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Homes with Casitas & Guest Houses in Preston, Utah
Preston is actually just over the line in Franklin County, Idaho, but it functions as part of Cache Valley's housing market and shows up regularly on Utah MLS searches alongside Richmond, Lewiston, and Logan. Properties with casitas, guest houses, or detached accessory dwellings tend to sit on larger parcels here — half-acre to multi-acre lots are common, zoning is more forgiving than what you'll see down in Salt Lake or Utah County, and outbuildings (shops, barns, mother-in-law cottages) are part of the rural character. Buyers looking at Preston for a guest-house setup are usually after one of three things: a place to put aging parents, a rental income stream, or a home base with room for extended family who visit from out of state.
Climate matters when you're evaluating a detached unit up here. Preston sits at about 4,700 feet, winters drop well below freezing, and any casita needs its own heat source, insulated water lines, and ideally a separate electric meter if you plan to rent it. Septic capacity is the other thing to verify — many county properties run on septic, and adding a second dwelling can mean a system upgrade. Pricing varies widely depending on whether the secondary unit is a finished, permitted ADU or a converted shop with a kitchenette. Browse the active listings below to see what's currently on the market, and reach out if you want help sorting permitted guest houses from unpermitted bonus space.
May 2026 · Preston market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Preston right now.
Median sale
$334,000
8 closed in May 2026
Median DOM
36 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
97.1%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
47
active + pending
1 matching · page 1 of 1
Active listings
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Common questions
About homes with casitas & guest houses in Preston.
What's the difference between a casita and a guest house in Preston listings? ▾
On Cache Valley MLS listings, the terms are used loosely. A casita usually means a smaller attached or semi-attached unit sharing a wall or breezeway with the main home, while a guest house is typically fully detached with its own entrance, kitchen, and bath. Always check the listing remarks and county records to confirm whether the secondary unit is permitted as a legal dwelling.
Can I rent out the guest house as a long-term or short-term rental? ▾
Franklin County and the City of Preston have different rules depending on whether the property is inside city limits or in the unincorporated county. Long-term rentals are generally allowed on properties with permitted ADUs, but short-term rentals (under 30 days) face more restrictions and may require a permit. Confirm zoning before you assume rental income.
Do guest houses in Preston usually have separate utilities? ▾
It varies. Newer permitted builds often have separate electric meters and sometimes separate gas, but many older guest houses share utilities with the main home. Separate septic is rare — most properties share a single system, which limits how many bedrooms the secondary unit can legally have.
How much do homes with casitas or guest houses cost in the Preston area? ▾
Most properties with a true secondary dwelling list in the mid $400Ks to $700K+ range, depending on acreage, condition, and whether the guest house is permitted. Larger rural parcels with a shop conversion or detached cottage can push higher, especially if there's irrigation water or pasture included.
Are guest houses common on horse properties around Preston? ▾
Yes — Cache Valley has a strong agricultural base, and it's common to find acreage properties that combine a main house, a barn or shop, and a smaller second dwelling used historically for ranch hands or extended family. These setups appeal to buyers wanting horses plus multigenerational living on one parcel.
What should I inspect on a detached guest house before buying? ▾
Check permitting and certificate of occupancy with Franklin County, verify the heat source and insulation (winters are cold here), look at water line depth and freeze protection, and confirm septic capacity supports the bedroom count of both structures. An unpermitted unit can still be valuable, but it changes financing and insurance options.