Dividing land for a duplex, how to best sell the second half

Hello everyone,

I have read a bit here by now, but I haven’t really made any progress on this topic yet.

We have a plot with an existing building in prospect. There is no development plan for this plot, but in the neighborhood, semi-detached houses have partly been built on similar plots. So that should be possible as far as feasible.

My question now is how to proceed best if I actually only want to build half of a semi-detached house on half of the plot.

- So how do I find a buyer for the other half of the project?
- At what point do I start looking (when the existing building has been demolished, when the planning for the semi-detached house is already done, when the construction company has already been selected?)
- To what extent does that affect the property transfer tax for the buyer of the 2nd half? Did I understand correctly that the buyer also has to pay the tax on the house if I have already fixed everything beforehand?
- What must be considered in a contract for that, or where would you get information about that?

Thanks in advance!

My question now is how to best proceed if I actually only want to build half a semi-detached house on half the plot.

What is your exact plan? To finish building both semi-detached halves and sell them, or to sell half the plot and have the partner build "their" house together with you at the same time. I would immediately resell half the plot and coordinate with the buyer. That way everyone can build individually but finish at the same time as a "uniform" house.

Hello nordanney,

thank you for your reply. I would like to sell half of the property. The only question is how do I coordinate with the buyer so that in the end I can approximately build the house I want.

You should probably determine certain points beforehand (size, with basement or without, type of construction ...) and such things should probably also be included in the contract.

thank you for your answer. I would like to sell half of the property. The only question is how I coordinate with the buyer so that in the end I can roughly build the house I want.

Presumably, certain points should be agreed upon beforehand (size, with or without basement, type of construction ...) and presumably something like that should also be included in the contract.

Exactly. You plan your house (basement yes/no, number of floors, roof type/slope, etc.) or have it planned. And in the purchase contract for the sale of the second half, it is agreed that the buyer must orient their half according to your half based on the attached draft plans (or if the buyer then decides not to build and wants to sell their property further, that they impose this restriction on all subsequent buyers as well). And then you simply build your half. The buyer orients themselves according to your plan and cannot simply build a flat roof if you have a pitched roof. Or three stories while yours is only one story. Size, location of the house entrance, etc. can the buyer decide completely on their own.

If the desire, however, is for a "mirrored twin," i.e., a semi-detached house with central symmetry, this path becomes more difficult. To really achieve this, one would then have to "play" the role of a developer and sell half a plot with a finished house. However, this carries all the risk during the construction phase. To what extent at least color, shape, and size can be restricted in the sale, please ask the trusted notary. If necessary, one can also sell half the plot "for division," i.e., the plot is not yet divided at the time of the purchase contract, and, for example, a cost-sharing agreement is made.

Hm ok, it is a bit complicated as I feared.

In principle, the house does not have to be a mirrored twin. However, it would of course be easier and cheaper if we could build the house at the same time with the same construction company.

As I see it, I have 2 alternatives:

1. I plan my house and build alone and then sell the second half with certain conditions. What I don't like about this is that the advantages of the semi-detached house don't really exist then. For example, if I finish my house and then half a year later the buyer of the other half starts building a basement. Or they don't build for 2 years because they lack the money.
2. I act as the developer, with the corresponding high risk.

Am I overlooking something or does anyone have another idea? Is there perhaps someone here in the forum who has done something similar before?