You Don't Have to Find a Compound. Now You Can Build One.

Today we're launching two things: the Friend Compound Field Guide — 18 real Bay Area properties reimagined as 2–4 home compounds, with architectural designs, costs, and timelines — and Custom Compounds, our end-to-end service for groups ready to build one.

Here's the motivation. Ready-made friend or family compounds — multiple standalone homes on one lot — are incredibly rare. Most groups spend years scanning listings for the right property in the right place and never find it.

But California's new housing laws make it possible to take matters into your own hands. You can now purchase a single lot, in the exact neighborhood you want, and turn it into a 2–4 home compound by building additional homes. No rezoning required. And everyone can own their own home.

So stop waiting for the perfect listing. Build it instead.

The Friend Compound Field Guide: 18 Bay Area Case Studies

We partnered with Type Five — a Bay Area design-build firm — and took 18 properties that actually sold across the Bay Area in the last year. For each one, we asked: what if a group of friends or family had bought this instead?

The result is 18 compound case studies. Real properties. Real sale prices. Real architectural designs. Each one shows the number of homes, total project cost, and timeline to move in.

A few examples to give you the range:

  • Wildwood Drive, San Mateo — An existing home, a new custom home and 2 ADUs. $6.5M total cost, 21 months, 4 homes. This utilizes a new California law called SB 9 that allows for a lot split on single family lots.

These aren't fantasy projects. These are projects you could have actually done — real lots, at the prices they actually sold for. And properties like these are on the market today

Custom Compounds: We'll Build Yours With You

The Field Guide shows you what's possible. The new Live Near Friends Custom Compound service makes it happen.

This is our end-to-end offering for groups who are ready to go from "we should do this" to actually living next door to each other. We work with you from property search through construction:

Find the right lot. We analyze every property that goes on market, and send alerts for those that match your criteria. We'll tell you how many homes you can build and roughly how much it will cost. We do the pre-work so you can get mobilized before the offer date.

Purchase it right. We help structure the ownership and financing so it works for your group — whether that's one family buying it to start or multiple parties co-buying.

Design and permit. We pair you with design-build partners who specialize in small-lot compounds and the new California housing laws. We stay involved as your strategic advisor throughout, making sure the project stays aligned with your group's goals.

Build. We introduce vetted builders, support contract review, and remain your advisor through construction.

We design the relationship, not just the buildings.

What happens when one family wants to sell in five years? How do you split shared spaces? Who decides on renovations? We build the ownership structures, governance frameworks, and exit provisions on day one — so your compound is built on solid ground, socially and legally.

I built my own compound — Radish — in 2019. It's now home to 20 adults and 8 kids across 6 buildings. I've spent the years since figuring out how to make that process repeatable for other groups. This service is the result.

We'll take on fewer than 10 custom compound projects per year. This is hands-on work, and every group gets my direct involvement. If this is your year, let's talk.

Your Move

The laws are in place. The design partners are ready. The process is proven. The only missing piece is you and your people deciding to go.

Explore the Field Guide to see what's possible.

Book a free consultation to see a custom compound if a fit for you and your crew.

— Phil