Tier-2 city homebuyers drive up demand for duplex apartments

Hubballi: Duplex houses in apartments were once considered a luxury largely associated with capital cities. While Bengaluru has been seen as the most promising market for this trend, cities such as Hubballi, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and others are now adopting it to redefine urban living. In 2026, several developers are focusing on such constructions, primarily based on client demand. They note that demand from buyers is steadily rising, and the real estate sector is responding to it. While lucrative rental income drives this trend in capital cities, buyers in tier-2 cities opt for duplex units mainly for personal living.Pradeep Raikar, immediate past state president of Credai, told TOI that middle- and higher-income groups are increasingly opting for duplex houses in apartments in the North Karnataka region. "This is a post-Covid trend that has emerged as a standard preference. A considerable shift has been seen in the last 3–4 years. Earlier, 2BHK units were the standard choice, but now duplex houses have replaced them. The total area of duplex houses in apartments ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 sq ft. Roughly 10–12% of the project area is being reserved for penthouses in many residential developments. Buyers prefer upper floors as they value privacy. Design themes have also changed significantly, with preferences for open kitchens, internet-enabled facilities, and a more open, Western-influenced feel. Middle- and upper-class buyers are now preferring penthouses of 1,800–2,500 sq ft," he explained.He added that Belagavi is growing faster than Hubballi in this segment, owing to its proximity to Mumbai.According to real estate sources, around 200 penthouses and duplex apartment units have come up in Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi over the last 3-4 years.However, Gururaj Annigeri, executive director of Marvel Properties, Hubballi, pointed out that while cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai allow developers to utilise up to 30% of terrace space for penthouses, the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (Huda) limits this to only 100 sq ft in the twin cities. "We have requested that the restriction be relaxed. Professionals such as doctors, advocates and professors prefer duplex houses because they combine the security of a gated community with the feel of an independent home in a protected environment," he said.Dr Srinivas and Laxmi, a couple who purchased a duplex home in Aum Shree Balaji Apartment, Lingaraj Nagar, said they chose it for safety and comfort. "If we construct a duplex house independently, we would have to manage maintenance and security on our own. Here, maintenance is shared. Our dream of owning a spacious duplex home is being realised at an economical price in a prime location. We were able to opt for customised interiors during the construction stage itself," they shared.