What is House Flipping?

House Flipping

House flipping is when a real estate investor buys houses and then sells them for a profit. In order for a house to be considered a flip, it must be bought with the intention of quickly reselling. The time between the purchase and the sale often ranges from a couple months up to a year.There are two different types of house flipping:

1. An investor buys a property that has potential to increase in value with the right repairs and updates. After completing the work, they make money from selling the home for a much higher price that what they purchased it for.

2. An investor buys a property in a market with rapidly rising home values. They make no updates, and after holding the property for a few months, they resell at a higher price and make a profit.

Is Flipping a House a Good Investment?

Flipping a house may sound simple, but it’s not as easy as it looks. Let’s be real: A house flip can either be a dream or a disaster. Done the right way, a house flip can be a great investment. In a short amount of time, you can make smart renovations and sell the house for much more than you paid for it. But a house flip can just as easily go the wrong direction if it’s done the wrong way. We’ve all heard house flipping horror stories—the ones where what seemed like a good deal turned into a house with a shaky foundation and a leaking roof. At the end of the day, a house flip may not make you money. It actually could cost you thousands.If you decide to flip a house, you certainly don’t want to lose money. You want to make a wise investment and reap the rewards.

How to Flip a House in 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Finance the House Flip With Cash

House flipping can be a risky endeavor, and it’s easy to see why adding debt into the mix only makes it more dangerous. Here’s why we always recommend you flip a house with cash:

First, flippers who take on debt for their purchase pay interest for months, which only increases the amount they have to sell the house for just to break even.

Second, using debt to finance a flip can cause you to act out of desperation. If you can’t get the house sold, for example, you’re likely to lower your price and cut your profit. Cash-only flippers can wait out a slow market.

Step 2: Know the Market

A lot of house flippers get excited about their next project and can ignore this less glamorous side of the business. If you don’t have a good understanding of the market, though, you could run into the following issues:

1. You don’t know if you’re actually getting a good deal on the house you’re buying.

2. You can’t accurately identify the home’s potential value. Your vision for the home must fit the reality of the neighborhood and the ability of the neighborhood’s residents to afford the home you create.

3. You don’t know how to price the house. If you’ve bought a house in a neighborhood of mostly $130K–150K homes, you’ll want to price your flip at the lower end of that range when it’s time to sell.

Step 3: Make a Budget for Your House Flip

Don’t wait until after you purchase an investment property to make a budget. Know your price range for purchasing a home, making any repairs, completing renovation projects, and selling it before you seal the deal.

Make sure to identify any cosmetic projects as well as any expensive overhauls like plumbing or electrical problems. If you don’t have a background in construction, a contractor can tell you what needs fixing and how much it will cost. Surprise repairs can make or break a flip, so be sure to do your homework here.

When you’re under contract, use your inspection period to get a home inspection and any other specific inspections you may need. It’s always better to spot problems on the front end than be surprised down the road.

Step 4: Invest in Smart Renovations

Dreams of gleaming hardwood floors, on-trend light fixtures and fabulous kitchens with professional-grade stoves can quickly cause your renovations to get out of hand. That’s why it’s important to know your budget upfront and then make sure your updates stay on track and actually boost the value of the home.

Don’t forget that big renovations—like kitchens and bathrooms—can easily make or break your flip. While you might invest in a couple big updates on a flip, don’t underestimate the power of small tweaks.Things like a fresh coat of paint, updated hardware and new landscaping can make a huge impact!

Step 5: Get Guidance From a Local Real Estate Expert

The key to flipping a house successfully is to do it with cash, make a smart investment in the type of house you purchase, choose renovations in your budget, and sell it quickly. Having a real estate agent on your team helps make all of that happen!

Whether you’re buying a house to live in for years or to flip in six months, a quality real estate agent can provide the market knowledge and practical guidance you need to make a smart investment.