Real Estate Flipping

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Author:
Jeanette Joy Fisher

Many real estate investors enjoy "flipping houses," or buying and selling houses quickly for profit. Not all flips are fixers. However, rehabbers make millions turning ugly houses into dollhouses. On the other hand, some inexperienced investors lose money buying houses that just don't turn a profit.

If you're looking to get started investing in real estate by fixing and flipping houses, you'll want to know what type of property to buy. HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT FIXER

1. Know Your Market

Your first task, exploring your market, helps you know a bargain house when you spot one. Look at many houses for sale in your area. Keep track of sales and how long the houses take to sell. Ask selling real estate agents about the terms of these sales because this helps you understand how sellers market their property (some of this information is public record). For instance, if a seller paid closing costs for the buyer, did the price rise from the listed price accordingly? Or, did the seller come down on the price and also pay the buyer's costs?

Examine the sales that sell quickly. What home features and financing options prompted the fast sale?

Also, look at model homes. Buyers often buy resale homes because they can't wait for a new home to be finished. However, these buyers like the distinctive features new homes offer. Visit model homes and take notes on how details like a water fountain or a new state-of-the-art appliance makes a house sell itself. When you remodel your fixer, you'll know what attracts buyers and you'll make smart redesign choices.

2. Know When "Ugly" Means "Gold"

When you first start out in your real estate "flipping fixers" business, you'll want to look for houses needing only cosmetic work. Look for houses that just need cleaning up, painting, and new flooring. Use your imagination when viewing these homes. Try to visualize the finished dollhouse as you look at structural features and the surrounding homes. Make offers on the ugliest houses in decent neighborhoods.

Don't be afraid of stinky houses that show horribly. Search for fixers with peeling paint, holes in the wall, stained carpeting, and trash in the yard. Remember, these houses won't look good to most buyers, but other real estate investors see them as gold mines. 3. Know When "Ugly" Means "No Thanks"

When you're new to real estate investing, always remember your limitations. Use caution when considering houses that need structural repairs. Some rehabbers replace walls, plumbing, structural beams, sub-flooring, and electrical systems. These experienced real estate investors acquired those skills after years of experience or they have the money to pay for professional help.

If you find a house with structural problems, get estimates from reliable contractors to do the work. If the walls have too many cracks and bumps, you may need to hang new sheet rock or hire a professional plaster refinisher. Check for signs of plumbing problems such as water stains under sinks and loose flooring, and get estimates for professional repair. Take professional estimates into account before deciding whether or not to purchase an investment property. Any big expense decreases your eventual profit.

Turn Yucks into Bucks

Why would anyone want to do this hard work? How much does the average rehabber make? In Ohio, real estate investors buy houses expecting a profit of about $30,000. In Southern California, many investors make $50,000 to $100,000 on each house.

When you find a garbage-filled, flea-infested house in a family neighborhood, take your bug spray, hold your nose, and get ready to make a difference, in the neighborhood and in your bank account.

You can make a fortune fixing nasty houses. Know your market. Know when "ugly" means profit in your pocket, and when to keep looking for the house with the hidden gold mine.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

About the author:

Jeanette Fisher teaches beginning real estate investors five easy steps to find, finance, and fix houses for profits. Free ebook on fixing houses using interior design strategies for top-dollar sales, http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Real Estate Flipping... Real Estate Investing Gurus Reviewed We've seen all the claims that have been made by many late night real estate informational gurus. They all talk off making thousands of dollars when you buy a property. But is it really possible? Is it really possible to buy a house and pay no money down and walk away with cash at the closing table? It's because of these late night infomercials that no money down real estate to pull cash out at closing has become one of the most sought after topics on the net and late night television. Most everyone has seen these commercials or even bought these real estate investing courses. Most of these courses get filled with dust, then to only find their way to the yard sale. Now, you may be asking, " is it really possible and if so, how's it done?" Honestly, the one technique that gets talked about the most is the least creative way to do a deal and the most risky. There are many more profitable ways to real estate investing without the personal risk and the liability. See, what happens is you find an undervalued property, then you go to the bank to acquire financing. Many lenders will loan 80% of the appraised value on real estate investments. Many investors will then borrow the 80% even if they only paid 65% of the fair market value of the property. The crucial factor that investors must realize is that this is borrowed money and you can't live off of borrowed money. Also, you are personally guaranteeing that you will pay back the loan. Therefore, if something goes wrong, then you are on the hook with the bank. Not only is this very possible to pull cash out when you buy, this one method to real estate investing could be the single worst mistake that investors make when buying properties. It's a financial disaster waiting to happen....