Comments on: Pros and Cons of Owner-Occupied Duplex Living http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php "Are you sure you can handle managing something like that?" Well, there's one sure way to find out... Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:21:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: morgan http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-89630 morgan Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:32:50 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-89630 Thanks a lot! It was so nice to hear your opinion on what I have been looking into! Thank for your time. God bless you! Thanks a lot! It was so nice to hear your opinion on what I have been looking into! Thank for your time. God bless you!

]]> By: Mike http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-84202 Mike Sun, 24 May 2009 16:23:02 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-84202 I bought a duplex in Upstate NY and it was the best purchase ever. Now I must admit, land lording is only for about 5% of the world out there. Dealing with tenants, legal issues, financial issues and everything else can get "interesting" at times. MY BIGGEST problem was that the city I live in (it's a college town) changed my zoning after I moved in. I bought the home as a non-owner occupancy required duplex. My hope was to buy, live in it for a few years and then move out and rent the entire place out. After meeting with a few attorneys, I have come to the conclusion this is an ILLEGAL use of zoning authority; an authority given to the local municipalities by their state's constitution. For anyone looking to buy a duplex in a primarily single family neighborood....you may want to find out the local law dealing with this issue. A recent case heard by North Carolina's appellate court (their highest court) has deemed this type of zoning restriction unconstitutiional. You can read more about the case here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/184592867.html http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2008/070011-1.htm DON'T LET YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY or quiet little single-family neighborhood neighbors ("working to protect the character of the neighborhood") bully you into thinking they have the right to force you to live in your own home. I'm a young adult who bought this house as a first time home buyer. It was very intimidating dealing with the neighbors and city building department. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS before you buy a duplex. These local zoning laws, which require owner occupancy, have been deemed illegal by a binding state court. Duplex Owners 1 Snooty Neighbor Elitists 0 Good luck with your duplex purchase...in the end, it was the best purchase I have ever made. I bought a duplex in Upstate NY and it was the best purchase ever. Now I must admit, land lording is only for about 5% of the world out there. Dealing with tenants, legal issues, financial issues and everything else can get “interesting” at times.

MY BIGGEST problem was that the city I live in (it’s a college town) changed my zoning after I moved in. I bought the home as a non-owner occupancy required duplex. My hope was to buy, live in it for a few years and then move out and rent the entire place out. After meeting with a few attorneys, I have come to the conclusion this is an ILLEGAL use of zoning authority; an authority given to the local municipalities by their state’s constitution. For anyone looking to buy a duplex in a primarily single family neighborood….you may want to find out the local law dealing with this issue.

A recent case heard by North Carolina’s appellate court (their highest court) has deemed this type of zoning restriction unconstitutiional. You can read more about the case here:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/184592867.html
http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2008/070011-1.htm

DON’T LET YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY or quiet little single-family neighborhood neighbors (”working to protect the character of the neighborhood”) bully you into thinking they have the right to force you to live in your own home. I’m a young adult who bought this house as a first time home buyer. It was very intimidating dealing with the neighbors and city building department. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS before you buy a duplex. These local zoning laws, which require owner occupancy, have been deemed illegal by a binding state court.

Duplex Owners 1
Snooty Neighbor Elitists 0

Good luck with your duplex purchase…in the end, it was the best purchase I have ever made.

]]> By: Pete http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-69213 Pete Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:21:48 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-69213 Hi, I am 22 years old right now I have a wife a a 2 year old son. I am currently living in a apartment where my rent includes my bills. My dad has offer to help me out with his credit so that I can buy a house. My first thought was "I can't afford one right now." Then I started thinking about building a duplex and renting one out while living in the other and using the money that they pay me rent with as part of the mortgage payment. I was really thinking about it and was having my doubts until I read your article. It seems like a good idea, I am about 2 years from graduating as a auto body repair man an my wife just started studying to become a teacher. I guess we can live there until we both graduate at which point we should be able to give a house payment on our own and just rent out both sides of the duplex so that I can finish paying for the duplex and then use the money to pay for my house so that I dont pay so much interest and finish faster. Hi, I am 22 years old right now I have a wife a a 2 year old son. I am currently living in a apartment where my rent includes my bills. My dad has offer to help me out with his credit so that I can buy a house. My first thought was “I can’t afford one right now.” Then I started thinking about building a duplex and renting one out while living in the other and using the money that they pay me rent with as part of the mortgage payment. I was really thinking about it and was having my doubts until I read your article. It seems like a good idea, I am about 2 years from graduating as a auto body repair man an my wife just started studying to become a teacher. I guess we can live there until we both graduate at which point we should be able to give a house payment on our own and just rent out both sides of the duplex so that I can finish paying for the duplex and then use the money to pay for my house so that I dont pay so much interest and finish faster.

