St Louis, City of Saint Louis · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 2 votes
🏡 Looking for Guidance in Real Estate Investing! 🔑
Hey everyone! I’m 19 and looking to get into real estate investing, specifically fix-and-flips. I’m eager to learn how to find properties, estimate renovation costs, understand the numbers, and eventually turn a profit by buying, fixing, and selling homes.
I’m looking for experienced investors, mentors, or anyone willing to share advice and help me learn the business from the ground up. I’m serious about learning and building something for my future!
If you have experience with fix-and-flips, know of any good resources, or are willing to offer guidance, please comment or message me. I’d truly appreciate any advice! 🙏🏽🏠
if you can swing the cost, tommy harr puts on likely the best flipping workshop here in columbus a couple times a year. worth going to it if you want to see how its done at a high level.
Starting at 19 is a real head start, Imani. The three things you listed are the whole business, and the order matters: numbers first, then rehab costs, then finding properties.
Learn ARV first. Pick a St. Louis neighborhood and study what fixed-up houses actually sell for, not what people ask. Then learn rehab by walking houses with a contractor and writing down what each room costs. Your buy price is just what is left over: ARV minus rehab minus your margin. If the leftover number is not low, there is no deal, no matter how motivated the seller is.
I buy to hold, not flip — BRRRR single-family in Memphis under $100K against ARV $180K-$265K — but the front-end math is the same. Run it on paper every day. Deal flow is the bottleneck, and reps are how you beat it.
Starting at 19 puts you ahead, because you have time to learn the process before you need a deal to work. For fix-and-flips, I would learn the numbers in this order: a conservative resale value based on recently closed comparable sales, minus rehab, carrying costs, and selling costs. That leaves your maximum purchase price, and it keeps you from falling in love with a property first. For renovation costs, walk properties with a contractor when you can, take photos and notes room by room, and build a simple checklist for kitchens, baths, roofs, and systems so your estimates get more consistent over time. You do not need to buy your first deal alone; a knowledgeable local agent or an experienced investor who will review your numbers can help you spot what you missed. Be patient, and practice underwriting several deals before you make an offer.
if you can swing the cost, tommy harr puts on likely the best flipping workshop here in columbus a couple times a year. worth going to it if you want to see how its done at a high level.
Hey @Imani Johnson ! It's great to see you getting started at 19! My biggest advice would be to spend time learning how to analyze deals before putting money into your first flip. Get comfortable estimating rehab costs, comparing recently sold properties to determine ARV, and accounting for holding costs, closing costs, and selling expenses. A deal can look profitable at first but get tight quickly when unexpected repairs come up.
I’d also try to connect with local investors and contractors, and if possible, walk through a few renovation projects to see what the process actually looks like. You don’t have to rush into your first deal. Building that knowledge and network now can save you a lot of money down the road.
I’m a real estate agent based in Memphis, TN, and I work with investors building real estate portfolios. If you’re open to learning about the Memphis market and connecting with someone local, I’d be happy to help point you in the right direction. Best of luck building your future in real estate!
🏡 Looking for Guidance in Real Estate Investing! 🔑
Hey everyone! I’m 19 and looking to get into real estate investing, specifically fix-and-flips. I’m eager to learn how to find properties, estimate renovation costs, understand the numbers, and eventually turn a profit by buying, fixing, and selling homes.
I’m looking for experienced investors, mentors, or anyone willing to share advice and help me learn the business from the ground up. I’m serious about learning and building something for my future!
If you have experience with fix-and-flips, know of any good resources, or are willing to offer guidance, please comment or message me. I’d truly appreciate any advice! 🙏🏽🏠
Hey Imani! Great that you’re starting early! My advice is to learn how to analyze deals and estimate rehab costs before jumping into your first flip. Don’t limit yourself to St. Louis either. Other Midwest markets can offer affordable properties and room to add value. I work closely in Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton and would be happy to share how we evaluate deals and what to look for when getting started.