Big Rewards – Top Fix & Flip Markets in the US

Aug 21, 2016

Original Story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/big-rewards-top-fix-flip-markets-us-michelle-suiter

Top20FlipCities Residential real estate investing can be a lucrative business for those who master the tricks of the trade. In fact, savvy investors are often capable of doubling their investments within months, rather than years, through activities such as house flipping. It takes determination, preparation, hard work, experience, a bit of luck and savings, but house flipping is one of the most prolific ways to generate early returns on real estate investment. On the flip side – no pun intended – inadequate preparation, poor execution and careless mistakes can be very costly, and lead to substantial financial loss.

Don’t forget the risks

Because of its potential and surrounding hype, flipping property for profit has become somewhat of a high stakes game for real estate professionals – one in which more and more players are getting involved. Yet, even though it appears simple and promising, the process can be very expensive, time-consuming and complex, requiring keen insight into the ever-changing housing market. When home prices are on the rise, like it is now, it can be generally easier to make a profit. But how do investors determine the right markets and the right price points to achieve their targeted return on investment? How can they factor in the various repair costs and timelines? Their fix-and-flip business is mainly driven by buying a dilapidated or damaged house at a low price, fixing it up, making it more desirable, and putting it back on the market at a much higher price point.

Daren Blomquist, Vice President of RealtyTrac, shared some insight stating that, “The best window of opportunity [for home flippers] is when a market is about to bottom out.” When the market becomes favorable, many people would have successfully doubled or tripled their investments.

“Doing this in a city where there is high demand for housing reduces days on the market and when there is appreciation at the same time it means their investment is going up in value as they make improvements to it,” explained Linda Craft, CEO of Linda Craft & Team Realtors.  This is why certain cities are better suited for house flipping as compared to others.

Ready to take a flipping leap?

Experts note that the most important place to start is market research – the state of the real estate market in the city or area in which you would like to invest.

You may be naturally inclined to look for properties in your hometown, given its familiarity, but it is important to keep in mind that the area where you reside may not be as lucrative as the neighbouring city. For example, if you look up El Paso, Texas, you may find that it sits at number 3 on the house flipping chart , but Brownsville, Texas is much further down the list at number 26. Arlington, Texas is even further down at number 46. This just shows that you need to do your research as thoroughly as possible if you want to make the profit you intend to make when you sell your newly renovated flip.

Experts have also noted that you should not buy on impulse. Just because an old house may be available for about the same cost as a brand new car does not mean that it will be sellable or profitable in the long run. Study your markets, check your own finances, and make sure that you read up on residential real estate investing tips and trends as much as you can.

Where are the top fix-and-flip markets?

According to WalletHub, there are certain localities and cities that are highly profitable for house flipping. Using over 19 key metrics and market indicators, a list of the top 150 most profitable markets for real estate flipping was formed. I looked into a few of the markets they mentioned and wanted to share some interesting highlights:

Pittsburg, PA

At the rate of 129.5%, Pittsburg has the highest returns on investment (ROI) and is one of the few markets that is allowing home owners to easily double their investments. Since 2005, sales of all homes have increased by 19%.

New Orleans, LA

After Hurricane Katrina, real estate in New Orleans was most definitely suffering, hitting a rock bottom by 2005. Flash forward to 2016, with a return on investment (ROI) rate of 99.2%, New Orleans also offers one of the highest returns on investment for house flippers as well.

Philadelphia, PA

Home flippers have a field day with being able to purchase homes at pocket friendly rates, enjoying discounts of up to 44.7% on the price. Buyers are also purchasing houses with premiums of up to 5%. With a return on investment (ROI) rate of 98.4%, Philadelphia enables house flippers to double their investments with ease.

Cincinnati, OH

House flippers also get to enjoy large discounts on property in Cincinnati. Compared to Philadelphia, most real estate is available with a 46% discount on the total price. With loads of affordable property, house flippers in Cincinnati, enjoy a return on investment (ROI) rate of 89.7% and extremely low risks.

If done right, flipping houses can yield large profits. Pay close attention to the market demand and the time period it takes to flip a house. It is essential to know the numbers and calculate the value of the house, make room for repair cost and place yourself in the best possible position to earn big rewards for your high risk.

