Sell Duplex with or without Tenants?

[Manco Snead]

Greetings,

Selling my OOS duplex in Iowa; has been listed for about 3 weeks. Currently has one unit rented and am deciding if I should put a tenant in the currently vacant unit or not. I'm seeing benefits/risks to both options. Thoughts?

Much thanks.

[Kristine Hodges]

I’d leave one unit open.  Then it can be purchased by an owner-occupant for a house hack.  Or an investor who would probably prefer to choose their own tenant.  You can show the current lease as proof of market rent, so I wouldn’t worry about filling it for an investor buyer.  But you’ll lose a large portion of your potential buyers if they can’t occupy the empty side.