Hammers at the ready! After a stagnant few years, fix-and-flipping, along with its investment cousin, BRRRR-ing, might be poised for a comeback in 2026. The perfect storm of lower interest rates, increased inventory, and access to lender funding could once again see adventurous rehabbers transform tired real estate bones into inspired homes while turning a profit.
Why 2026 Is Different
The big question hovering over the real estate industry concerns interest rates. Three Federal Reserve rate cuts and optimism about continued easing have many people hoping for the return of sub-5% interest rates. While that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for a 30-year mortgage, for shorter-term loans, it could be a possibility, putting house flipping into play.
“While labor and inflation data have gradually shown signs of softening, the pace so far is still supportive of lower mortgage rates, but not pronounced enough to drive them below the 5% threshold,” Jeff DerGurahian, chief investment officer and head economist at loanDepot, told CBS News. “If this trend continues, it’s unlikely we’ll see rates drop below 5%. Little to no action from the Fed will also prevent them from falling significantly.”
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
However, an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) could provide the wiggle room buyers need to justify buying a recently renovated home. “ARMs can provide about a 50-to-75-basis-point advantage over 30-year fixed rates, which can significantly reduce your monthly payments in the near term,” DerGurahian said.
Sweetening the pot for buyers is income, which is expected to outstrip home price growth after the last several years, resulting in increased buyer demand and sustainable prices, Redfin predicts for 2026.
Short-Term Loans
Fix-and-flip loans, now referred to as Residential Transition Loans (RTLs), are increasingly more available to local investors, according to an op-ed in HousingWire by Justin Land, president and CEO of Merchants, a residential real estate investment lender.
Increased access to cash means investors with existing rentals can reposition them as value-add propositions by adding units within the existing footprint, expediting the turnaround process. When applied to the BRRRR format, this could see investors add units without competing for deals.
Inventory Is Up
There is no flipping without an available source of housing, and while the inventory river of fixer-uppers is not bursting at the banks, it is up significantly over recent years. HousingWire reported in October that the existing supply of houses stood at 1.52 million units, representing a 4.4-month supply. That’s 11% higher than the previous year, according to CNBC.
CNBC also reported that home sales in December were the strongest in almost three years, reflecting both lower rates and greater inventory.
“2025 was another tough year for homebuyers, marked by record-high home prices and historically low home sales,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said in a press release. “However, in the fourth quarter, conditions began improving, with lower mortgage rates and slower home price growth.”
Predictable Exit Prices
Make no mistake: This will not be the frothy post-pandemic market of 2021/2, but rather a measured real estate arena with predictable prices and a larger pool of buyers, meaning that experienced flippers who buy right and renovate judiciously could turn a steady profit.
Not every U.S. market will be ripe for flipping, either—only those where prices are rising. According to the recent BiggerPockets 2026 Home Price Growth forecast, expect home in select cities in the Northeast, Midwest and interior South to appreciate by more than 5%. When coupled with the affordability in many of these markets, this means that buying and selling at prices within the range of most buyers, even at current rates, allows flippers to mitigate risks by minimizing holding costs or buying for cash.
Price growth and affordability alone are not indicative of an ideal flipping market. Cross-referencing these two factors with available supply and an active job market narrows the list.
Amongst the top job markets in the U.S., according to WalletHub, the top four out of five are in the South or Midwest and are relatively affordable:
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Columbia, South Carolina
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Richmond, Virginia
Chip Lupo, a writer and analyst at WalletHub, emailed CBS News:
“Beyond sheer availability, these cities also offer strong employment protections, access to top-rated employers, and abundant work-share or internship opportunities that support employees at different stages of their careers. While starting salaries and industry variety aren’t always the highest, the combination of opportunity, stability, and quality of work makes these markets particularly appealing for anyone looking to make a career move.”
Cost-Efficient Flipping Moves for a Slow Market
The next factor in successfully flipping or BRRRR-ing in a slow market is to rehab shrewdly. That doesn’t mean cutting corners and doing shoddy work by being extremely selective on what you choose to spend money on. Often, it means renovating rather than replacing.
Kitchens and bathrooms are where the majority of a renovation budget needs to be spent, but even here, being selective is essential. Here are some of the easiest ways to keep costs down:
- Invest in good-looking, less-expensive appliances: A $1,000 refrigerator and a $10,000 one look similar from the outside, and buyers won’t notice much of a difference.
- Choose expensive-looking, low-cost materials: Vinyl plank flooring and granite and quartz countertops are standard these days and relatively affordable, while still offering the luxury look of expensive homes.
- Mini-split ductless systems are great for older homes: There’s no need to open walls and install conventional HVAC systems. Mini-split ductless systems are ideal for older homes and are relatively affordable.
- Paint the basement: Painting a bare concrete basement not only stops it from looking dingy, but also adds a protective membrane. Light gray exterior paint on the floors and white waterproof paint on the walls, along with matte black on exposed ductwork, conduits, and exposed beams, will give your subterranean space a chic, sophisticated feel that looks great in photos for an affordable price.
- Reglaze and refinish your tub and tiles: Hire a pro to reglaze and refinish your avocado disco-era tub and tiles for under $2,000, turning retro into cool metro.
- Refinish kitchen cabinets or replace front panels: No need to remake it if you can fake it. Bring sturdy, old-school cabinetry back to life with a simple makeover.
- Fix the fixtures: You don’t have to spend a fortune to make fixtures pop in photos. Look for the most recent styles in high-end condos, and replicate them affordably.
- Make your front door stand out: Make a stylish statement to stand out from your neighbors with color.
- Power wash the exterior and brighten up the trim: Another affordable fix that takes dingy old concrete from drab to fab. Meanwhile, a paintbrush around the windows, gutters, and downspouts, and replacement exterior drainage, immediately add curb appeal.
- Landscaping: Mulch, plants, selective new sod, or artificial turf doesn’t have to break the bank while offering an instant upgrade.
- Repair rather than replace windows: If your windows are in decent condition, consider repainting and replacing glass panes instead of investing in a full window replacement.
- Put thought into your mailbox, house numbers, and exterior lighting: Don’t let a quality flip down with a cheap mailbox. Think stylish, sturdy, and standalone—something that can hold packages and deter doorstep thieves. Equally, bold, metallic house numbers that complement the exterior decor and well-placed exterior lights add to curb appeal.
Final Thoughts
To succeed as a flipper in 2026 means perfectly aligning all the disparate components that make a good flip. It’s a bit like threading a needle in a strong wind—it’s not that it can’t be done, but it needs to be executed with meticulous attention to detail and patience.
Long gone are the days when you could buy a house, do almost nothing to it, and put it on the market a few months later and turn a profit—and that’s a good thing. It means the house-flipping market in 2026 will be less competitive than in days gone by.
However, if you can buy and sell low, to circumvent the affordability crisis, there is no dearth of buyers waiting for you to show them the house of their dreams.
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