What is Property Flipping? Investment Strategy

What is flipping?

Flipping is a property investment strategy whereby an investor signs a contract to buy a property and then on-sells the interest to a third party, at a profit, before or just after settling the initial deal. The aim is to purchase properties that are priced under market value and quickly resell it at a higher price to time-poor, cashed-up investors.

The entire process should happen within a few weeks or a few months. Often the initial buyer will make a few minor cosmetic enhancements before on-selling. “Flips are more like property trading than property investing,” explains buyer’s agent Patrick Bright. “Flips sound great on paper, but actually doing one is very risky.”

Types of flipping

Contract flip

This is when an investor purchases a property at below market value and then sells it quickly to a second investor at a profit, before or around the initial contract settlement. In theory, to create a win-win situation for all parties involved, the property should be resold at a higher price that is still under market value.

This strategy relies heavily on the original investor having a qualified database of ready-to-buy investors, who are happy to pay the higher price for the property in order to be handed good deals without having to research and run around themselves.

While there are investors who make decent profits contract flipping, the strategy is very high-risk – and many believe that finding a severely underpriced property in the current market is unlikely.

Dick Crampton, real estate agent with Shead First National in Chatswood, Sydney, says that the opportunities to turn over a property in a short period of time without renovations are few and far between. “It can be done, but in my experience [in Sydney], if you’re talking about selling again at a profit after a short period of time … it doesn’t happen very often,” Crampton says. “From an agent’s perspective, we look after the vendors – so our duty is to get the best possible price for the property.”

Because of this, contract flippers often buy into off-the-plan developments, aiming to on-sell their interest in the property before construction is complete. “If it takes 12 months for the development to be completed, you could make $100,000 or more in one year,” says William Bronchick, real estate lawyer and author of Flipping Properties: Generate Instant Cash Profits in Real Estate. “Of course, the opposite is also true – you could end up losing money if the local economy tanks, and you end up with a worthless property that you can’t sell for more than you paid. Use this approach very carefully.”

Heather Seitz from www.fixingandflipping.com agrees, warning investors who see flipping as an opportunity to make a quick buck to be cautious. “Real estate is simple, but not easy, so if you’re looking for a get rich quick scheme, you’re probably going to get yourself into trouble with flipping,” she says.

Fix and flip

This is the most common flipping strategy in Australia; it involves an investor who obtains the property at below market value, and generally it’s a property in need of major repair. The investor makes the necessary renovations and refurbishments, and then sells the property at or nearer to the market value, hoping that the sale price will be higher than the purchase price, plus costs of repair and financing.

This approach works particularly well in more established, well-located areas that are experiencing capital growth. It’s important to remember that simply renovating a property doesn’t guarantee that you’ll make a profit; renovators need to be careful not to overcapitalise and spend on refurbishments that are inappropriate or add little value to the property. For this reason, it’s critical to research the market thoroughly to be sure that your property will achieve a profitable sale price once renovations and purchasing costs are factored in.

In order for this strategy to work, Heather Seitz says you need to be prepared to get your hands dirty. “Make a consistent effort to really look for houses that are overgrown and in need of paint … these are going to be your best bet for flipping real estate.”

Also, being organised is crucial, Seitz says, and careful planning throughout the project will save you time and money. “Keep track of all of your receipts and costs,” Seitz advises, “so that you’re always on track with your budget – as every dollar you spend over-budget is a dollar less profit.”

Seitz explains that her ‘personal best’ for renovating and flipping a property was a $10,000 profit, achieved in just 53 days from date of purchase to date of sale. “But, make no mistake, those types of deals are few and far between, so be forewarned,” Seitz says. “Flipping real estate takes work, but the rewards can be huge.”

This article has been republished with permission from Your Investment Property magazine. Try our Loan Repayment Calculator and find the best repayment strategy for you.