Strategy
Two to four units,
one efficient purchase.
Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes stack income streams while staying in the simpler residential financing lane.
Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on the Grand Strand.
Small multifamily means two to four units on one deed: duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. For investors, it is one of the most efficient ways to scale, because one purchase, one closing, and one roof can produce two to four rent checks. On the Grand Strand, small multifamily clusters in Conway, the older sections of Myrtle Beach, and pockets of North Myrtle Beach, with newer townhome-style duplexes scattered through the growth corridors.
The four-unit ceiling is not arbitrary. It is the line where financing changes character.
Why two to four units is the sweet spot
Properties with one to four units are financed as residential real estate, which means residential loans, residential appraisals, and the option to qualify on a DSCR basis. At five units and above, the property becomes commercial, with commercial loan terms, larger down payments, and tighter underwriting. Staying at four units or under keeps an investor in the simpler, cheaper financing lane while still stacking multiple income streams.
House hacking with owner-occupied financing
A duplex through fourplex can be bought as a primary residence if you live in one unit, which unlocks owner-occupied financing: lower down payments through FHA or conventional, and in some cases a VA loan with no money down for eligible buyers. The tenants in the other units help carry the mortgage. It is one of the lowest-cash entry points into Grand Strand investing, and after a required occupancy period you can move out and keep the whole building as a rental.
Underwriting a small multifamily deal
Multifamily underwriting leans on the total rent roll rather than a single rent. Model each unit, then the combined income against the payment, taxes, insurance, and maintenance across the building. Run each unit through the long-term rental analyzer, and if you plan to live in one unit first, see the financing options that fit an owner-occupied multifamily purchase.
Underwrite a real deal.
Run any Grand Strand address through the analyzer, then speak to a licensed agent about the property and the financing that fits it.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a duplex a good investment in Myrtle Beach?
Often, yes. A duplex produces two rent checks from one purchase and one roof, and it can be financed with simpler residential loans. On the Grand Strand, duplexes cluster in Conway, older Myrtle Beach neighborhoods, and parts of North Myrtle Beach.
What is the difference between a fourplex and a five-unit building?
Financing. Two-to-four-unit properties are financed as residential real estate with residential loans and appraisals. At five units and up, a property is commercial, which means commercial loan terms, larger down payments, and tighter underwriting.
Can I live in one unit and rent the others?
Yes, that is house hacking. Buying a two-to-four-unit property as a primary residence unlocks owner-occupied financing with lower down payments through FHA, conventional, or VA loans, and the other units help cover the mortgage.
How much down payment does a multifamily property need?
It depends on occupancy. An owner-occupied duplex through fourplex can require very little down with the right loan, while a non-owner-occupied DSCR purchase typically needs 20 to 25 percent down.
How do I underwrite a triplex or fourplex?
Model the full rent roll, the combined income from every unit, against the payment, taxes, insurance, and maintenance for the whole building. Running each unit through the long-term rental analyzer gives you the per-unit numbers to build the total.