When I was a kid, I used to joke with my P.E. Teacher mother that "Those who can't do...teach. And those who can't teach...teach P.E." Okay, that's an old saying. But it does ring with some truth for some people I know. I'm part of the Agent Leadership Council for Keller Williams and I was teaching a class the other day in my Market Center. Afterwards, I had a small group of Realtors gather around and we were talking about different scripts and ideas. They kept saying things like, "that's a great idea" or "I could learn a lot hanging around you". I was doing so good I wanted to take notes...on myself. But afterwards, I thought "I'd be far more successful if I actually did all the things I teach". HA! But true.
I've personally bought and sold Real Estate and made quite a bit on flipping. I've also done free seminars on the topic in the past. About a week ago, a friend of mine asked me when was I going to do another Investor Flip Workshop like I had done before. I looked at him and replied, "as soon as flipping comes back around".
In the not so long ago past, investors and all-cash buyers drove the home sales and buoyed the flat Real Estate market. Investor flips were all the rage and it seemed like I couldn't find properties fast enough for my buy-&-hold clientele and flipping partners. I worked closely with 2 large buy-&-hold investors, Invitation Homes and Waypoint Homes, who both gobbled up a huge portion of the local market buying homes for cash at considerable discounts. I also partnered with numerous flips in the local area. But those purchases have ceased. It just doesn't make sense in today's market unless we can find a very undervalued property in order to make the necessary return on the investment. And most of my clients and partners are considering whether to sell now before interest rates go up or hold the properties longer and wait for the cycle to come back around again in the future.
Currently, the big acceleration of home prices has slowed considerably. According to Realty Trac, all-cash offers made up under 31% of home sales in 2014, the lowest number in 4 years. Now the cash buyers have nearly all been priced out of the market as values rise beyond what is an acceptable price for their investment model.
So then...why did I see 2 different infomercials for seminars about flipping?
Well, allow me to restate the comment I made previously. "Those who can't do...teach". Now don't get me wrong, these former flippers turned seminar instructors most likely have a proven track record. But the key word is "former". If they're not flipping now, the question to ask is, "why not?" The answer is because the market is not the best to flip or buy-&-hold because we are in an "up" market. Prices are still escalating but at a much smaller percentage and if interest rates go up like the fed has hinted, then it will be awhile before realizing any return on investment as prices stabilize and/or decline. So, as an expert flipper, you can wait till the market cycle turns around again or you can charge others to learn the steps you used to conduct your business.
So when you're sitting around watching TV this weekend and you see an infomercial offering you huge profits in flipping houses, turn the channel and remember, "those who can't do...teach"
Comments(4)