Fourplex, Multi-Family, & Triplex House Plans and Designs
Triplex, fourplex, and multi-family house plans are the best options for families looking to make financially sound decisions. You can either build them entirely to rent them out, or you can live in one unit and have the others occupied by tenants.
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Triplex & fourplex house plans are part of a bigger family of styles – the multi-family unit. They have either 3 or 4 families living either side by side or separated by a floor. It creates an entire building that provides significant amounts of rent with a small investment. An investor could typically not otherwise get this amount of rent. It’s especially the case when the land in the area is very expensive.
Here are some normal considerations when building, with several of them being applicable to triplex floor plans.
Features to consider | ||
Small ranch | 6 bedroom | 4 bedroom |
With porch | 1-story | 2-story |
Small, 2 bedroom | With basement | Small, with garage |
Some of the multi-family designs are done more traditionally, resembling duplex style. Those share sidewalls. At the same time, some of them may be built-in apartment-style. It means they’re built on top of each other. They may not provide the same amount of privacy as a duplex with a garage in the middle may. It makes sense as they’re sharing walls. Some situations mean it makes more sense to squeeze more families in on a narrow lot than would otherwise be the case.
Suppose you’re looking for something that will quickly start generating income and can be rented out. Maybe your lot is in a college town. Renters there aren’t all too concerned about having a unique home. In that case, we encourage you to check out the various triplex and fourplex house plans on this page.
Check out our selection of Mediterranean alternatives as well.
Who are these floor plans for?
- Investors
- Homeowners that want to have several units
- Multi-generational living
- People that love hosting
Breezeway plan
Sometimes you want your guests or in-laws close, but not necessarily too close either. You may think it is a little close to having them stay inside your main residence. You don’t want it to feel like the guest house is detached from everything. That’s where the house plans with a breezeway to the guest house come in perfectly. This way, you’re still able to have your privacy in your main residence while having those you love nearby.
Triplex & fourplex house plans | Characteristics |
Price | $2,100 – $3,000 |
Characteristics | Built for efficiency |
Mistakes to avoid | Not considering all your housing needs. |
Typical sizes | 1,200-2,200 square feet |
Features we love |
The ability for many people to live on a relatively small plot of land
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An alternative style that we recommend | Duplexes |
Whether building a single-story or a farmhouse, a breezeway is a great solution. It will ensure someone isn’t exposed to massive amounts of rain if it’s pouring down. Still, you’re also not building a dedicated garage house for them to stay in. It’s a great multi-generational option, should either of your kids choose to return after college. If they return after college, you have just gotten used to having the entire home to yourselves again. A breezeway is a hallway you might not have thought you wanted when building your home. It covers the passage between the two buildings with either just a roof or perhaps glass panels on each side.
Some of the advantages
Building either a triplex or a fourplex has a range of advantages that you will enjoy. Whether you’re building this type for yourself or because it makes for an exceptional investment opportunity.
As an investment opportunity, you’re not just getting something easy to rent out. It is also a place that will give you a great return on investment if you keep your costs reasonable. It does not matter if it’s a triplex or fourplex you’re choosing.
You’re also getting a place that won’t have crazy utility costs because of the smaller exterior walls. Other comparable detached homes have higher utility costs.
Do you think you will have to sell it in the future? You’ll be happy to know potential owners may even be able to qualify for the advantageous conditions of an FHA loan. It means your buyer pool will be bigger!
Benefits of this floor plan:
- Good investment option
- It offers a lot of privacy
- Great for renting it out as an Airbnb.
Cons of this design:
- A larger lot is required than a smaller home
- It may be challenging to rent it out.
- More management than smaller homes.
- Higher maintenance costs than a singular home
Building to live in it
Suppose you’re building a triplex to live in it. You are going to rent out the other two or three units. You will find you are likely to cover your payments on the loan from the rent you receive from the two other units. Effectively it means you may end up living there entirely for free. If you buy a detached house, you will have a larger sum of money you’re spending out of pocket every month.
There are advantages to triplexes and detached homes. You must still figure out your priorities to find the house design that best matches your needs.
Triplex & fourplex house plans | Characteristics |
Ease of access | Yes |
Are fireplaces typical? | No |
Is it good for natural light? | No |
Are garages common | No |
Typical ceiling height | 9-foot ceilings |
Typical number of bedrooms and bathrooms | 3 & 2 |
Limitations |
You still need a decent size lot to built a triplex.
|
Is it a good budget option? | Yes |
Is it easy to modify? | No |
Are you in an area where house prices are continuously going up? There you will often find that detached homes may go up in value more than triplexes do. Still, triplexes will provide you with a lot better cash flow than a detached home will. If your main priority is generating cash flow, consider a multi-family unit. It will be a cheap place to live in. The plans on this specific page may be just what you’re looking for.