What Type of Multifamily Property Is Selling Best in Pierce County?
If you own a duplex, triplex, or fourplex in Pierce County, one of the most important questions isn't simply whether properties are selling—it's which properties are attracting the most buyers and selling the fastest.
I analyzed Pierce County 2–4 unit sales from 2022 through August 2026 to see which property types and cities have been the strongest sellers and whether buyer demand has changed.
The answer is fairly clear:
Tacoma duplexes remain the most liquid segment of the Pierce County 2–4 unit market, but they aren't selling nearly as quickly as they were a few years ago. Meanwhile, fourplexes—particularly in Tacoma and Puyallup—have gained momentum.
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Tacoma Duplexes Remain the Market Leader
No other Pierce County property type and city combination comes close to Tacoma duplexes in overall sales volume.
Looking at January through August each year:
| Property Type & City | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Duplex | 68 | 54 | 43 | 53 | 43 |
| Puyallup Duplex | 29 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| Tacoma Triplex | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 15 |
| Tacoma Fourplex | 10 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 19 |
| University Place Duplex | 13 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| Lakewood Duplex | 24 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Spanaway Duplex | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
| Gig Harbor Duplex | 12 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Puyallup Fourplex | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Tacoma duplexes have consistently generated the highest number of sales.
One reason is the depth of the buyer pool. Duplexes appeal to traditional investors, but they can also attract owner-occupant buyers who want to live in one unit and rent the other.
That additional demand can be especially valuable when one unit is vacant and available for an owner-occupant.
But Tacoma Duplexes Are Taking Longer to Sell
While Tacoma duplexes remain the most active segment, the market has clearly changed.
Median days on market for Tacoma duplexes:
2022: 7 days
2023: 5.5 days
2024: 14 days
2025: 19 days
2026: 25 days
That's a significant slowdown.
In 2022 and 2023, the typical Tacoma duplex was selling in approximately a week. In 2026, the median is closer to three and a half weeks.
The good news for sellers is that correctly priced properties are still performing well. The median Tacoma duplex sold for approximately 100% of its final list price in 2026.
Buyers haven't disappeared.
They're simply more selective and less willing to chase overpriced properties.
Fourplexes Are Gaining Ground
One of the more interesting changes in the data is the strength of Tacoma fourplex sales.
January through August sales:
2022: 10
2023: 9
2024: 8
2025: 16
2026: 19
While Tacoma duplex sales declined from 68 in 2022 to 43 in 2026, Tacoma fourplex sales increased from 10 to 19.
That's a 90% increase in fourplex transaction volume compared with the same period in 2022.
That doesn't necessarily mean buyers suddenly prefer fourplexes to duplexes. Available inventory also plays a role—there have to be properties available for buyers to purchase.
But the trend does show that fourplex demand has held up surprisingly well relative to duplexes.
There is an important qualification for sellers.
The median Tacoma fourplex took approximately 35 days to sell in 2026 and sold for roughly 97.5% of its final asking price.
So fourplexes are selling in greater numbers, but buyers remain price-sensitive.
Puyallup Fourplexes Are Worth Watching
Another interesting trend is emerging in Puyallup.
Puyallup recorded only:
1 fourplex sale in 2022
0 in 2023
0 in 2024
2 in 2025
7 through August 2026
Seven transactions is still a relatively small sample, so I wouldn't draw a sweeping conclusion from it yet.
But the performance of those properties is noteworthy.
Through August 2026, Puyallup fourplexes had a median market time of approximately 15 days and sold for approximately 100% of final asking price.
If that continues, Puyallup fourplexes could be one of the stronger emerging segments of the Pierce County multifamily market.
What About Triplexes?
Tacoma triplex sales have rebounded in 2026.
There were 15 sales through August, compared with nine during the same period in 2025.
However, they're taking considerably longer to sell.
The median Tacoma triplex spent approximately 50 days on market in 2026, compared with:
- 25 days for Tacoma duplexes
- 35 days for Tacoma fourplexes
The median Tacoma triplex sold for approximately 98.8% of its final asking price.
That suggests there are buyers for triplexes, but they currently appear to have less urgency than duplex buyers.
Tacoma 2–4 Unit Sales: 2022 vs. 2026
Looking specifically at Tacoma makes the change particularly easy to see:
| Property Type | 2022 Sales | 2026 Sales | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duplex | 68 | 43 | -37% |
| Triplex | 15 | 15 | 0% |
| Fourplex | 10 | 19 | +90% |
The market is still dominated by duplex transactions, but the composition of sales is changing.
Fourplexes are representing a larger share of Tacoma's 2–4 unit sales than they did four years ago.
Which Pierce County Multifamily Properties Are Selling Best in 2026?
Based on a combination of sales volume, market time, pricing performance, and consistency, here's how I see the market today:
Tacoma Duplexes — Strongest Overall Market
Tacoma duplexes continue to have the deepest and most established buyer pool in Pierce County. They're taking longer to sell than they did several years ago, but they remain the most liquid segment.
Puyallup Duplexes — Strong Secondary Market
Through August, 20 Puyallup duplexes sold with a median market time of approximately 21.5 days and a median sale price of approximately 100% of final asking price.
Tacoma Fourplexes — Strongest Improving Trend
Sales volume has nearly doubled compared with 2022. Buyers are active, although pricing remains critical.
Puyallup Fourplexes — Emerging Segment
The sample size is small, but seven sales, approximately 15 days median market time, and sales around 100% of final asking price make this a segment worth watching.
Tacoma Triplexes — Active, But Slower
Transaction volume has recovered, but the approximately 50-day median market time indicates a more selective buyer pool.
What Does This Mean If You Own a Duplex, Triplex, or Fourplex?
The biggest takeaway isn't that one type of property will always outperform another.
It's that different properties require different marketing and pricing strategies.
A vacant Tacoma duplex may appeal to an owner-occupant who can use residential financing and offset their mortgage by renting the second unit.
A fully occupied fourplex may appeal primarily to an investor evaluating rents, expenses, cap rate, financing, and future upside.
A triplex with below-market rents may require an entirely different strategy.
Simply putting a multifamily property on the MLS and comparing it with every other 2–4 unit sale doesn't account for those differences.
The Bottom Line
Tacoma remains the center of Pierce County's 2–4 unit market, and duplexes remain its most liquid property type.
But the market has changed.
Tacoma duplexes are taking substantially longer to sell than they did in 2022 and 2023, while fourplexes have gained relative strength. Puyallup also continues to be an important secondary market, with particularly strong fourplex activity emerging in 2026.
For sellers, that means understanding who the likely buyer is, how much competition is currently on the market, and how your property should be positioned for that specific buyer pool.
If you're considering selling a duplex, triplex, or fourplex in Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, University Place, Spanaway, Gig Harbor, or elsewhere in Pierce County, I can provide a free, confidential property valuation and show you how your property compares with the properties actually selling in today's market.
Charles Burnett, CCIM
Sound Property Group