Flip and Grow Rich | Can It Really Happen?

I recently read an article from NPR that was written back in May. They discussed flipping and how it's back. I didn't actually know that it had gone away, but none the less, the article goes on to talk about a house in LA that was purchased for $390,000 and then sold for $720,000. The article didn't discuss any improvements that might have been made to the home, something that usually comes with the territory. I know that the easy flip is rare, usually you have to deal with all sorts of issues. Demo, remodel, nasty stuff left behind. Heck, some of the nasty stuff alone can cost a pretty penny when an outside firm is contracted to deal with the cleanup. I once met a flipper who had to deal with rotting food left behind by a family that wanted to make the house uninhabitable for the next tenant. Why do people do such things? Read the NPR Article. What are your flip horror stories?

Can investors successfully flip real estate in these trying times? Has the economy turned around? The answers may not be as simple as you think. In the second half of the year, markets have been shifting. Most experts agree, that with low rates, and inventory going quickly, that there's definitely a lot of energy picking up in the real estate market. I recently spoke to a local realtor in the Silicon Valley area, and he told me that more and more investors are paying cash for properties, and paying well above asking prices. This might be a good indicator that those who bought awhile ago, are now flipping their purchases to the highest bidder. What these current purchasers intend to do, I do not know. Many are also saying that this is just another bubble and will burst soon. So why tie up so much capital into real estate thats in an upswing? Do you agree? What are your thoughts on the current market, and the direction its heading toward?