Duplex
One building split into two separate units, each with its own entrance. Small investors often live in one side and rent the other, which is called house hacking.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A duplex draws two kinds of buyers: owner-occupants who will live in one side and investors who will rent both. Leases in place, rent history and separate utilities are what both groups ask about first.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your duplex has a tenant on one side at $1,100 a month and you on the other. Offers come from a young couple and a local investor.
| The buyer | What they want to know |
|---|---|
| An owner-occupant | When your side is vacant and how good the tenant is |
| An investor | Both rents, the lease terms, and the expense history |
| Either | Whether the utilities are split and who pays what |
A duplex sells on its numbers as much as its rooms.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a tenant is a problem for the sale. A paying tenant on a lease is part of what an investor is buying.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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