]]> By: Van Insurance http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-24121 Van Insurance Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:26:07 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-24121 Never considered buying a duplex until I reed this blog. I can see why buying a duplex could get you into the property game. It would save me a large amount of money thought out the year and make me a tidy fortune. Thanks for the article and the comment, it really helps make make decisions based on real life experiences . Never considered buying a duplex until I reed this blog. I can see why buying a duplex could get you into the property game. It would save me a large amount of money thought out the year and make me a tidy fortune.

Thanks for the article and the comment, it really helps make make decisions based on real life experiences .

]]> By: landlady http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-20891 landlady Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:14:10 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-20891 I think that whether or not its "downgrading" depends on the duplex itself. I've seen some duplexes with fantastic "owner's suites" on the second and third floors that provide a lot of space and amenities.. some well-kept side-by-side duplexes give the feel of a townhome. Many "rental" duplexes, however, aren't in as good of condition as a lot of single family homes, simply because of the constant turnover of rental tenants through the years. In some respects, moving from a single family home to a duplex would seem like downgrading, however, regardless of the home itself. If you're used to being on the first floor, you may now have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to your living space. Or, if you're on the first floor, you'll hear footsteps above you. As well as the noise of vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, and boisterous dinner parties. Your yard won't be entirely private anymore, and you may need to get through more doors before you reach the great outdoors. Of course, none of these are dealbreakers, just lifestyle things to be aware of. There are also benefits, such as less expensive heating bills, and more people coming and going from the house should discourage burglars... and, of course, the financial and tax benefits... which is one of the biggest reasons to buy a duplex, after all... I think that whether or not its “downgrading” depends on the duplex itself. I’ve seen some duplexes with fantastic “owner’s suites” on the second and third floors that provide a lot of space and amenities.. some well-kept side-by-side duplexes give the feel of a townhome. Many “rental” duplexes, however, aren’t in as good of condition as a lot of single family homes, simply because of the constant turnover of rental tenants through the years.

In some respects, moving from a single family home to a duplex would seem like downgrading, however, regardless of the home itself. If you’re used to being on the first floor, you may now have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to your living space. Or, if you’re on the first floor, you’ll hear footsteps above you. As well as the noise of vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, and boisterous dinner parties. Your yard won’t be entirely private anymore, and you may need to get through more doors before you reach the great outdoors.

Of course, none of these are dealbreakers, just lifestyle things to be aware of. There are also benefits, such as less expensive heating bills, and more people coming and going from the house should discourage burglars… and, of course, the financial and tax benefits… which is one of the biggest reasons to buy a duplex, after all…

]]> By: Tim "Home Improver" Warnoch http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-20749 Tim "Home Improver" Warnoch Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:42:18 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-20749 "get a knock on your door at odd hours" - Absolutely Right! The tenants will always come to you with maintenance issues. And if you are onsite then it may happen anytime and often. What a great in site into the pros and cons of being a on site owner. “get a knock on your door at odd hours” – Absolutely Right! The tenants will always come to you with maintenance issues. And if you are onsite then it may happen anytime and often. What a great in site into the pros and cons of being a on site owner.

]]> By: car insurance http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-20672 car insurance Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:09:18 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-20672 You're right about the bad tenets self selecting away when they know the landlord is in the building. This is a lot of good info here. But do you think this is the best option for a family or someone who is downgrading (would you even consider it downgrading)? You’re right about the bad tenets self selecting away when they know the landlord is in the building.
This is a lot of good info here.
But do you think this is the best option for a family or someone who is downgrading (would you even consider it downgrading)?

]]> By: Jaguar club http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-20572 Jaguar club Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:38:06 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-20572 I just love the title of your blog--it makes me laugh just reading it! Besides being funny, your article covered some interesting points those who haven' lived in a duplex might not realize. Maybe I should consider buying a duplex! I just love the title of your blog–it makes me laugh just reading it! Besides being funny, your article covered some interesting points those who haven’ lived in a duplex might not realize. Maybe I should consider buying a duplex!

]]> By: Subsidize Your Cost of Living - Millionster.com - Personal Finance, Business, Investing and Life http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php/comment-page-1#comment-1637 Subsidize Your Cost of Living - Millionster.com - Personal Finance, Business, Investing and Life Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:13:17 +0000 http://www.iboughtaduplex.com/general-day-to-day-landlord/pros-and-cons-of-owner-occupied-duplex-living.php#comment-1637 [...] When I’m learning about something new I usually ask people who have had prior experience, and I think her blog is an excellent resource since many of the questions I might ask are already answered on her posts. She talks about the basics of being a landlord, like screening tenants, and checking references. Most interesting of all is how she bought her duplex with only $1000 down. [...] [...] When I’m learning about something new I usually ask people who have had prior experience, and I think her blog is an excellent resource since many of the questions I might ask are already answered on her posts. She talks about the basics of being a landlord, like screening tenants, and checking references. Most interesting of all is how she bought her duplex with only $1000 down. [...]

]]>