Duplex Chick’s Duplex Of The Month – Saint Anthony West
As a duplex owner or buyer, are you sick of seeing great houses in magazines and on HGTV but never any duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes?
Is it because there aren’t any?
After more than two decades selling multi-family properties in Minneapolis, St Paul, and surrounding suburbs, I can tell you that’s not true. In fact, over that time I’ve even developed something of an informal list of all-time favorites.
Perhaps it’s time for me to start sharing them.
For the record, unless expressly stated as such, these multifamily units are not for sale.
My very first Duplex of the Month actually belongs to a long-time client who came to me just over a decade ago looking to owner occupy his very first duplex.
After months searching with another agent, then me, and not finding something special, I asked if he would just trust me and write an offer on a duplex; sight unseen.
I told him it was always one of my favorite properties of all time. I knew the owner had tried to sell it himself the year before and failed. Since then, he’d relocated to another state. And of course, we would make the purchase contingent on not only him seeing it, but an inspection.
He wasn’t disappointed.
Built in 1911, the three story duplex sits in the St Anthony West neighborhood of Minneapolis. Renovated from top to bottom, the first floor features a three season front porch, classic two bedroom one bath unit with carved wood columns separating the living and dining room. Both the kitchen and bath have been updated, and the high ceilings make it feel much bigger than it is.
The second and third floor unit, however, are truly what set this property apart. The first floor features many of the bells and whistles found on the first, as well as an open concept kitchen. One bedroom features built-in storage, including a tall, narrow slide out shoe rack that’s a little like a giant slide out spice rack.
Like the first, the second floor also features a three season porch.
It’s on the third floor, however, where the similarities end. The finished attic boasts a master suite unlike any duplex I’ve ever seen. Its two story bank of salvaged schoolhouse windows and eyebrow window dormers serve to fill the open, contemporary space with light.
The open space features a built-in office, cable railing to the stairs, and private deck looking out over the carefully landscaped back yard. And two bathrooms and and a washer and dryer help reduce trips up and down the stairs.
The exterior of the duplex includes a large rear deck, and newer two-car garage.
It took a leap of faith on the buyer’s part to write an offer without seeing the property. Today it is one of several he and his wife own that have helped them launch their own real-estate related services business.