What a Good Flip Candidate Actually Looks Like

A property record is just data. An address, a square footage, an owner name on a tax roll. It tells you a property exists. It tells you nothing about whether it is a deal.

A seller lead is a step further — someone you might be able to reach, who might have some motivation. But motivation without fit is still not a deal. A motivated seller in an area you do not buy, at a number that does not work, is just a conversation that goes nowhere.

A property worth evaluating as a flip is something different entirely. It has to fit the area, the condition, the numbers, the timing, and your strike price — all of it.

The four things I look for

First, does it fit the target market? Not just the city — the specific neighborhoods where comps are reliable and exit strategies are proven.

Second, is there real spread? Not a fantasy ARV. A defensible after-repair value based on actual comparable sales, minus a realistic acquisition price, minus a rehab budget that accounts for what is actually wrong with the property.

Third, is the condition something you can handle? A light cosmetic is a different project than a full gut. Know your tolerance and your crew's capacity before you call something a candidate.

Fourth, can you actually act on it? If the numbers work but you cannot get there to inspect it within 48 hours, or you cannot make an offer quickly, the opportunity may be gone before you move.

The point

This is the difference between handing an investor more data and handing them something worth underwriting. The whole Strike Price Deal Flow process is built around making that distinction — consistently, and before it reaches your desk.

Every property still has to be underwritten, inspected, and evaluated by the investor. Nothing here is a guarantee. But starting with properties that actually fit beats starting with a pile of names every single time.