Why Build a Custom-Built Duplex on the Gold Coast?

What are the benefits of building Duplexes on the Gold Coast?

Thinking of knocking down and rebuilding? Consider building a duplex or Dual occupancy. (Originally posted November 2022)

A custom-built duplex is a residential property with two homes—two living areas with a common wall but separate entrances—often referred to as duplex homes or duplex builds.

Many homeowners have considered building a duplex or dual-occupancy property, whether for investment benefits, flexible living arrangements, or partnership opportunities with family or friends.

Adding a duplex on your block of land allows you to create multiple homes on the one property, maximise land use and investment potential. This is great for investors who want a maximum return, as you get a second house that you can rent, sell, or use as you see fit. Owner-occupiers can live in one unit and rent or sell the other, providing flexibility and extra income. If you have a family member, such as a parent or adult child, they can live in the other unit, making it a practical solution for dual living.

Read on to find out more.

In this article, we will explore the top reasons to build a custom duplex, including generating additional income, achieving your investment goals, or creating space for your family members.

🏘️ What is a Custom Duplex?

Here are some of the benefits of knocking down your current home and building a dual occupancy property:

• Maximise your use of land
• Generate revenue
• Increase your profits
• Create space for family
• Build your ideal living space
• Enjoy the flexibility of duplex home designs and home design options, including dual living home arrangements for versatile lifestyles.

A custom duplex is a type of dual-occupancy home where two homes are built on a single property. Duplex homes can be designed as side-by-side duplexes, which is a popular configuration, or as semi-detached townhomes, offering a range of dual-occupancy solutions to suit your investment goals and lifestyle needs.

Duplexes are suitable for a variety of living situations and property types. You may have vacant land where you want to build a home, an existing one you want to tear down or an existing property that can be converted into a duplex. Whatever the situation, we can help you explore your options.

Our duplex designs are versatile, high-quality, and customisable, so you get the best design plans for your custom build project. Please see the Article on building a custom-designed duplex.

First, let’s examine the reasons to consider building a duplex…

🤔 Advantages of a Custom Duplex

In this article, we will go through the top reasons to build a duplex, including generating more income or creating space for your family members with the power of a multi-generational property portfolio within one block.

✔️ Maximise Your Use of Land

Depending on the size of your property, you may have a large yard that doesn’t serve much purpose. Instead of maintaining a big yard, you can build a dual-occupancy property. Building multiple homes or individual houses on the same block or the same property maximises land use and investment potential. The duplex build process can also impact your construction timelines and project planning, so it’s important to consider when maximising your land.

A duplex is an excellent use of underutilised land.

The current land shortage has seen local councils encouraging homeowners to subdivide their blocks and sell them off. Building a duplex is an alternative; you can keep ownership of both properties if you want.

✔️ Generate revenue

If you live on the property, you can rent out the other unit and generate income. Investors and owner-occupiers can benefit from selling or renting out one of their homes, and having two homes on one property can help achieve maximum returns and specific investment goals.

The Gold Coast is one of the most expensive places to rent a home or apartment. As of September 2024, the average rent for units was $949, and the units averaged $780 per week, with a 4-6% increase expected in 2025.

The monthly money you make from renting out the other half of the property may cover your mortgage. It may also help you pay down your mortgage and build equity faster.

Paying down your mortgage quickly gives you more options with your real estate. For example, you may use the equity to help fund further renovations, additions or the construction of a second property.

✔️ Increase Your Profits

A duplex may help you increase your profits if you own investment properties or land. You may generate more income with a duplex than with a single-family home on the same lot. Replacing a single dwelling or one home with a duplex allows for multiple rental streams and reduces outlay costs and overall costs.

You can obtain rent from two separate tenants. As with the previous benefit, your extra income may help pay down your mortgage and build more equity faster. You can also set aside more funds to cover emergencies like appliance repair.

✔️ Create Space for Family

A duplex could be perfect for elderly or disabled relatives or adult children. Family members can maintain independence while staying close, making it easier to help when needed. Owner-occupiers have the flexibility to live in one unit and rent or sell the other, making this arrangement suitable for different family needs. Dual living homes provide a premium solution for multi-generational living and investment, offering custom designs that maximise both space and value.

Having your family right next door has many added benefits. People find that living close to family members often leads to closer family bonds, stronger relationships and greater happiness.

✔️ Build Your Ideal Living Space

Australia has a shortage of available housing, leading to rising home prices and rents. Instead of trying to buy a home in the current market, you can build your dream home.

Knocking down and rebuilding your home into a duplex allows you to build your dream home based on your current needs. Each unit can have separate titles and different contracts, providing flexibility for future selling or renting.

📅 How to Start Planning a Custom Duplex

Knocking down and building a duplex involves many steps. Some of the primary considerations involved include the following:

• Checking local building codes
• Determining the size of the land
• Choosing or designing the plans
• Obtaining a construction loan
• Surveying the land lies
• Pre-construction planning
• Understanding the planning process
• Preparing and submitting a development application
• Reviewing title documents
• Ensuring compliance with local area planning requirements

These are the steps to plan your dream build with a duplex layout. The process starts with an initial consultation, which is essential to share ideas, assess your project and set clear expectations for the construction process. First, you need to check building codes to see if building a duplex is an option in your area.

It’s best to decide how big you want the property to be. Many duplexes have two units with similar floor plans and sizes. But you can have different design idea,s especially when working with experienced builders like the team at Risen Developments. Our design team and project team work closely with you to ensure quality and expertly crafted results tailored to your needs. If you want to experience custom duplex builders, contact us at Risen Developments to get started. We have over 30 years of experience and have been specialising in duplex new builds and dual occupancy properties since 2007.

Throughout the entire process, our project management approach means a dedicated project manager is involved in every stage from pre-construction and planning to development application, construction phases and working with demolition contractors to get the site ready. We will complete all planning, approvals and construction on time to your expectations. We will manage your entire build for you to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

We want to make your new property easier from start to finish. You can rely on us for long-term results and solutions for your biggest worries. Our home design process also offers custom interior selections and architecturally inspired facades so you can personalise your duplex to your taste. Contact us today to book a consultation, and please review our recently completed duplex project.

Let’s start the discussion.

The next step is to contact Craig, the Master builder and proprietor at Risen Developments.

Risen Developments will provide a stress-free experience. Our no-nonsense building process has helped make us the preferred choice for many Custom Duplex home builds, Renovations, and Knock-down and renew clients, bringing their ideas to reality.

Choosing to build a Custom-Built Duplex can be ideal for families looking to pool their resources and help with their extended family.
Please don’t delay, and let’s chat soon! Risen, your local Building and construction company on the Gold Coast, is only a click or call away, so please reach out to us today at 0404 REN OV8.