As a property investor, are you thinking of buying a duplex house? While duplex homes have gained popularity over the decades, investors still face confusion regarding the configurations of these properties.

In this guide, we have comprehensively discussed what is duplex house, its advantages and disadvantages. This will guide you while you brace up to purchase one of these properties. Reputed real estate builders have come up with elegant gated communities where you can purchase duplex homes in various cities.

At the outset, let’s be clear that a duplex house is simply not a two-storeyed building. Let’s check out the duplex house meaning and how they are different from typical two-storey homes.

What is Duplex House?

Although duplex homes are constructed on two floors, it is different from common two-storey buildings. These properties have a single kitchen and a single dining room for both the floors.

In a duplex house design, the developers come up with two living units with a common central wall. These units may be configured either on two floors or side-by-side and have separate entries.

Although there are two floors in duplex homes, it is owned by an individual. The entry points for both the floors may be different.

In India, duplex homes come with a kitchen, hall, and bedrooms on the lower floor. The master bedroom is usually available on the upper floor. Therefore, one can evaluate the duplex house meaning as a property having two floors and never more than that.

Essential Features of a Duplex House

Check out the essential features of a duplex house.

• A duplex house should have only two floors and not more than that

• A common staircase connects the lower and upper floors

• Duplexes are owned by an individual and a single family resides on the property

• Renting out one floor in a duplex can fetch a healthy ROI

Now that you know what is duplex house, let’s move on to the different types of the property.

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Different Types of Duplex Houses

Have a look at the different types of duplex houses, based on their configurations.

1. Standard duplex houses

These properties have two storeys, where a staircase connects both the floors. The living room and kitchen are housed on the lower floor, while the upper floor includes kids’ rooms and bedrooms.

2. Ground duplex house

A ground duplex house is designed on the ground floors of apartments. The lower floors come with the bedrooms and face a garden. On the upper floors of these properties, the kitchens and living rooms are integrated. Owners preferring pets and gardens often go for ground duplex homes.

3. Low-rise duplex

 Low-rise duplex homes come with an attic on the second floor and spacious balconies. Usually, they are developed in a limited area compared to other variants of duplex houses.