Lifestyle

Unlocking California’s Housing Gold: AB1033 and SB9 Offer New Avenues for Homeowners to Tap Equity

Published

2 years ago

December 6, 2023

In the golden state of California, homeowners now have the opportunity to unlock a wellspring of home equity through two groundbreaking pieces of legislation: Assembly Bill 1033 (AB1033) and Senate Bill 9 (SB9). These laws are not only reshaping the real estate landscape, but also providing homeowners with innovative means to capitalize on their most valuable asset: their homes.

Governor Newsom recently signed AB1033 into law, marking a significant milestone in California’s housing evolution. This legislation enables owners of single-family homes in the state to not only build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in their yards, but also to subdivide their properties into two condominiums. “This game-changing move,” notes Matt Lucido, founder and CEO of Yardsworth, “permits homeowners to sell off the ADUs, effectively tapping into the value hidden within their yards for decades due to restrictive zoning laws.”

AB1033: The condominium option

The core feature of AB1033 is its allowance for homeowners to not only construct ADUs in their yards, but also subdivide their lots into separate units — each designated as a condominium. The revolutionary aspect of this is that homeowners can independently sell the ADU, presenting an innovative approach to utilizing home equity that deviates from traditional methods like selling and moving, or borrowing against one’s home with second mortgages or cash-out refinancing. These conventional avenues typically involve high interest rates and the potential for displacement from one’s neighborhood, making AB1033 a refreshing and much-needed alternative.

“Historically, there were only two ways for a homeowner to tap into the equity of their homes. One, by selling and moving, but that’s not a great option with today’s interest rates; or two, borrowing against their home with a second mortgage or cash-out refinance — which is also untenable with today’s interest rates,” Matt Lucido shares.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that AB1033 primarily benefits homeowners who already possess ADUs. For those seeking to sell a portion of their yard and access the opportunity without pre-existing ADUs, SB9 remains the best option. Additionally, AB1033’s full potential hinges on its implementation by local municipalities, which may vary across the state. This means that the extent to which homeowners can benefit from AB1033 depends on the discretion of local authorities.

SB9: A state-wide mandate

SB9 focuses primarily on allowing the subdivision of single-family lots into two separate units, and facilitates the construction of additional dwelling units. The essence of SB9 lies in its potential to expand housing options, while allowing homeowners to tap into the previously dormant value within their properties.

SB9’s provisions are designed to address some of the persistent challenges associated with housing in California. It permits the subdivision of single-family lots, creating opportunities for the construction of up to two additional units, whether in the form of ADUs, or even a new house or duplex. This not only encourages greater housing density, but also allows homeowners to maximize the use of their land, thereby capitalizing on their home equity without selling their homes or incurring high-interest mortgage debt.

Implementation challenges

While AB1033 and SB9 offer promising avenues for homeowners to tap into their property’s hidden value, several challenges and uncertainties must be considered in the implementation of these legislative measures.

AB1033, for example, has additional costs other than those associated with lot subdivision and construction. Homeowners opting for this route will also need to pay for legal counsel to establish a Homeowners Association (HOA) for the newly created two-unit condominium. Operating and maintaining such an association in the years to come adds complexity and expense to the overall expense, making AB1033 a potentially costly option compared to SB9.

Under SB9, the cost of subdividing a lot can range from $50,000 to $75,000. These expenses primarily arise from the need to create a new parcel map compliant with the Subdivision Map Act, city fees, and the involvement of consultants and surveyors. These costs can be prohibitively high for many homeowners, potentially limiting the accessibility of these opportunities. Companies like Yardsworth have stepped in to mitigate this challenge by covering all these fees and expenses for their SB9 clients, making it a more financially viable option.

Furthermore, AB1033 is not yet fully implemented, and its uniform application across California remains uncertain. Municipalities possess significant discretion when it comes to adopting and implementing the provisions of AB1033. Consequently, the extent to which homeowners can leverage this law may vary greatly depending on their location. In contrast, SB9 is a state-wide mandate, ensuring consistent implementation across all municipalities, making it a more dependable option for homeowners.

California’s housing crisis and unlocking home equity

“California homeowners are still sitting on near-record home equity,” Matt Lucido points out. “The value of California homes has more than doubled in the last 10 years.”

The confluence of AB1033 and SB9 takes on added significance in light of California’s pressing housing crisis. Governor Newsom has persistently underscored the state’s need for 3.5 million new homes by 2025. These legislative measures, AB1033 and SB9, represent significant steps toward addressing this crisis. They offer pathways to unlock the latent potential within California’s housing market. They provide homeowners with innovative ways to access their home equity without the need to sell their homes, a practice often linked with gentrification-related displacement.

