My First Flip !!

My First Flip !!

Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes

I'm starting this thread because I am going to keep a running update on my first flip.

Today I have got the OK for all the funding I will need for my 1st home purchase / flip !! :cool:

I'm talking with a few wholesalers looking for something under $80k that needs minor work - nothing structural or foundation.

I'm meeting with a mortgage broker this week to get pre-qualified for the loan.

Now all I need is HOUSE to come my way...but I do want to have all my ducks in a row.

Question: A friend of mine told me you can not purchase homes from a wholesaler with a conventional mortgage loan. Is this true? I don't see why you couldn't.

Keeping my fingers crossed!! I'll keep you guys updated

Danny

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Real Estate Investor · Alpharetta, GA · Member since 2010 · 415 posts · 484 votes
15y

As with any investment, you need to be very careful here. I do not like that you're walking properties without having a contract of some sort in place. How do you even know that they have a lock on the property?

I have a pretty good idea who you're using (NetWorth Realty, correct?). I am not in any way saying that they are shady, because I know nothing about them as a company. The president of the company in Houston is a licensed, active broker, and he has a stable of agents working under him. So that's a plus; at least you're dealing with someone other than your typical bird-dog.

However, here's a look at one of the "deals" they currently offer, a house located at 3816 Brandt Street. They say the ARV is $275,000 and that the cost to remodel is $45,000. With their asking price of $165,000, that leaves a profit "potential" of $65,000, according to them. We all know that's baloney, though, since there are usually other considerable costs in selling a house.

Since I am not in Houston, I can't say what the house is really worth fixed up, but I'll wager it's not $275,000. While I would not stake my life or reputation on a Zillow.com value, this site says the house is worth $224,000 -- and Zillow is usually high, not low by 20%. So that's another number that I would question.

Lastly, they are offering this house as a deal at $165,000, when it was on MLS recently for $175,000, then dropped to $149,900 with the listing removed. So, no takers at $149,900 as a listed property, but a deal at $165,000?

It's just not adding up for me.

I am not suggesting that people don't make money buying properties from wholesalers. I am sure many of them do. But, in my experience, I have never, ever seen a wholesaler give real world numbers with respect to the true ARV or repair cost, and I've caught many of them trying to sell properties that they don't even control. It always made me laugh to see a wholesaler offer me a "deal" that was $20,000 higher than the property was currently listed on MLS.

That just goes to show that some wholesalers -- not necessarily NWR, of course -- rely on lack of buyer knowledge to make their business work.

As with any investment, caveat emptor.

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  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    15y

    @ Geoffrey - Thanks! I made it with the intention of knowing it would help others out.

    @ Kevin - Yes, I had contractors ready to go. I got my deal funded through ISB Capital, a Hard money lender here in Houston.

    Updates: I've reduced to $125,000 with the intentions of a fire sale. The note is called in soon, so I need to sell fast. I've learned a lot on this 1st deal. I have experience in multi-family rehab, but I must say things were different in this. Not so much on the rehab side, but the strategy side. There are things I have learned throughout the process that I will be posting up here soon. I am going to be going over the things I did good, and the things I could have done better - then I will share with BP.

    Heres to a quick sale!

    Danny

  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    15y

    103 days on market and we are finished. Glad this one is over with.. I was beginning to think it would never end.

    The loan was called in Aug 24th, so we had to re-fi out of the hard money. Ended up leasing the house to a nice family who is going to purchase. I've already got them lined up with financing, just awaiting under-writing. We wrote the lease that it would be null & void upon their funding and then we should have it sold.

    From my numbers, we walked away with no profit on this (no loss either). It looks like we broke almost dead even.

    We're cash flowing on the rental income, and hopefully in a month or two it will be closed and done.

    Danny

  • Real Estate Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 33 posts · 3 votes
    15y

    Danny,
    Noticed you started listing property in my rental market. Good luck on the listings and rentals.

    -PB

  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    15y

    Thanks Xavier-

    Turned out quite well for me. We have a 12 month lease with an option to purchase. My apprisal came in at $137,000 - I was very happy with that.

    We'll see how it pans out. I'm happy with the tenants right now.

    Danny

  • Real Estate Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2013 · 7 posts · 0 votes
    13y

    How did this deal end? Give an update.

  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    13y

    Ended up listing on the market at $135,000 and got an offer the first day at $125k. I didn't accept, and I asked them to make another offer.. didn't even counter. Bad idea, because it was the only offer I got the first time on market. Did a 30 yr refinance and ended up leasing out at $1350 / month and cashflowing $400 per month.

    Fast forward to today, have released at $1400 / month, house is in good shape. Market is heating up and house will be listed & sold next year in the $130-135 range.

    Don't have the time any more to flip houses so I might end up keeping it as a rental property

  • Hudson, WI · Member since 2012 · 189 posts · 30 votes
    13y

    thanks for still being around and updating! being I am just getting into this, its great to see the good and bad and real world examples! Glad to see this is cash flowing for you as well! What changed that you no longer have time to flip?

  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    13y

    I work in real estate development / new home construction now. Way more profitable ( and time consuming! )

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 67 posts · 0 votes
    13y

    Hi Danny, Great post and thanks for sharing! How did you like working with Networth Realty? Would you recommend them/work with them again in the future?

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 11 posts · 1 vote
    12y

    Danny, great thread. I like how you started the thread for your first fix and flip; and, you gradually kept us intrigued with the updates. I have learned a few things things from you so you did not necessarily come out with nothing. I am sure you have helped several individuals overcome some of their own hurdles. I enjoyed tuning in. Good luck in all your endeavors!!

  • Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2014 · 48 posts · 12 votes
    12y

    @Danny Day Hi Danny, don't know if you are still around, but I just read and enjoyed your entire saga here and intend to follow in your footsteps soon. I am wondering how you got into property development so quickly after your flip? That seems like it would have an even bigger learning curve. Just curious in case you are willing to share. Thanks!

  • Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2014 · 32 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    whats ARV ?

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    whats ARV ?

    After Repair Value ...

  • Developer · Houston, TX · Member since 2008 · 488 posts · 121 votes
    12y

    Wow! Can't believe this thread is still alive. For anyone starting out I will give you the details of this deal

    $65,000 purchase price

    $35,000 repairs

    ARV when I bought property: $125,000

    ARV now: $155,000

    I held this property for roughly 2 years and have been renting out. It was cash flowing great and the market heated up. We listed and it was sold first day on market.. at full asking price. Had to replace an AC & heater during the time it was rented so it bumped the repair cost up a little.

    To anyone starting out here is the biggest lessons you can take from this deal

    1) Source your own deals

    2) Never hire a general contractor (would have saved $8-10k)

    3) Post the numbers here, and run them over and over again

    Good luck to all

    D

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