What is a piggyback duplex?

[Anonymous]

930 French St NW #1
Washington, DC 20001

I'm considering this one. Would I own both apartments (upper and lower) in the entire building, or is the building split up into more apartments? First-timer in DC.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Oh, efffff that. How could this be desirable to anyone at this price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who lives within a block. Nice little street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

PP here - that I agree with. It's a PITA to buy 'condos' in those townhouses broken up into 1-4 units because of this...among other reasons. Why would I pay $200-$400/mo in HOA fees for what is effectively a house? But if you own both of these units maybe you could just think of it as 'HSA' for your house repairs when needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

PP here - that I agree with. It's a PITA to buy 'condos' in those townhouses broken up into 1-4 units because of this...among other reasons. Why would I pay $200-$400/mo in HOA fees for what is effectively a house? But if you own both of these units maybe you could just think of it as 'HSA' for your house repairs when needed.

If I own the whole house, aren't I, the owner, in charge of the condo association? And I set the fees, if any. I'm not sure how it works, but if I'm not interested in having the whole property split as a condo, can't I operate it in the way I choose, and do away with the condo association (me?)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

PP here - that I agree with. It's a PITA to buy 'condos' in those townhouses broken up into 1-4 units because of this...among other reasons. Why would I pay $200-$400/mo in HOA fees for what is effectively a house? But if you own both of these units maybe you could just think of it as 'HSA' for your house repairs when needed.

If I own the whole house, aren't I, the owner, in charge of the condo association? And I set the fees, if any. I'm not sure how it works, but if I'm not interested in having the whole property split as a condo, can't I operate it in the way I choose, and do away with the condo association (me?)?

That's an interesting question. The (two) properties have already been deeded and licensed as separate units. So could you re-zone them as one entity I don't know? For insurance purposes you'll have to keep the HOAs at least for the bare minimum costs because that's where your taxes and insurance are automatically deducted from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

PP here - that I agree with. It's a PITA to buy 'condos' in those townhouses broken up into 1-4 units because of this...among other reasons. Why would I pay $200-$400/mo in HOA fees for what is effectively a house? But if you own both of these units maybe you could just think of it as 'HSA' for your house repairs when needed.

If I own the whole house, aren't I, the owner, in charge of the condo association? And I set the fees, if any. I'm not sure how it works, but if I'm not interested in having the whole property split as a condo, can't I operate it in the way I choose, and do away with the condo association (me?)?

That's an interesting question. The (two) properties have already been deeded and licensed as separate units. So could you re-zone them as one entity I don't know? For insurance purposes you'll have to keep the HOAs at least for the bare minimum costs because that's where your taxes and insurance are automatically deducted from.

I reached out to the listing agent. It's a duplex with a unit on top of this one that's listed. The bottom unit is the second floor and basement. The basement isn't deeded separately. Who would pay this much to live with someone above them? Good lord.

[Anonymous]

So in fact it's 3 units in the house if you use the basement as a rental unit, but the bed/bath listing is for the bottom 2 combined. Obviously they are connected and you can choose to not rent and keep them together.

The HOA fee is presumably for shared expenses with the upstairs owner like maintenance, insurance, etc.

Must be a shared front entrance, which I wouldn't love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would only own unit #1. Basically its a stacked townhouse with 2 units, usually 2 floors up and 2 floors down but sometimes different configurations.

Not in this case. Read the listing 'condo built w/ exacting detail w/ LL rental unit - could generate $1,500/month.' It says the unit owner would ALSO own the basement rental. At $1,195,000 it looks like a good deal.

But if you look at the HOA, it's $200-something per month per unit. So if you're buying the whole building, why would you pay an HOA for two units that occupy the whole building?

PP here - that I agree with. It's a PITA to buy 'condos' in those townhouses broken up into 1-4 units because of this...among other reasons. Why would I pay $200-$400/mo in HOA fees for what is effectively a house? But if you own both of these units maybe you could just think of it as 'HSA' for your house repairs when needed.

If I own the whole house, aren't I, the owner, in charge of the condo association? And I set the fees, if any. I'm not sure how it works, but if I'm not interested in having the whole property split as a condo, can't I operate it in the way I choose, and do away with the condo association (me?)?

That's an interesting question. The (two) properties have already been deeded and licensed as separate units. So could you re-zone them as one entity I don't know? For insurance purposes you'll have to keep the HOAs at least for the bare minimum costs because that's where your taxes and insurance are automatically deducted from.

I reached out to the listing agent. It's a duplex with a unit on top of this one that's listed. The bottom unit is the second floor and basement. The basement isn't deeded separately. Who would pay this much to live with someone above them? Good lord.

No one. Hence why they created a deceptive listing.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the basement isn't really its own unit, it's more of an in-law suite. I see the entrance but no stove/oven so you couldn't really call it a kitchen.

My basement is like this and our tenant comes up whenever they want to use the stove or oven. It's rentable but not as a stand alone unit.

I would call the realtor and ask for clarification. Is the basement separate from the main condo? And how many total condo units are there? javascript:void(0);