The Best Cities in America for House Flippers

The media frenzy surrounding house flipping has died down considerably. There aren’t two dozen reality TV shows dedicated to it anymore, but there is still a market for it. We’ve all seen the type of show; a hotshot real estate hustler buys a dump, then fixes it up with the help of contractors and realtors. Most of the shows are similar and have the same outcome. The foolproof formula involves remodeling the kitchen with granite countertops supported by heavy duty brackets, ceramic tile floors, and new cabinets. Then the yard is cleaned up, the sod is laid, and everything looks great. Potential buyers swoon over the fancy new appliances and landscaping, paying whatever the asking price is.

A market for house flipping still exists, and there are deals to make. The real flippers are still out there hustling to make some money. The housing market took a big hit a few years ago, and flippers took one along with it. Flipping is not as easy as it once was. As with any fluctuation in the market, the real players are still there, and the pretenders have moved on to the next trend. The recovery has been slow but steady. There is still money to be made flipping houses, you just need to know where to go: where people are buying cheap houses and the market is strong.

A recent survey ranked 172 American cities on quality of life, remodeling costs, and market potential to determine the best and worst places to flip a house. The survey found that flippers are still turning a profit, but the returns aren’t what they used to be. In the first quarter of 2019, flippers were seeing an average return of $60,000. That is $8,000 less than the same time in the previous year.

If you are in the right spot at the right time, flipping is profitable. Finding that perfect spot is becoming difficult, though. Housing and real estate trends are tough to track and can change quickly. Don’t dive in headfirst and get your hands dirty on a flip until you know where to buy. Here are the best cities in America for house flippers.