If you were to live in the house for 2 yrs...

[Jared S.]

So if you were house shopping, looking for a good deal but also a home to live in and flip after a year or two, what would you look for specifically?   

A fixer upper in the nicest neighborhood you can find?  I always look at what the other homes cost per sq ft compared to the one I'm looking at.  I also keep in mind of course if it's in a safe area with decent to better schools.  So basically I look for something in the high 100s to low 200s that I can spruce up in an area where homes are going for 25-35k more. Is this good to do?

What else should I look for?  What's the best thing to look for?  I don't want to buy the nicest house in the area I can afford, I know that.  Homes in my area generally are 115 to 140$ per sq ft.  Ideally I'm looking for homes under $100.  If this doesn't work I am looking into building my own home.  Thanks for any input you may have. 

[Gavin Welch]

@Jared S. Here in Central Florida I'd be looking in the fringes of the metro areas, of Tampa and Orlando, this is Brandon area for Tampa and Ocoee and Oviedo for Orlando.  But there are others.  Be prepared to bid against rehabbers.. Home volumes are low, so its a sellers market.

Start with the best schools, then search for growing areas.  Areas that business are expanding in.  Looking into the Narcoossee area also, i know there is a large medical complex they just built there.  Find an foreclosure or under valued home in that area.  Fix it up nice.  If you expect the next guy to pay top dollar, don't cheap out on the rehab.  Kitchens and baths sell homes.  Make sure you also have the square footage and is at least a 3/2 and 4/2 are great.  Find and agent.. They can pull all kinds of data on neighborhoods.  Or message me and I can send it to you..

Good Luck..