DUPLEX HOMES.

What is a duplex?

A duplex house plan has two living units attached to each other, either next to each other as townhouses, condominiums or above each other like apartments. By contrast, a building comprising two attached units on two distinct properties is typically considered semi-detached or twin homes but is also called a duplex in parts of the North-eastern United States.

The term "duplex" is not extended to three-unit and four-unit buildings, as they would be referred to with specific terms such as three-family (or triplex [2]) and fourplex (or quadplex/quadruplex) or a more general multiplex. Because of the flexibility of the term, the line between an apartment building and a duplex is somewhat blurred, with apartment buildings tending to be bigger, while duplexes are usually the size of a single-family house.

Duplex buildings also have two separate entrances for each unit. This means each tenant has their own entrance. An example of a duplex is a house with two doors side-by-side that enter into different living spaces in one home, one upstairs and one downstairs. These two separate units are typically similar in size.

There are other types of housing that have multiple homes within one building, like a triplex and fourplex. But the term duplex is reserved exclusively for multi-family housing with two homes.

Duplexes can also sometimes be confused with a twin home. Twin homes are basically half-homes on their own respective lot. A duplex is a property on one lot. You can have duplexes that have different owners, but they have a condo ownership interest, meaning there is shared lot ownership.

Should you live in a duplex home??

• Living in a duplex is popular for a few reasons.
• One, duplexes offer many of the benefits of a standard residential home like a yard, garage and privacy. Duplexes are typically more affordable than a single-family home (but this really depends on the area).
• ?The affordability of duplex rentals may allow you to rent in a higher-value location than you would normally be able to if you were planning to rent a single-family home.
• Of course, you'd have a neighbor living right next to you, but if you're looking for things like outdoor space and an in-unit washer and dryer, it could be worth it.

Building a duplex can be a worthwhile investment that offers higher return on investment (ROI) for the investor, depending on the market. Unlike a single-family home, a duplex allows for dual occupancy, meaning the landlord can increase income while minimizing overhead and reducing risk. If one unit becomes vacant, the landlord still has one unit producing income and helping cover certain expenses such as property taxes, insurance, or financing costs. ?

Before building, make sure you do your due diligence on the project and ensure that the cost to develop will be worth it in the end.

Pros of living in a duplex

• Only one other unit to deal with: You likely won't have access to amenities that are common in apartment complexes like a pool or tennis courts. But living in a duplex means you only have to share common spaces with one other unit as opposed to a whole complex of people.
• Being close to your neighbor: A duplex means you'll be in close proximity to your neighbor, but completely separate units that are fully private. While this may seem like a negative to some, it could be a benefit depending on one's situation. For example, if you want to be close to relatives, you could rent out one unit and have your relatives in the other.

The cons of living in a duplex

• Sharing may not always be caring: You will likely share the yard and driveway with your neighbor, which could be an issue if your neighbor abuses these areas or doesn't respect your space. Also, your neighbor could be your landlord.
• You might have a nightmare neighbor: While this applies for any rental, whether it's a duplex or apartment, having an uncool next-door neighbor (with whom you share a wall) may make it difficult. Understanding this will help set the expectation and hopefully help you avoid any negative situations from occurring.
• Potentially increased responsibilities: Because duplexes are often privately owned, you may be left to do your own yard work, snow shovelings, gardening or tidying up around the outside areas.

Things to consider when building a duplex

There are several things to consider when it comes to duplex development. First and foremost is picking the right lot to develop. Zoning laws as well as the cost for the land are large factors in whether the investor can develop the property as hoped or intended.

Additional considerations for investors:

• Cost of construction for the area, including material cost and labour cost.
• ?Timeline and process of getting building permits with the county or local county/municipality.
• ?Current or planned development that could positively or negatively impact the duplex project.
• Potential sale value and rental rates. You should know the potential income the duplex investment can produce or its value upon completion, which will justify the duplex construction cost and financing costs before building.
• What design, square footage, and floor plan will appeal to buyers and tenants in that market.
• Supply and demand in your local market. Is building justified or is the market oversaturated?
• ?What builder, architect, and engineer you will work with to complete the job.