As house prices continue to squeeze out first-time home buyers, a Burnaby company is offering folks a way to realize their dreams of homeownership.
My Lane Home, along with PD Moore Homes, designs and builds coach houses and laneway homes across the Lower Mainland. They can be built in place of a carport or garage or on unused land at the back or alley-side of a home.
The company was started in 2013 by Paul and Donna Binotto. The north Burnaby residents were inspired to help families after experiencing first-hand what it takes to age in place when a family member needed help.
Their goal is to build coach houses and laneway houses to provide families an alternative to the traditional idea of homeownership. The company works with a variety of demographics, from first-time homeowners to seniors interested in downsizing.
According to the Binottos, laneway or coach houses can be an affordable option for everyone. If a senior is looking to downsize but their goal is to age in place, the senior might opt to build a laneway or coach house at the back of their existing property. Once it’s built, the senior might have family move into the main house while they move into the laneway or coach house.
One client did just that, and it worked out great, said Donna.
“Not only does it allow her children to be able to assist her as she moves along through her years in life, but she takes care of the grandchildren … because the parents are working,” Donna said of the client.
“We’re finding that it’s a model that’s very similar to the European model, to a lot of different cultures, and a lot of those cultures are present here in the Lower Mainland,” she added.
And it’s an affordable model, too, according to the Binottos.
A laneway or coach house, depending on the specifications, can range from $250,000 to $350,000 to build.
Because each client is different and has different needs, the Binottos take a very personalized approach to turning the clients’ vision into a reality. The process starts with a consultation and site visit so Paul and Donna can get a sense of what the clients want and what they have to work with. From there, the Binottos handle everything from licensing and zoning with the city or municipality to designing the right interior for the client.
“We advise them accordingly. We’ve worked with enough cities that we understand that, and we work in conjunction with PD Moore Homes, that’s the builder, and we’re able to sort of take them (the client) through,” Paul said.
The company has also been in contact with several cities in the Lower Mainland in an effort to extol the benefits of laneway homes and coach houses.
Some municipalities like Vancouver and North Vancouver have been quick to jump on board, while others need a little more encouragement, according to the Binottos.
But any progress is welcomed news for the couple.
“We work with the cities to provide functional homes,” Paul said.
In places like Maple Ridge and New Westminster, My Lane Home has been a big part of encouraging laneway and coach home development, he added.
In the end, the Binottos hope their hard work will be able to help families as they move along in life.
“This takes and gives another tool. It’s not the only tool to a city or a municipality or families, but it’s an affordable one,” Paul said.
