Wanting to get into Real Estate - Flipping Houses

Canton, Ohio
Starting Out
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Wanting to get into Real Estate - Flipping Houses

Jacob Mottice
Member since 2025 · 1 post · 6 votes

I am new to the real estate game and want to get into flipping houses but have zero experience and want to know how do I start. 

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Elealeh Fulmaran
Specialist · Member since 2025 · 483 posts · 270 votes
11mo

Start with one flip, light scope, and tight numbers. Pick a simple buy box in a nearby, stable neighborhood, line up your core four (agent, lender, GC, PM), and analyze 50 to 100 on‑market deals to learn comps and rehab ranges fast. Fund it conservatively, avoid major structural work on deal one, and require written scope, milestone payments, and photo proof. Two exits ready at closing: list if spreads hold, or refinance to a rental if days‑on‑market or comps shift. Action beats theory; your first clean base hit builds the skills and confidence for bigger profits.

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  • Payton HaightBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2021 · 124 posts · 86 votes
    11mo

    Hey Jacob! 

    I would say the best first steps starting with zero experience are education and networking. 

    For education, Biggerpockets has a lot of information and there are also many books that can introduce you to the general flipping process and numbers associated with it.

    As far as networking, attend local meetups and join investor Facebook groups to connect with other investors in your area. Find someone successfully doing what you want to do and see if you can learn from them. You can also connect with local agents, wholesalers (with zero experience I would recommend starting out with an investor-friendly agent), contractors, and lenders at these events.

    [email protected]380-324-0445
    0Reply
  • Vaughn Croxton
    Member since 2025 · 10 posts · 1 vote
    11mo

    Welcome to the community — love that you’re jumping in and asking questions before getting started.

    If you're brand new to flipping, the best place to start is with education and relationships. Take time to learn how to analyze deals — understanding After Repair Value (ARV), renovation costs, and holding expenses will make or break your first flip. BiggerPockets podcasts and local REI meetups are great places to learn and meet others doing it successfully.

    Next, start building your team early — a real estate agent who knows investment properties, a reliable contractor, and a lender who understands short-term investor financing will all be key players. Most people start small with a cosmetic flip or even a live-in project to get comfortable with the process before scaling up.

    Run your numbers conservatively and always leave room for surprises — most investors make their profit when they buy, not when they sell.

    You’re doing the right thing by asking questions first. Once you’ve got your foundation set, the first deal will teach you more than anything else.

    0Reply
  • Elealeh Fulmaran
    Specialist · Member since 2025 · 483 posts · 270 votes
    11mo

    Start with one flip, light scope, and tight numbers. Pick a simple buy box in a nearby, stable neighborhood, line up your core four (agent, lender, GC, PM), and analyze 50 to 100 on‑market deals to learn comps and rehab ranges fast. Fund it conservatively, avoid major structural work on deal one, and require written scope, milestone payments, and photo proof. Two exits ready at closing: list if spreads hold, or refinance to a rental if days‑on‑market or comps shift. Action beats theory; your first clean base hit builds the skills and confidence for bigger profits.

    4Reply
  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 942 votes
    11mo

    @Jacob Mottice

    Hey Jacob, great to see you jumping into real estate! Flipping can be an amazing way to build both capital and experience if you start with the right foundation. I’d recommend learning how to accurately estimate rehab costs, study local ARVs (After Repair Values), and build relationships with reliable contractors and agents who understand investment properties. Focus first on smaller, cosmetic flips to limit risk while you learn. Canton’s market has solid entry-level opportunities, especially if you buy below market value and budget conservatively for rehab.

    [email protected]614-418-6081
    0Reply
  • Steven GlickBusiness Member
    Lender · Buffalo · Member since 2024 · 115 posts · 33 votes
    11mo

    The best way to start with flipping is by focusing on education first. Understanding how to analyze deals, estimate rehab costs, and calculate after-repair value (ARV) is key before jumping into your first project. Start by studying successful flips, watching breakdowns of real deals, and learning basic renovation budgeting. You can also connect with local investors or contractors to get real-world insights on what things actually cost. Once you're confident with the numbers, you'll be in a much better position to make smart decisions when that first opportunity comes along.

    [email protected]315-631-0678
    Ziffy Mortgage
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    0Reply
  • Nadeem Alamgir
    Real Estate Agent · Member since 2023 · 831 posts · 577 votes
    11mo

    1. Pick a market
    2. Focus on sourcing deals through agents, wholesalers direct to seller and etc 
    3. Build your lender network early (hard money, private lenders, local banks)
    4. Get really good at running flip numbers (doesn't have to be perfect, just conservative + buffers) 
    5. Find a contractor through referral, and get estimates quickly
    6. Close and rehab fast - speed matters
    7. Relist with your agent back on the market based on comparables and numbers you ran before purchase 
    8. Review what worked and what didn’t, get better - Repeat 

    0Reply
  • Min ZhangBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10mo

    Hi Jacob! Welcome to real estate investing! Starting out with flipping can feel overwhelming, but a good first step is to educate yourself on the basics! Look into local market trends, rehab costs, and potential profit margins. Many beginners start by partnering with experienced investors or contractors, or even trying a small, manageable property first.

    Have you thought about what type of property or neighborhood you’d like to start in? That can really help narrow your focus and make your first flip more realistic.

    [email protected]614-412-2912
    Reafco.512 Reviews
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  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10mo

    You’re starting in the right place by asking. From a tax angle, flipping is treated as active income, so once you start doing consistent deals you will want the right setup, often an S Corp, to avoid paying more tax than you need to.

    The best first steps are to learn how to analyze deals, build your team (a lender with creative financing options, a real estate agent in the area you're interested in, and maybe a CPA), and understand your numbers so your first flip is profitable after taxes.

    I just sent you a DM with a resource that might be helpful for you in this situation, so feel free to check it out.

    [email protected]941-914-7779
    INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5241 Reviews
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    TaxMD® | Tax Planning Software
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    0Reply
  • Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
    Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10mo

    I'd recommend the following steps:

    1. Educating yourself through books and podcasts what a good flip deal looks like.

    2. Network with those in your area and look to be of value to an investor that's already doing this. Ideally learn from this investor to either partner with them or learn how to do flips.

    3. Save money so you can afford the down payment, closing costs, and holding costs. 

    [email protected]
    Brick House CPAs53 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • David Buckley
    Lender · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 1 vote
    10mo

    1. Learn the numbers first.
    Flipping is 100% a numbers business. Study ARV, rehab estimates, holding costs, and how to calculate a conservative offer. BiggerPockets has great free calculators that help you avoid overpaying.

    2. Build your team before you buy anything.
    You’ll want an agent who understands investor deals, a contractor you trust, and a lender who can fund both the purchase and the rehab. (I’m a loan broker for investors, so if you ever need help understanding financing options, happy to point you in the right direction.)

    3. Start analyzing real deals.
    Even if you’re not ready to buy yet, run numbers on 10–20 deals a week so you get a feel for pricing, rehab costs, and your market trends.

    4. Consider partnering on your first flip.
    Working with someone experienced can help you avoid expensive mistakes, even if you give up some of the profit on the first deal.

    5. Stay conservative.
    Flips look easy on Instagram, but margins can disappear fast. Buy lower than you think and add more buffers than you think.

    0Reply
  • Chris Watson
    Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    8mo

    Educate yourself, network and ask questions. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

    0Reply
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