West Allis · Investment Property
Investment Property in West Allis: Duplexes and Multi-Family
Duplexes, multi-family and rental property, bought with plain answers on condition and price.
Why Investors Look at West Allis
West Allis has a substantial supply of two-family and multi-family homes, mixed in with bungalows, Cape Cods and ranches. Some buyers live in one unit and rent the other, and some buy to rent. Many of the buildings are older, so the property you are looking at matters more than the town you are looking in.
I am Rich Barnes, a licensed broker with Realty Experts, with 25+ years in the business. I help you buy and sell the property. I do not place tenants or do tenant management. Read about West Allis.
Call Rich: 414-899-8146
What I Look At in a West Allis Duplex
With older buildings, condition is the whole story. I look at the roof, the foundation, the electrical, the plumbing, the furnace and the sewer lateral, plus basement moisture and remodeling that was not done properly, and I tell you what I see. Old systems are expensive across more than one household. I also check parking, since off-street parking can be tight, and traffic near commercial corridors.
I work with several trusted loan officers, so we run the financing early. How a property is financed can depend on whether you will live in it.
Next Steps
Call 414-899-8146 or send me a message. I do not quote rents or returns, because they change. I help you gather the facts for the specific property. See first-time buying in West Allis, investment property in Milwaukee, investment property across the area and the home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in one unit and rent the other?
Often, subject to your financing and rental requirements. I bring in one of my trusted loan officers early.
Do you manage the property or find tenants?
No. I help you buy and sell. I do not place tenants or do tenant management.
What do you check in an older duplex?
The roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, furnace and sewer lateral, plus basement moisture.
What rent will a unit bring?
I do not quote rents because they change. I help you gather the facts for the specific property.
West Allis
What investment property looks like in West Allis
Bungalows, Cape Cods and duplexes near downtown Milwaukee, often at a lower entry price than nearby suburbs.
West Allis is an older Milwaukee suburb of bungalows, Cape Cods and duplexes with a personality of its own.
- The homes
- Traditional housing: bungalows (1920s to 1940s) with hardwood floors, woodwork and enclosed porches; Cape Cods (1940s to 1960s) with practical layouts; ranches with full basements and manageable yards; two-stories; and a good supply of duplexes. A typical home has two or three bedrooms, one or two baths, a basement and a detached garage, on a smaller lot. Condition matters more than the year built: check the roof, furnace, electrical, windows, sewer lateral, foundation, older plumbing and basement moisture. A well-kept 1935 bungalow can be wonderful; a neglected one gets expensive fast.
- Why people choose it
- Often a lower entry price than many western and southern Milwaukee suburbs, older-home character, duplexes where you can live in one unit and rent the other, and smaller ranches, bungalows and condos with less to maintain. The common draw is a practical home for the money in a central location.
- Schools people ask about
- West Allis is served by the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, including Nathan Hale High School and West Allis Central High School, along with the district's elementary, intermediate and specialized options. Always confirm the assigned school and current programs for the exact address, and check the Wisconsin DPI report cards. Private and parochial schools are also in the area.
- Getting around
- Close to downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, American Family Field, shopping, restaurants and the major highways. Expect more traffic near commercial corridors and tighter off-street parking in places.
- Nearby
- The West Allis Farmers Market (running since the late 1910s, current building from 1931), Wisconsin State Fair Park, and Greenfield Avenue's restaurants and independent shops.
- The trade-off
- Compared with Greenfield, fewer postwar ranches and split-levels. Compared with Brookfield, New Berlin or Franklin, smaller yards, smaller garages, older infrastructure and less new construction. Compared with Wauwatosa, fewer village-style districts. In exchange: a lower purchase price in general, a central location and established neighborhoods. West Allis is not all the same: neighborhoods nearer Milwaukee feel different from those on the western side. These are broad tendencies, not promises about any one home.
The method
How we do it in West Allis
Investment Property: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Rich Barnes?