The upscale enclave on the Pacific Ocean has the most homes for sale that come with guesthouses, with 136 in a single ZIP Code. Scottsdale, Ariz., ranks second, and Paradise Valley, Ariz., is third, according to data from Realtor.com.
Of course, while guesthouses provide convenience and privacy, owning one offers financial advantages.
Guesthouses add “tremendous value to properties,” about a quarter-million dollars on average, says Shen Schulz, a real-estate agent at Sotheby’s International Realty in Malibu. Owners who wish to rent their guesthouses out can often get about $1,200 to $2,500 a month, depending on the size, Mr. Schulz says.
Next door in Arizona, the average list price for single-family homes with a guesthouse in one area of Scottsdale is about $2.5 million, according to Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service data. Here, guest homes can be more than 2,000 square feet.
And guesthouses don’t have to house guests. Perry Bergelt, owner and broker of Arizona Luxury Real Estate in Scottsdale, says people there often use a guesthouse as an office or a separate suite for a nanny. “It gives the privacy and separation of another house,” he says. “You can walk around in your underwear, and it’s fine.”
