What are the problems with buying 1/2 a duplex? (Houston, Spring: for sale, HOA)

[graytabbie]

I found a 1/2 duplex for sale in a suburb for sale. The price is affordable but I am concerned about possible problems/situations with owning this type of property, such as foundation problems, roof, etc. Do you have to get the other owner to go in 1/2 or what? Is insurance high on these properties? Thanks in advance.

[City Love]

I wouldn't recommend it. It can be such a pain for repairs. If the roof needs to be replaced, you can do just your half but it would be best to do it at the same time with the neighbors. But good luck if they are having financial problems. Or foundation issues, or landscaping. You have to have the perfect neighbors to be very happy in owning a duplex.

Send me the address, so I can look into the area more. Maybe give more insight. But unless the price difference makes it such that you can't pass up, I would keep looking.

[graytabbie]

I found it on har.com. The address is 22110 Diane Dr, Spring, 77373, #197004. The listing price is $24,000. Also, because it is north of Bush Intercontinental, I wasn't sure if it is a good area. Thanks for your response.

[predatorprey]

Yeah the problem with duplexes is usually who owns the other side and how responsible are they on the upkeep.

[SilverWings]

Um... isn't it normal to own just half a duplex? Otherwise, wouldn't it NOT be called a duplex?

[AlexTx]

Originally Posted by SilverWings

Um... isn't it normal to own just half a duplex? Otherwise, wouldn't it NOT be called a duplex?

I thought people normally (in Houston anyway) owned the whole duplex and either rented out the other unit or rented out both units. This is the first duplex I have seen on HAR where only half was for sale, but then I haven't been looking for duplexes. I'm sure in other parts of the country 1/2 duplexes are more common.

I wonder why this isn't just classified as a townhouse?

[AlexTx]

Originally Posted by Bayou City Homes

I wouldn't recommend it. It can be such a pain for repairs. If the roof needs to be replaced, you can do just your half but it would be best to do it at the same time with the neighbors. But good luck if they are having financial problems. Or foundation issues, or landscaping. You have to have the perfect neighbors to be very happy in owning a duplex.

Send me the address, so I can look into the area more. Maybe give more insight. But unless the price difference makes it such that you can't pass up, I would keep looking.

Does anyone know how the challenges would be any different buying a 1/2 duplex then if the OP bought a townhouse that wasn't part of a complex? Tons of people own townhouses inside the loop. What do they do when there are foundation issues or roof repairs are needed?

It looks like this unit is in a neighborhood with a HOA, so maybe you'd be able to complain to the HOA if your neighbor didn't keep up his yard.

[travelguy_73]

Originally Posted by AlexTx

Does anyone know how the challenges would be any different buying a 1/2 duplex then if the OP bought a townhouse that wasn't part of a complex? Tons of people own townhouses inside the loop. What do they do when there are foundation issues or roof repairs are needed?

It looks like this unit is in a neighborhood with a HOA, so maybe you'd be able to complain to the HOA if your neighbor didn't keep up his yard.

If the townhouse isn't part of a complex, but just say three or so on a single lot, then I would think that there would be rules in place to collect dues and assess fees to cover major repair items. So when the roof needs to be replaced, the funds are there to replace it. If you don't have this type of setup, then you are really at the mercy of the other party to do what is necessary, and likely over time the property will decline.

I know it is common in New Orleans to buy only half of a duplex, but here it is very rare.

[Poltracker]

Condos and townhome complexes usually have associations and maintenance agreements along with fees. If you buy one half of a duplex, you would certainly want to make sure that there is some sort of maintenance agreement w/ neighbor spelling out who is responsible for what and when. Just because you have a maintenance agreement, it does not mean that the neighbor will have the money to do what is needed or that he would agree to what you think is needed. These things should be spelled out ahead of tme as much as possible in the maintenance agreement which would allow you to take them to court to pay for any repairs.

[EasilyAmused]

How easy is it to resale a townhouse or duplex in Spring?