By Bruce McNeilage 19 Apr, 2024
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By Bruce McNeilage 14 Dec, 2023
In my interview with Seana Smith & Brad Smith from Yahoo Finance today we discussed single-familiy rental rates and my thoughts on mortgage rates going into 2024.
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Owner's equivalent rental prices rose 0.5% in November , a pervasive factor in US inflation as limited housing inventory continues to squeeze homebuyers out of tightened real estate markets. Kinloch Partners CEO Bruce McNeilage joins Yahoo Finance Live to weigh in on the outlook for renters and home purchases in 2024. Home prices are "not going to go down, that's for sure. And mortgage rates might go down, but if the cost of a house goes up $10-20,000, it's a wash," McNeilage states. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live. 
By Bruce McNeilage 08 Nov, 2023
Original Story can be found here: https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ Charlene and Timothy Stratton traded in their 4-acre Illinois ranch for a rental home in the Nashville suburb of Spring Hill and, so far, they love the new low-maintenance lifestyle. Like a growing contingent of Americans, they chose to rent a single-family house rather than buy a home or rent in multifamily apartment buildings. "We lived in the country all of our lives with horses and cows," said Timothy Stratton, a retired airline mechanic. "But we wanted to rent because we’re looking at our age. We did a lot of research and decided this will work out for the time being." Families like the Strattons increasingly want the mobility and limited commitment of a rental, with the privacy and space of a single-family home. Meanwhile, many families are also being pushed out of the tight housing market. Housing affordability plummeted to historic lows this year, with only 23% of U.S. listings in April considered affordable to households earning $75,000 or less, according to the National Association of Realtors. In response, real estate investors are betting heavily on new rental properties and, increasingly, on standalone units — especially in the South. More than 61,000 fully and semi-detached single-family rental units are under construction in Southern states as of September. In comparison, 28,000 units are in production in the Western U.S., the next-busiest region, according to RealPage Market Analytics. Those units include single-family homes, townhomes, rowhomes, quadruplexes and duplexes. Single-family rental communities are increasingly concentrated in subdivisions with on-site maintenance, rather than in homes nestled in for-sale housing neighborhoods. The Nashville market has the ninth-highest number of in-construction, build-to-rent homes with 2,745 units in the pipeline. Phoenix tops the list with 21,676 units underway, a RealPage analysis in August found. "Construction isn't going fast enough in Nashville. If they built four or five new build-to-rent communities, they would fill them up immediately," said Doug Ressler, the business intelligence director of Yardi Matrix, a real estate data firm. "We really expect Nashville to continue to see growth here." Rent vs. own: 'More house for your money' Charlene Stratton filled the three-bedroom house with festive seasonal crafts and artwork she creates in her home studio. Renting isn't perfect, but there are real perks — like, when the air conditioner stalled on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of summer, the landlord offered to put them in a hotel until maintenance could fix it that Monday. "When something goes wrong, we just call them," Charlene Stratton said. "It's great." The Strattons live at DerryBerry Estates, one of the first of its kind, built in 2019 by Kinloch Parners. The 34-home community sits on former pastures with views of Spring Hill's rolling green landscape and rose bushes in the front yard. Local development companies like Kinloch Partners of Nashville and Franklin-based Chartwell Residential and Barlow Builders have made stakes in the industry. "In 2008, I had no competition. Now there are six or seven players in the market," said Kinloch Partners Co-founder Bruce McNeilage, who sold much of his inventory to American Homes 4 Rent and expanded to South Carolina. "We're 99% leased out." McNeilage said he prioritizes creating a calm, supportive community with competitive prices. Rents at DerryBerry Estates ranged from $2,300 to $2,600 for homes with three to five bedrooms in September. "People are starting families later in life and COVID-19 has allowed people to work out of their houses so people are moving farther out," McNeilage added. "Housing prices are going up and interest prices just doubled. You can get more house for your money if you get farther out." Housing in Nashville area: 'Can't build them fast enough' Chartwell Residential, a local real estate firm specializing in multifamily apartments, is now building out its first single-family rental home community. https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/ https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2023/11/08/renters-seek-new-options-in-nashvilles-tight-housing-market/70652968007/
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