Diary of The Bullet Hole House Flip

Diary of The Bullet Hole House Flip

Investor · Versailles, KY · Member since 2013 · 82 posts · 167 votes

Hello! Thought I would take some time and start a deal diary on my Third Flip. Flip #1 was a success at 19k profit, flip #2 broke even (depressed about that but I'll get around to writing about it someday), and here we are at flip #3. I thought it would be fun to keep a deal diary to see the roller coaster that these projects can be and how plans can change. We are in escrow and should close this week or early next week (just waiting on verification of clear title). My other two flips were in Arizona. This one is in my hometown of Santa Barbara, CA. A weird and insanely priced market. For fun go on any realty website and look at the average cost of a 4/2 house. Regardless of price this is going to be a VERY basic STARTER home. Number breakdown:

Purchase price of $700,000 (Yes, for an unlivable house, insane).

$25,000 paid to the investor who found this deal and passed it on to me because he is too busy with bigger development projects.

Our closing costs should be a few grand, I will post as soon as we actually close. Lets ballpark and say it will be 2k.

Money will be borrowed at 9% from private lender (family member)

Sales cost on back end will be 5% to realtors. 

Hoping to sell the property for $899,000.

My dream timeline will be 6 weeks to get it on the market.

This will essentially be a lipstick rehab, which isn't my favorite thing. My investor (family member) is very anxious to get in and out of this property quickly and wants me to do the absolute minimal possible and throw it back on the market. I think we could get a higher price if I re-arranged the master bathroom, which would require knocking out a wall that connects to an oversized laundry, closing in a passage to the kitchen, and moving some plumbing around. I have experience with all of this, BUT I am respecting the request of my investor. Because I am borrowing from family that adds an extra level of complication and I need to respect that, and defer a little bit more to their expectations/requests than if I was financing on my own money (which is my goal, maybe after this project, obviously in a cheaper area). 

Despite being essentially 900k ARV, this is a STARTER home and I need to remember that. I plan on doing very basic finishes (either cheap bamboo floors that are on sale for .98/square foot or maybe even luxury vinyl at .75/square foot). I'm not even doing tile showers.

I will put in new cabinets (lillyann cabinets), appliances, and granite or marble counters.

A new roof will be going on.

New interior doors (bought online, pre-hung at $39/door, basic 6 panel)

New windows - cheapest bid so far for labor and materials is $6200 (including a large patio door, that is the most expensive) we are doing them to code, so that adds a cost.

Popcorn ceiling removal, a lot of drywall patches

New light fixtures, outlets, switches, updating some outlets to GFCI

new baseboards (.70/linear foot at home depot)

new plumbing fixtures

plumb for dishwasher

paint interior and exterior

tile on floor in bathrooms 

yard cleanup

Basic landscaping

Despite the "starter home" I will have the property fully staged. Santa Barbara is funny like that and I think it will really help get it sold quickly. Another change from my other flips is that I am actually working full time for this one. Luckily my husband has the morning off, so I am recruiting him to check the job in the AM and I am even having him meet some of the subs for bids. I have comprehensive lists I have typed out for him meeting each trade to get an accurate bid. I'll post a picture of that too. This being my third flip I am feeling pretty good going into it, and feel that my organization/planning skills are vastly improved from the early days. 

Now to the fun part, before pictures!

Yes, that is a bullet hole in the door

and that is the bullet in the window frame!

Should I keep the shower handles? Are they vintage or ultra modern?

A New Bathroom trend for sure.

So fresh and clean!

This is the master bathroom

I feel like the barefoot contessa in this gorgeous kitchen! lol ;)

Stove area

Backyard

Problem area in backyard

The car should be removed by the family by close of escrow (house is a probate sale thats been vacant for more than a year I guess).

I will post my cheklists later. So hopefully escrow closes soon and we'll see how this goes!

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Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y

It is nuts to me what you guys on the coasts have to deal with. I can't imagine even paying 75k for that. BUT you guys also have the option to make some SERIOUS $$$ on deals out there as well. The more you invest the higher return a few % can make you. 

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  • Investor · Versailles, KY · Member since 2013 · 82 posts · 167 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Katie Rogers:

    Hello Matt,

    You wrote "When the homes are in this price range your new buyers income is generally over 200k vs city data median. These are 99% owner occupied hoods, with virtually zero vacancies." The neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are not owner-occupied.  75% of the downtown residents rent.  Outside downtown, the rental rate is lower but does not go much below 50%.  It is true that there is near zero vacancy. Anybody who buys this house at the price Alex is hoping for will not likely be living in the house because anybody who makes $200K will probably have higher standards for the rehab that what she is planning to do.  The buyer will most likely be an out-of-area investor who puts the property on the rental market at a loss and hopes any gain will come through appreciation.

     Many of the houses in this neighborhood are owner occupied. based on my previous houses I know I can do this property nicely, but cheaply. I am still doing new kitchen cabinets/marble or granite, nice new windows, and will stage the property. I am not doing new tile showers, expanding the master bathroom or kitchen as I would going for the 1.1. i am basing my finishes around other closed comps in the neighborhood. The 1.1 house had laminate counters throughout. So I am actually going slightly nicer than that. I just know over doing this house would be a mistake. It is a 4/2 in a great school district so we will see.

  • Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2015 · 20 posts · 3 votes
    11y

    @Alex Applebee Looks like a good opportunity from what I know in SB. We've looked (not too hard) for a good flip prospect in SB under $800k for months, haven't found anything nearly this...promising. :)

    Good luck! I'll definitely be watching to see how it goes.

  • Sherman Oaks, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    11y

    @? 

    @Katie Rogers I hear ya. I was speaking generally when you get into the 100% sfr hoods in these coastal areas. Not the entire city of SB. These are not really investor buy and hold plays for rentals. These are home owner hoods normally. The buyers are not thinking about what it rents for so much. Goleta might be the exception.

  • Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 107 posts · 47 votes
    11y

    @Alex Applebee Best of luck on this project. Please keep us posted.

  • Jerry W.Pro Member
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    Investor · Thermopolis, WY · Member since 2012 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    11y

    Wow, nice post.  Please keep this updated on this.

  • Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2015 · 20 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    @Alex Applebee How did things go? Would love to know if you were able to stick with your 6 week timeline and what surprises you encountered. We're looking to do something similar in the area.

  • Real Estate Investor · Plumas county, CA · Member since 2011 · 150 posts · 88 votes
    10y

    My properties are also in California...but far far removed from the Santa Barbara area and expense. I have found that by scouring Craigslist I have been able to make my homes look far better than the competition, for a similar price. Look at inventive ways to make you home look better , and as others have said, aim for the higher market price.

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