5 Things You Should Know Before You Flip A Property

1. Money is made at the buy, not the sell of your flip. When flipping a house your money is made at the purchase not at the sell of the house. So, many times people buy a house with the intensions of making a huge profit only to find out that they could not make any money after all the renovations because the purchased price of the house was to high. When you purchase your property you need to be sure that you buy the house with enough money to make renovations, have carrying cost, and add about 5 $6,000. Now, cost is at $147,000, and that is if everything goes as planned. Profit is under 10,000 dollars. The mistake was made at the purchase at the home, not the sell. Continue reading

4 Threats That Remain in Housing Recovery

The housing recovery appears to be on track and growing stronger. Home sales and prices are up after reaching bottom in 2010, foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies are dropping, yet housing affordability still remains high. So why are some analysts and economists concerned? At a recent Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., panelists said that threats to the housing recovery still remain. The biggest threats they pointed to included:
  1. Land scarcity: Real estate developers are struggling to find desirable land to start new projects, which is limiting the supply of new homes. A few years ago, banks took ownership of land after developers had foreclosed on some projects. The land is worth less than its original price so banks are reluctant to write off additional losses by selling it too cheaply. Plus, lenders remain cautious about issuing loans for new land purchases.
  2. House flippers should be cautious: Housing affordability is high mostly due to super low mortgage rates, and investors are taking advantage with intentions of flipping homes for profit. "No doubt you can buy a house today and get a really good price and a low-interest loan,” says Jeff Greene, president of Florida Sunshine Investments. “But if you want to sell that house to somebody two or three years later and rates go up to 5 or 6 percent, how much is he going to pay for that house?"
  3. Foreign buyers potentially inflating prices: In some markets, strong demand by foreign buyers has helped home prices recover, which has made homes more expensive for Americans in some areas. Some analysts fear that it could even lead to another housing bubble if interest rates started rising quickly as well. Markets like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York are seeing strong demand among foreign buyers. Some say this is a good thing, because it reflects a strong faith in the U.S. market.
  4. A ‘patchy’ recovery: Some markets are seeing rapid increases with bidding wars, rising prices, and low inventories, while other markets are still at a standstill. For example, Miami’s housing market is “on fire” while 80 miles north in Palm Beach County there’s a “huge glut of housing,” says Greene.
Source: “5 Reasons the Housing Recovery Remains Wobbly,” U.S. News & World Report (May 3, 2013)
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House Flipping Staging a Comeback?

More Americans are once again on the hunt to snag a home at bargain prices, fix it up, and then try to resell it for a quick profit. Home flippers mostly vanished from the market during the housing downturn a few years ago. But with home values inching up, flipping is coming back. RealtyTrac says flipping increased for the second year in row, rising a slight 0.33 percent in 2012 from 12 percent in 2011. The company defines flipping as buying and selling a property within six months. RealtyTrac reports the average gross profits for these types of transactions was $37,375 in 2012. According to the company, some of the best places to flip homes in 2012 were Orlando, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Charlotte, N.C. For example, homes flipped in Orlando were purchased for $100,397, on average, and then for $174,895 — earning a gross profit, on average, of nearly $75,000, RealtyTrac reports. Investors are showing signs of being more cautious with flipping than they were during the housing boom. More investors are coming in with all-cash deals to purchase the homes. They also are holding onto the properties longer than they once did. On average, the flipping time from purchase to resale stands at about 106 days today, according to RealtyTrac. "That seems to be the sweet spot for a profitable deal," says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. "Back in the housing bubble, many flippers were solely relying on price appreciation, sitting back and selling for big profits within a month or two." Source: “The New Rules of House Flipping,” Reuters (April 18, 2013)

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Illegal House Flipping

Homes along White Oak Bayou in Houston"Flipping" a home is when you purchase property as an asset then quickly re-sell it for a profit. There are different types of flipping. Generally, flipping is legal. However, there has been an increase in illegal flipping. This is when a recently purchased property is re-sold for an inflated value. Usually only small cosmetic improvements have been made before re-selling it. This scheme involves the appraiser, a mortgage originator and the closing agent. The real estate appraiser is the key player, because for this scheme to work the property has to be appraised for more than it is worth. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice governs real estate appraisers. If you suspect a flipping scheme you can contact them before making any real estate decisions. photo credit: (Bill and Mavis) - B&M Photography