House flipping shows have become incredibly popular in recent years. From HGTV to Netflix, there are numerous options for shows that give you an inside look at the world of real estate investing and house flipping.
While these shows primarily aim to entertain, many can also teach you valuable things about flipping houses and being a real estate investor. Whether you’re an aspiring investor looking to break into the business or a seasoned pro seeking a new perspective, these shows offer inspiration and education.
In this article, we’ve highlighted five of the best house flipping TV shows for future investors and highlighted key lessons you can gain from each one. Read on to discover which shows are worth tuning into on your journey to flipping success.
1. Fixer Upper
One of HGTV’s biggest hits, Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines as they renovate rundown homes in the Waco, Texas, area. This show is beloved for the way Chip and Joanna transform drab, dilapidated properties into beautiful dream homes for clients.
Beyond just being entertaining, Fixer Upper teaches some great lessons for aspiring house flippers:
- The power of strategic renovations – Chip and Joanna don’t just make homes look nice; they focus their time and money on renovations that will maximize a home’s value. This helps them turn big profits on flips.
- Importance of curb appeal – Curb appeal is huge in attracting buyers and driving up home value. Joanna always enhances exterior charm to catch buyer’s eyes.
- Personalizing flips – Adding custom, personal touches tailored to the eventual homeowner helps attract emotionally invested buyers who will pay top dollar.
- Value of quality contractors – Chip relies on trustworthy, skilled contractors like painters, plumbers, etc. Having a competent team is key to efficient, profitable flips.
Watching Chip and Joanna strategically renovate and sell homes teaches you to focus on value-boosting renovations and thoughtful personal touches to maximize profits.
READ ALSO: 10 Negotiation Tips for Real Estate Purchase Contracts
2. Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa
As his hit show Flip or Flop wound down, Tarek El Moussa launched a solo project with Flipping 101 on HGTV. The premise follows Tarek mentoring real estate rookies through their first flips from start to finish.
For new investors, Flipping 101 is loaded with educational insights like:
- Step-by-step flipping process – Follow newbies as they learn key steps from finding a property to securing financing, renovating, and selling for profit.
- Budgeting for flips – Tarek stresses the importance of accurate rehab budgeting and how investors get into trouble when they don’t budget properly.
- Common mistakes – Since he’s guiding new flippers, Tarek highlights missteps like over improving homes to help viewers avoid them.
- Building your team – Flipping requires a network of agents, lenders, contractors, etc. Tarek shows how to put together your real estate investment team.
Flipping 101 takes you through a flip with first-time investors, letting you learn crucial strategies and avoid pitfalls.
3. Holmes on Homes
Mike Holmes has been educating audiences on home construction for over 20 years through his various shows like Holmes on Homes and Holmes Family Rescue. Though not strictly about flipping, Mike imparts invaluable lessons for property investors focused on renovations and rehabs.
Key lessons from Holmes on Homes include:
- Identifying shoddy contractor work – Mike exposes dangerous, sloppy work that can become money pits for flippers, investors, and homeowners alike.
- Best practices for renovations – He demonstrates the right processes and materials to use for electrical, plumbing, and structural issues to avoid problems.
- Inspecting properties thoroughly – Mike shows how to spot red flags like mold and foundation damage before buying an investment property.
- ROI on repairs – Doing renovations right is crucial for returns. Mike helps determine when a property has too many expensive issues to provide a profitable flip.
For investors who want to better evaluate renovation needs and avoid dangerous contractor mistakes, Holmes provides an amazing education on property repairs and remodels.
4. Good Bones
Mother-daughter duo Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine buy dilapidated properties in their Indianapolis neighborhood to renovate and resell on HGTV’s Good Bones. This show exemplifies strategic flipping in action.
Key lessons from Good Bones include:
- Maximizing ROI on flips – Mina and Karen focus on renovations that will get maximum return, like kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal.
- IMPORTANCE OF RUNNING THE NUMBERS – Mina stresses constantly evaluating budgets, repair costs, and projected profits to avoid overspending.
- Working on small margins – Many flips only bring $20K-50K profits. Mina and Karen show how small margins can build long-term success.
