Flippers, do you take winter off?

Question

For those of you in states with harsh winters, are you still actively looking for homes to flip and do you have rehab projects running?

Rob Gillespie · Answer

Jonathan,
HECK NO! The only real slow time is around Christmas. Never shut down your machine, that is just an excuse for the lazy. :mrgreen:

Aaron Mazzrillo · Answer

I am also in SoCal, but I have found sellers less responsive in the Dec/Jan period and therefore I usually travel during that time. I also don't care much for days with 4 hours of sunshine so it is another reason why I like to get out of the area!

Justin S. · Answer

No, even with the brutal winters in AZ, I still buy houses.  I do like to focus on the lower end homes with the most amount of buyers though.

Andy Chu · Answer

I tend to stop buying around August through October. The reason being is that comps tend to be highest its going to be for the year, therefore people tend to overpay. Starting November I start hitting the market hard because, there just arent that many buyers.

James Hamling · Answer

I am in Minnesota, dosn't get much worse for winter then here, and no, hell no, why would the difference in how the rain falls matter to if I will flip or not?????? 
 
Rain, snow, hail, locusts, I don't care what falls from the sky or how hot or cold it gets, I invest when I find a deal period.

And I have never noticed much difference in the sell side either, actually my best sells have come in January, which always surprises me a bit.

Tyson S. · Answer

For my area I've been told (no experience with it yet) that it's difficult to sell between Thanksgiving and New Years.  After New Years, even though it's cold and snowy, people do start looking and the people that are looking to buy a house are serious about it.  No one wants to window shop in -10 degree weather.

Ryan Pyle · Answer

I buy most of my inventory in Oct, Nov and Dec. Like J Scott said, there just doesn't seem to be much competition then. On the sell side of things I never really expect to sell much in the winter. However, every year for the last 8 years I've had a sale close in January. Go figure.

Mark Updegraff · Answer

Here in snowy rochester NY we fear not.  Every deal is different.  Schedule your work with the weather.  Take advantage of what you get & deal with the weather you must.

When you can't be outside, there is plenty of work to be done inside...

As stated, winters are the best time to acquire, so don't pass it!  Something can be done in the winter, and it is even more profitable than the spring.

Will Barnard · Answer

I too am not your target audience as I am in So CAL and it could be said we don't even have winters, however, in the last 4 winters, we actually had snow stick to the ground at the 1750 foot eleveation.
That all said, I take no seasons off, but am a tad cautious and selective knowing my buyers pool is usually less at the Holiday times.

Tara G. · Answer

We love to work rehabs in the dead of winter and get them ready for spring! We don't have harsh winters though. Agree with J. Scott, this summer investors have been swarming out of the woodwork!

Flippers, do you take winter off?

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