Step-by-Step Guide" that walks you through eligibility and regulations specific to your area. It’s less flashy than the YouTubers, but the information is incredibly dense and accurate.

Check them out: [https://www.google.com/search?q=ADUsolutions.com]

3. Epic Monday

Best For: Prefab Shopping & Rental Calculators. If you are approaching this as an investor first and a builder second, this site is built for you.

The Catalog: A massive searchable database of prefab models, so you don't have to visit 50 different manufacturer websites.

The Calculator: They have a solid "Rental Income Calculator" that helps you model your ROI before you spend a dime. I used this to sanity-check my revenue numbers against my construction budget.

Check them out: [EpicMonday.com]