- Impacts of market fluctuations – Mina adjusts strategy as the market shifts, showing how to adapt to ups and downs.
- Leveraging contractor relationships – Having go-to contractors they know and trust allows them to efficiently rehab properties.
For flippers operating on smaller profit margins, Good Bones provides an excellent case study in strategic flipping.
5. Flip That House
Flip That House follows seasoned real estate investors as they buy rundown properties, remodel them, and attempt to sell them for big profits. The show aired in the mid-2000s at the height of the flipping craze.
Key lessons from Flip That House include:
- Finding deals – Investors demonstrate ways to find discounted properties with upside potential. This allows them to get great deals they can fix and flip.
- Creative financing – You see investors leverage strategies like wrapping mortgages and private lending to fund great flips.
- Maximizing property value – Investors focus on renovations and repairs that will drastically boost a property’s value and appeal to buyers.
- Flipping challenges – Not all flips go smoothly. Investors deal with issues ranging from bad contractors to slow sales, so showing perseverance is key.
- Building a brand – Successful flippers use their expertise to build a reputation and brand that help market their flips.
Flip That House is an invaluable look at flipping strategies from top-level investors sharing hard-won lessons from experience.
READ ALSO: A Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investment Groups and Crowdfunding
Key Takeaways from House Flipping TV Shows
While production drama and editing make flipping look fast and easy on TV, these shows impart crucial lessons for aspiring real estate investors:
- Focus on value-adding renovations – Kitchens, bathrooms, and other renovations that boost value should take priority in flip budgets.
- Thoroughly evaluate properties – Identify all issues and accurately estimate repair costs and projected profits to minimize risk.
- Assemble the right team – Reliable real estate agents, lenders, contractors, and other professionals are vital to flipping success.
- Adapt to changing markets – Be prepared to adjust strategy as real estate market conditions fluctuate over time.
- Manage budgets and run the numbers – Conservatively project costs and profits and constantly evaluate numbers to avoid overspending.
No TV show should serve as your sole education. But combined with thorough research and first-hand experience, these entertaining shows can help prepare you for a successful career flipping real estate.
To Recap
House flipping shows can spark the imagination of aspiring real estate investors and provide an accessible look into this exciting profession. While exaggerating at times, many shows like Fixer Upper demonstrate valuable house flipping lessons that can guide you on your journey.
That said, shows alone will not prepare you to successfully buy, renovate, and sell investment properties. Do your homework beyond the TV screen. Take real estate investing courses, research your market extensively, build connections locally, and consider learning hands-on from experienced flippers in your area when possible.
With a combination of education from shows, classes, books, and professionals, plus realistic expectations, you can position yourself to profit from flipping just like those entertainers you see on HGTV. It may take hard work and patience, but the rewards of breathing new life into old homes and building real estate wealth for yourself make it all worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions About House Flipping Shows
Are house flipping shows realistic?
House flipping shows often simplify or dramatize the process for entertainment value. Most flips seem much faster and easier than they typically are in real life. However, many still offer useful lessons and reasonable insights into the world of real estate investing.
Do house flippers on TV actually make money?
Yes, most flippers featured on TV shows are experienced investors with proven success in flipping properties. Many were successful before getting a show and continued flipping after the cameras stopped rolling. Incomes vary based on the market, property types, and other factors.
What are the most profitable types of flips?
Fix-and-flips that add upgrades like new kitchens and bathrooms tend to bring the highest returns. Other potentially profitable flips include wholesaling, converting multifamily properties, and developing land into residential lots.
How much does it cost to flip a house?
Costs vary drastically by market and property condition, but investors can expect to spend an average of $60,000-$100,000 on purchase price, repairs, holding costs, and related expenses before selling for an intended profit.
Can you really flip a house in 30 days, like on TV?
It’s highly unlikely you can buy, renovate, and sell a property in just 30 days. Even 60-90 days would be an aggressive timeline. Most real-world flips take 4-6 months between acquiring, repairing, listing, and closing on a sale.
What skills do you need to be a successful house flipper?
Essential skills include real estate knowledge, budgeting/number crunching, project management, building relationships, and more. Experience in construction or renovations can also be very helpful when flipping properties.
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