A Funky Little Forest Hills Cottage With an ADU!

Are you looking for a cool, quirky house with serious income potential? I have just the property for you in funky Little Forest Hills! This home perfectly captures the neighborhood’s unique vibe and its unofficial slogan: “Keep Little Forest Hills Funky.”

Even before White Rock Lake was filled in 1914, the undeveloped farmland and hunting grounds that surrounded it drew hunters who built cabins in what we know today as Little Forest Hills. By the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps had begun to develop White Rock Lake into a park, and the neighborhood started attracting more people who wanted a lake cottage.

Fast forward to the 1980s, and an eclectic artistic crowd had discovered funky Little Forest Hills. It was normal to see colorful slag glass encased in wire acting as a fence or a driveway and yard outlined with vintage bowling balls.

Fortunately, many of the original cottages have been saved, expanded, and updated.

When David Overton spotted the clean architectural lines and big windows of this funky Little Forest Hills cottage, he was intrigued. He wanted a pier and beam house because he’d grown up in one, so the nostalgia factor was important.

The floor plan had already been opened up, and the kitchen was equipped with high-end appliances and a waterfall island. It was move-in ready with an ADU in the backyard. Why is that important? An ADU can provide a revenue stream, helping you offset your mortgage and opening the door to real income potential. You can rent the ADU full-time or set it up as a short-term rental.  Needless to say, Overton was sold.

I always think about the original owners of these cottages and wonder what they would think of their former little fishing and lake retreats! Expanding to 2,314 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, like this eclectic home, would not have even been a pipe dream for them.

With the interior already taken care of, Overton turned his innate creativity to the front yard.

“I went all in, took out the grass and xeriscaped,” he said. “I weld, and the yard was full of sculptures. Some were mine, and some I bought. No one batted an eye. If you were in an HOA, that would never be allowed. In Little Forest Hills, neighbors expect you to do something interesting.”

You can bike to White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum from this quiet, eclectic neighborhood in only a few minutes. This cottage is also close to some of the best restaurants in Dallas. Most importantly, Overton said, “I have the best neighbors!”

Compass Realtor Amanda Rupley has this funky Little Forest Hills cottage at 8911 Diceman Dr. available for $649,999.