All Forum Posts by: Deborah Wodell

Hey Jay, welcome back! Welcome back, Jay! Sounds like a solid plan easing into things with light to moderate rehabs. A few markets worth checking out for solid fix & flip spreads:

• Fayetteville, AR – Strong growth, affordable entry, and steady demand.

• Jacksonville, FL – Great price points, fast-growing, lots of flip potential.

• Philly, PA – Lower entry prices, high activity, and strong ROI opportunities.

Looks amazing! Congratulations on your 1st flip! Hoping for your continued success! 

Well said, Joe. Rates are important, but reliability and communication go a long way—especially when deals don’t go as planned. A solid funding relationship can make all the difference. Appreciate you sharing this!

totaling 68k for fees seems a bit high for a loan of 215k. Although we'd need more details to determine. You can try shopping around with different lenders to determine if that is the usual rates and terms going around.  

Brokers and consultants usually build their lender network over time through a mix of industry events, referrals, online platforms, and by working directly with lenders on past deals. Many also join investor groups, attend conferences, or subscribe to lending databases. The key is vetting those lenders and understanding what types of deals they prefer (e.g., fix & flips, buy & hold, new construction, etc.).

If you're just getting started, connecting with an experienced broker who already has those relationships can save you a ton of time and help you find better terms tailored to your deal.

As a lender, we typically see more investors choosing the 30-year fixed because of the lower monthly payment and stronger cash flow—it just gives you more room to breathe, especially if you’re planning to build a portfolio. While the 15-year fixed builds equity faster and has lower overall interest paid, it can tie up too much of your monthly budget, which limits flexibility. Paying extra on a 30-year is a smart hybrid approach—it gives you the option to accelerate payoff without the pressure. Ultimately, it depends on your long-term goals and how important monthly cash flow is to your strategy.

Hey John — you're in a solid position, but I'd be cautious about pulling equity based on an inflated appraisal. If the true market value is closer to $400K–$425K, refinancing at $600K could put you upside down later and kill your cash flow. A better option might be to refi or get a HELOC based on a conservative value, so the property still cash flows or at least breaks even. You could then use some of that equity for another deal with better returns. Just be sure not to overleverage — the long game matters most.

Can help you out on this! There are lots of lender who can lend in that State. 

Hi Kelly! I can help you. Let's discuss more on it! 

Good question—and props to you for thinking through your numbers early on!

As both an investor and someone who works with flippers on funding, I’d say it’s smart to not rely solely on a target % of ARV like 70% or 85%. That benchmark can be a good starting point, but every deal is different—and local comps, rehab scope, holding costs, and even your timeline can shift those numbers quickly.

Instead, focus on whether the deal actually works when you run the full numbers:

• Purchase price
• Rehab cost (plus a buffer for overruns)
• Holding & financing costs
• After-repair value based on real sold comps—not just active listings
• Your desired profit margin

Sometimes a deal at 80-85% ARV works if the rehab is light and your resale is solid. Other times, even 70% isn't low enough if the area is soft or you're holding longer than expected.

The key: don’t let a percentage be your only filter—make sure the full math makes sense for that property. Happy to chat if you ever want to run numbers together.