Course the biggest benefit is having someone else help with the monthly mortgage payment. The renter next door can be a friend, family member or someone new to you. Anyway you look at it, they are helping you pay your monthly mortgage expenses. The rental money can also be used for such things as maintenance items or general upkeep of the property or even your monthly food bill. It just depends on your needs. Although, most people just use the rent money to help offset the cost of the monthly mortgage.

The other idea that many people do is pay the entire mortgage amount themselves and the rental income they received goes into a saving account. After a few short years, this savings account has a sizable amount, which they use as a down payment on their dream home. Now they have their dream home plus they have a duplex with each side giving them monthly rental income.

Another benefit of an owner occupied duplex is that the other side can be a good tax shelter for you. The rental side can be depreciated as per IRS guidelines and many times it will produce a paper loss for you. This can help lower your taxes. Plus ½ of all or any repairs you complete can be written off on your taxes also.

If you would like to learn more about how to invest in Buying a Duplex, whether it’s for an owner occupied or as an investor. I would high suggest you check out this web site at http://www.smartduplex.com. It’s full of great information regarding buying, managing or owning a duplex, triplex or fourplex.