One of the central challenges in California has been the spiraling cost of homeownership. Today’s 20-year-high interest rates only make buying a home (or selling, moving, and rebuying) more expensive. As a result, homeowners are staying put in their homes, with no viable way of accessing their home equity. It is essential to find ways to access this wealth without resorting to high-interest borrowing, such as Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), with rates as high as 10 percent or more. This is where AB1033 and SB9 emerge as compelling alternatives. These laws facilitate homeowners in staying in their homes and neighborhoods while selling a portion of their property, thus allowing them to access their home equity without incurring considerable financial burdens.

The new California laws AB1033 and SB9 offer innovative solutions to unlock home equity for homeowners in the state. By permitting the subdivision of single-family lots and the construction of ADUs that can be sold independently, these legislations allow homeowners to tap into the dormant value within their properties. This not only provides a pathway to access much-needed funds without displacement, but also encourages housing density to help alleviate California’s crisis. However, potential barriers like municipal discretion over AB1033 implementation and high subdivision costs associated with SB9 must be addressed to ensure these laws fully deliver on their promise.

Overall, AB1033 and SB9 represent promising steps in the right direction to empower homeowners, stimulate housing growth, and inject liquidity into the state’s housing market. While uncertainties remain, their passage indicates California’s commitment to pursuing creative approaches that benefit both homeowners and the broader community.

Lifestyle

When the Body Speaks: How Maryna Bilousova Helps Clients Heal Beyond the Physical

Published

5 days ago

March 6, 2026

Michelle Langton

Our bodies hold onto what our minds try to forget until they speak up through tension, fatigue, or illness. It’s easy to overlook signs like tight shoulders, restlessness, or headaches. But often, these signals are connected to something deeper. Maryna Bilousova has built her work around helping people listen to what their bodies are really saying.

Like many of her clients, Maryna spent years in a high-stress environment, constantly pushing through. She knew how to perform, meet goals, and keep everything running. But peace was missing. Her body carried the weight of unspoken stress. That realization changed not only her life, it shaped how she supports others today as a transformation coach and subconscious pattern specialist.

Instead of focusing only on what’s visible, Maryna helps people look inward. She works with individuals who feel stuck in cycles they can’t explain, like burnout that does not go away or stress that feels out of proportion. Often, the root is not just a busy schedule. It’s emotional tension that’s been buried and ignored.

Looking Deeper Than Symptoms

Many people come to Maryna after trying traditional methods. They have done meditation apps, therapy sessions, or self-help routines. Still, something feels off. That’s where her work begins, not with fixing, but with listening.

She helps clients connect the dots between their physical symptoms and unresolved emotions. It’s not always about big trauma. Sometimes, it’s small moments that were never processed, guilt, grief, frustration, or shame. Over time, those emotions settle in the body.

Maryna recalls one client, a long-term cancer survivor, who returned years later with ovarian cysts. The physical fear was real, but so was the emotional weight she had been carrying from a past relationship full of betrayal and silence. Through their sessions, they uncovered and released that emotional residue. Weeks later, the cysts were gone. It was a reminder of how deeply the body can reflect our inner state.

Patterns That Keep Us Stuck

Maryna’s approach is not about chasing positivity or trying to fix everything at once. She focuses on patterns, how people speak to themselves, how they respond to stress, how they make decisions. Often, what feels like self-sabotage is actually an old belief playing out.

For example, someone who always avoids conflict might be carrying a belief that their needs don’t matter. Another who keeps overworking may feel that slowing down means they are falling behind. These beliefs often form early and show up in adulthood in ways that quietly run our lives.

Rather than offering surface-level solutions, Maryna holds space for clients to explore what’s really behind their choices. Her calm presence allows people to soften, reflect, and begin making changes that come from clarity, not pressure.

A Path Back to Yourself

The people Maryna works with are not looking for a quick fix. They want to feel lighter, clearer, and more like themselves again. Her clients often say that what changes is not just their mindset, it’s how they feel in their own skin. They start resting without guilt, setting boundaries without apology, and making choices that actually feel good.

Maryna believes that healing is not about doing more. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what your body and mind have been trying to say all along. When people start listening, they stop feeling like they have to fight themselves, and that’s when real change happens.

In a world that pushes us to ignore discomfort and keep going, Maryna offers something different: a place to pause, reflect, and reconnect. Because sometimes, healing does not start with doing, it starts with listening.