What Is a Dual Master Home?

All jokes aside, a dual-master is about bedrooms and bathrooms. Not about who's in charge at home. Dual-masters are becoming more popular and satisfy a particular niche in Calgary's housing market.

There is a cross-section of the population for which a traditional three-bedroom home doesn't quite work. Dual masters can be a great alternative, with bedroom/bathroom configurations that work well in smaller homes such as townhomes and condominiums.

What is a Dual Master Home?

A dual master home is a home with two master bedrooms, each with their own ensuite and frequently their own walk-in closets. They often take that extra square footage that would have been a third bedroom and instead make a second master bedroom so people can be accommodated uniquely. Some new home builders are saying that 10 to 20% of their offerings with smaller footprints are dual-master homes.

The History of the Dual Master Home

This type of home certainly fits a niche but the rise of the double master-suite home is not as quick as some predicted.

In 2011, the National Home Builders Association in the U.S. predicted that by 2015 at least 60% of all new homes built in America would have master suites. Their predictions were out by quite a bit, both there and in our country. The beauty for the purchaser of buying a dual-master home is flexibility. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms on one floor and with the exception of apartment condos, often a third or maybe even a fourth bedroom can be added at a later date in an unfinished basement.

Which People Do Dual Master Homes Appeal To?

Dual master homes appeal to people in a variety of different living situations. Some people use their dual master suite as a luxurious guest bedroom. This is useful for people who often open their home to friends and loved ones.

Other people use their dual master bedroom to accommodate their elderly relatives. As multi-generational homes become more common, dual master homes make it easier for homeowners to live with their parents, grandparents and even their adult children. 

People who age in place sometimes relocate to their second master suite if it's in a part of the house that's easier to access. For example, a homeowner who lives in a home with two stories may decide to move from the bedroom in an upper level to a bedroom on the ground level, if stairs become difficult to navigate. 

Thinking of Renovating?

The popularity of dual master-suites is not lost on people renovating existing space. It's important to keep the whole home in mind when creating a new floor plan during a renovation. Here are some considerations:

• California splits: These popular four-level split homes have two bedrooms on the top floor and one or more on the third and fourth levels of the home. The second bedroom on the top floor is often very small, suitable for a nursery and often people will but this top floor and put in one master suite with a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The problem with this configuration is re-sale. Even with more bedroom options on lower floors, this configuration often leaves out families with children under 10 who don't want their children on a different floor, let alone a floor two levels down. It's not impossible to sell this type of home but you are limiting your potential market.
• Large Homes: Homes with 2,000 square feet or more frequently have four bedrooms up. The temptation may be to create dual masters upstairs; however with so much room to work with in a home this large, likely with basement development, you might want to spread the master suites out on different floors. Too much togetherness in a house this big isn't always appealing.

Speak With a Real Estate Agent to Find the Perfect Dual Master Home

Do you want to buy a dual master home? Speak with a real estate agent today for help searching for a new dual master home and navigating the real estate market of Calgary.