RentalCalcs · Original decision worksheet

Duplex-versus-triplex comparison worksheet

Compare two actual properties, including the home you will occupy. Fill locally and print or save as PDF. Nothing is submitted or automatically saved.

Read the complete worked guide

Worked example

Hypothetical 5% down, 6.75%, 30-year comparison: the duplex costs $1,513.89/month after effective tenant rent; the triplex $1,359.07. One rental vacant for a full month raises those to $2,653.89 and $2,451.57. Additional turnover bills are excluded.

1. Confirm the property and financing

Addresses, legal unit count and owner-unit choicePurchase prices; loan amount, rate, term, PMI and source/dateLender eligibility, reserve requirement and any FHA self-sufficiency resultCash to close, immediate repairs, retained property and separate household reserves

2. Build comparable monthly budgets

Verified rent per tenant unit, lease terms, concessions and source/dateVacancy and credit loss basis; owner-paid utilitiesTaxes, insurance, routine repairs and capital replacement scheduleBase owner cost = full outflow less effective tenant rent

3. Test what can change the decision

One-unit vacancy month plus leasing, repair and utility costsAll-units-rented case after move-out, with management and revised expensesExtra cash committed versus monthly saving; what if there is no saving?Unresolved evidence, responsible person and review date

Calculation notes

Owner housing cost = principal + interest + mortgage insurance + taxes + property insurance + repairs + reserve + owner-paid utilities − effective tenant rent. Do not count the owner unit as collected rent. Keep retained cash separate from spent closing costs.

Reviewed October 14, 2026. Original RentalCalcs educational worksheet. Numbers are hypothetical, not property estimates or a lender commitment. Fannie Mae eligibility matrix; actual loan requires lender review.