This is a case of buying one and making it into two for more). If done right, splitting can result in substantial profit for the investor. A typical split starts with buying a large lot. Once you have ownership, you split the lot into two. Now you have two lots, which, depending on the circumstances, may each be worth nearly as much as the original lot. You sell one and have the other virtually free. Or you sell both to make your profit. (Of course, each of the lots must conform to minimum zoning size.) Variations on this theme include buying a large lot with a house on it, then selling off a portion of the lot and keeping the house as a rental. In San Francisco, where many areas are zoned for duplexes or multifamily dwellings, a split can occur when a single large home is split down the center to make a duplex (or two units). Sometimes a large home of several floors is converted to a condominium with each floor being a separate unit. Each time you split the property, you multiply your profit. A savvy investor will always be looking at properties with an eye toward being able to create a split. No, this doesn’t always happen in suburbia. But it is common both in rural and in urban areas. Just be careful that you comply with all building and zoning regulations.