Table of contents

*Quote takes 1 minute, no credit pull

Insurance

*1 quote from 40+ carriers

Listings

*New listings daily

Table of contents

Triplex

Apply for a DSCR Loan

* Takes 2 minutes, no credit pull

Last updated: April 10, 2024

What is a triplex?

A triplex is a 3-unit income producing residential property. Unlike a single family residence, a triplex contains three completely separated living units under one roof:

3 entrances (three different keys and locks)
3 kitchens
3 separate utility meters (typically)

Accordingly, triplexes are considered to be multifamily investment properties.

Triplexes

Triplexes are more attractive than SFRs and duplexes to many rental property investors because they qualify for residential (non-commercial) mortgage loans and allow an investor to diversify tenants while being one common housing structure to maintain and manage. Many investors would much prefer owning and managing a triplex instead of 3 small single family houses.

Triplex house hacking

Triplexes are fantastic for house hacking as you can live in one unit and rent out the other two units. If you buy at the right price using a conventional loan or a DSCR loan, you can expect to live rent free or even get paid to live in the property.

Let's say you buy a triplex for $300,000 with 20% down. You live in one unit and you rent out the other two units for $1,250 each (market rent in your area). If you assume a 7% interest rate, $4,500 annual property tax, $2,000 annual insurance, a $1,000 annual maintenance expense, you're pulling in $261 in monthly free cash flow -- your tenants are paying your mortgage and all of your costs and you're getting $261 to live in the house. That's a pretty sweet deal! Analyze the deal with our favorite rental property calculator.

Triplex for sale

Triplexes are in high demand among rental property investors. Depending on your target market, finding a triplex for sale may not be easy. The availability of triplexes varies based on investor demand and zoning in your local market. Here is where you can find triplexes:

Triplexes for sale near me

To find triplexes for sale in your local market, you should use this five point deal sourcing strategy:

Set alerts for MLS listings
Network with wholesalers
Network with agents, let them know what you're looking for and let them bring you deals
Outreach -- play the long game, send handwritten letters, call, develop a relationship with investors who may eventually look for an easy off market sale
Facebook investor groups -- lots of wholesalers looking for reliable buyers

Bonus: check OfferMarket for off market triplexes posted by tired landlords and wholesalers.

Triplexes for sale by city

Here are triplexes for sale on our investment property marketplace in cities that are popular among rental property investors:

Good deals go fast. Access exclusive and off market listings for triplexes in your target markets, subscribe to deal flow.

Triplexes for sale by state

Browse triplexes for sale among the states that are most highly sought after by rental investors on our platform:

Triplex sales

Triplex sales data can be obtained on major listing portals such as Zillow and Redfin, or by subscribing to a premium real estate data provider such as PropStream.

Cost to build a triplex

The cost to build a triplex depends on geographic market, local zoning, lot size and floor plan. Depending on your location and floor plan, cost effective ground up construction would be anywhere from $120 on the low end to $250 per sq ft on the high end. The nation's largest homebuilders are able to build at $120 per sq foot.

How much does it cost to build a triplex? It depends!

Triplex vs Duplex

At the right price and in the right market, investors who want to buy triplexes generally also want to buy duplexes. Rental property investors typically prefer triplexes over duplexes because there are more units, higher gross rents, and centralized maintenance and management -- one structure, one location. Controlling for market, location and condition, triplexes cost more than duplexes. Investors who can afford the higher cost to purchase and rehab a triplex will often prefer to acquire a triplex instead of a duplex.

Don't feel bad for duplexes! Duplexes make great investments as well. Duplexes may be preferred by investors who are concerned about managing conflicts among tenants. Two households instead of three households means less interactions between tenants and less risk of issues small and large. You can always hire a property management firm which can save you time, stress and even money -- as long as you select the right property manager.

Is a triplex a good investment?

Many rental property investors would agree that a triplex is a good investment for the following reasons:

Economies of scale -- higher revenue per system (i.e. only 1 roof to maintain)
Strong market demand -- many real estate investors and savvy primary residence homebuyers (see house hacking want to purchase triplexes so there is greater liquidity and price support and prospects for appreciation
Financing availability -- triplexes are covered under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines for 1 to 4 unit residential. This means triplexes are eligible for a conventional mortgage and DSCR loan -- the healthiest segment of the entire mortgage industry.

What is a good cap rate for a triplex?

A good cap rate for a triplex depends on the current interest rate environment and the expected rent and price appreciation in the local market. Cap rate is calculated by dividing net operating income by current fair market value. As interest rates rise, investors demand a higher cap rate since risk free assets such as the 5 year US Treasury bond may be appealing investment alternatives. In other words, it's hard to justify acquiring a property at a 4% cap rate when you can buy a 5 Year US Treasury at 4.3%.

Taking this one step further, the cap rate should be higher than the interest rate on the debt used to purchase the property. So, for example, if the current interest rate is 8%, then the cap rate should be at least 8%.

Therefore, a good cap rate for a triplex should represent a significant spread over the current interest rate and the risk free rate. So, if the current interest rate is 8% and the risk free rate is 4.3%, then a cap rate of 10% would be quite attractive. In a low interest rate environment where the interest rate is 3% and the risk free rate is 1.5%, investors may find a cap rate of 5% to be attractive.

What we haven't yet mentioned is that many skilled investors buy properties in highly desirable, competitive markets at low cap rates with the strategy of increasing rents and operating more efficiently.

What are the benefits of owning a triplex?

Owning a triplex certainly comes with benefits. As long as the local market is healthy, triplexes make great long term investments. They're almost as easy to manage as a single family rental property but they generate materially higher rents. Triplexes are also rare in many markets so investor demand implies healthy liquidity and pricing when it's time to sell.

What is a triplex apartment?

A triplex apartment is an apartment unit in a 3-unit apartment building, otherwise known as a triplex. If you live in a triplex apartment, you rent one of the 3 units at the property. Not to be confused, in markets like Manhattan (New York City), some people consider a triplex apartment to be a three-story apartment in a larger apartment building.

Triplex house

A triplex is a residential income producing property, it is not typically referred to as a house, except in cases where the owner lives in the property. Many people consider triplexes to be an apartment building because they are considered a small multifamily asset.