Hard Money Facts

But before assuming that a softening in rates means smoother sailing ahead, it’s worth stepping back to unpack what this trend really means and where private lending continues to offer long-standing advantages.

At Residential Capital Partners, we help residential fix-and-flip and rental investors move quickly on opportunities that make sense. This renewed tax incentive adds another lever to boost returns, improve cash flow, and reinvest faster. Here’s what you need to know.

Here are some of the seasonal shifts to keep in mind as you move through the final quarter of the year:

This recent cut has sparked a lot of conversation in the real estate world, and for good reason. Lower rates have ripple effects across the market, from mortgage affordability to investor financing. But what does this really mean for you as a fix-and-flip or rental property investor? And where does private lending fit into the picture? Let’s break it down.

This month, Fitch Ratings downgraded the United States’ long term ratings from AAA to AA+, citing growing government debt and repeated fights in congress over raising the debt ceiling as major factors in their determination. You might be wondering: is this bad news for single-family real estate investors?

Hold that thought.

According to the 2022 US Home Affordability Report by ATTOM, median-priced single-family homes and condos were less affordable in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to historical averages in 99% of counties in the US. Moreover, major home-ownership costs now eat up 32% of the average national wage, the highest percentage in fifteen years.

With high interest rates, soaring property values, and inflation forcing the average home buyer out of the market, many real estate investors today have pivoted their investment strategy to focus on single family rentals. The problem is their rehab budget hasn’t pivoted. Many flippers are using the same approach to rehab rentals as they would a flip—to the detriment of their ROI.

Here are some things to consider when budgeting to flip vs. hold.

Rehabbing Fix and Flips vs. Rehabbing Rentals 

Every budgetary concern with your flip needs to align with your exit strategy. It’s not simply about rehabbing too much or too little (although that’s part of it); It’s about choosing upgrades that align with your ultimate goal, to flip or hold. Buyers and renters evaluate and use your property differently, so every decision you make—from which rooms to prioritize, to landscaping, appliances, and finishes—needs to take their perspectives into account.

Whether you were flipping houses long before Chip and Johanna Gaines had a television show or you’re just now considering dipping your toe into the industry – this market is sure to leave you wondering if now is the time to start (or continue) your fix-and-flip journey. Together, we’ll be looking at the opportunity for profit and the obstacles that currently stand in the way.

1. Is the current market conducive to making a profit?

Home prices are still on the rise. The nationwide median listing price for active listings in September 2021 was $380,000, up 8.6 percent from the previous year and up 20.6% compared to 2019. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Schiller Index published the Home Price NSA Index on September 28, 2021, revealing home prices had soared 19.7% in the last 12 months. With affordable housing inventory still low and buyers (or renters) incredibly hungry for a place to call their own, sellers are being showered with offers that are much higher than list price. No one know when the market will flatten out or turn – that’s why it is so important to never forget that there are still other market factors to take into consideration when assessing an opportunity.

Now that we’re less than half a year away from 2022, what do we know so far about 2021? In the last year alone, median values of single-family homes and condos rose more than 10% nationally. This rising surge of new house hunters and a super tight supply of housing inventory was also impacted by an ongoing pandemic. With mortgage rates remarkably low, home buying became an attractive option for many Americans seeking more space, a second home, or a work-from-home office with a better view.

SLIGHT DIP OR REAL DOWNTURN?

Now, halfway into the 10th year in this housing boom, many home investors wonder: will real estate markets flatline or drop? How long will these high prices last? While we can’t see into the future, we have some new data about how 2021 compares so far to prior years, both before and since the housing boom. According to a report from ATTOM, fix-and-flip real estate investments have fallen to the lowest level since 2000. In the first quarter of 2021, the same report cites only one in 37 transactions, or only 2.7% of home sales, were flips. Compare that figure to where we were in the first quarter of 2020: down from 7.5%, or one in 13 sales were categorized as fix-and-flips.