Can Fix & Flip Work Remotely From Abroad?

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m brand new to real estate and to this forum. I live in Switzerland and recently started researching U.S. real estate - specifically fix and flip - as a way to build capital and eventually transition into buy and hold for passive income.

I’ve searched the forum for similar situations but haven’t found anything that quite fits my setup, so here I am with my first post.

Since I’m not based in the U.S. and don’t have credit there, I’d be working with my own equity in a more affordable market - possibly Memphis, TN - but for now, my main question isn’t about location.

What I’d really like to know is:

• Can fix and flip work remotely if I build a strong, reliable team on the ground?
• Or is it essential to be there in person for every project - even in the long term?

I understand that flipping is a real job, not a passive hustle. I’m prepared to invest time and travel, especially in the beginning - but I also have a full-time job and can’t fly out for every project.

I’m also unsure whether foreign investors are welcome in the U.S. It’s important to me not to drive up property prices and to ensure that young families can still afford homes. We’re already facing this issue in Switzerland, and I’d like to avoid contributing to the same problem in the U.S.

Any thoughts, experiences, or honest feedback would be greatly appreciated. I’m just at the beginning of this journey and eager to find out whether this path is realistic, or just a daydream.

Thanks so much!

Zach Howard · Answer

Send me a DM - let's talk! PS: I have nothing to sell - just like connecting with like-minded people to exchange ideas and learn from each other. We'll go faster that way.

Nick C. · Answer

You can lose your a$$ on a fix and flip being local and going to the project constantly. No matter how good of a team you think you have, no one is going to care as much about your project as you do.

If you had real estate experience and have a previous relationship with someone over here that can act as your eyes and ears it might work. If not, maybe you'll get lucky and find a dream team, but what's more likely is you'll find a team of smooth talkers looking to line their pockets at your expense.

Chris Seveney · Answer

We have done it from "afar" and it of course can be done, but here are the things you will need to be successful:

1. A very strong general contractor

2.A very strong construction manager (Seperate from the GC who can oversee the GC's work). This could also be a real estate agent but I recommend an architect or someone with construction experience.

3. Great understanding of the property. We get floor plans made and draft very detailed scopes of work to make sure there is no confusion over what should or should not be done.

4. Contracts written by our attorney.

5. Good location

Since you do not have experience with real estate in the US, it will be much more difficult for you, also I would not choose memphis as my first area as the market in memphis is street by street so the comps can have dramatic deltas.

You will also need some considerable funds to do this being from out of country financing will be harder.

I am curious, why are you interested in getting involved in fix and flip from abroad vs. other real estate investment opportunities here in the US?

Tibor T. · Answer

Thanks a lot! :)

Tibor T. · Answer

Hi Kenneth,

thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement! That really means a lot, especially coming from someone with local experience in Memphis.

I appreciate the reminder about how street-by-street the Memphis market is. That’s exactly the kind of insight I’m looking for, and it confirms that I’ll need to be very careful with comps and neighbourhood research.

Also, thanks a lot for offering to share your guide. That would be amazing! I may take you up on that offer to chat more about the Memphis market once I’ve done a bit more homework on my end.

Thanks again for your support and for being so open to helping me!

Zach Howard · Answer

@Tibor T.We are in a similar boat. Whereas I haven't taken the plunge just yet, I'm almost ready to do that. I may not flip though, but rather rent.

Tibor T. · Answer

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the honest and direct input. I really appreciate you not sugarcoating it.

I totally understand your point about how risky it can be, even for people who are local and experienced. I don't have a trusted partner on the ground, and I definitely don’t want to walk into this blindly or fall for the "smooth talkers" you mentioned.

Thanks for your comment. It is a valuable reality check for me.

Kenneth Williams · Answer

Wow, wow, wow! We need more investors like you out here! I’m a realtor based in Memphis, and let me tell you. You can absolutely do this!The most important thing, especially in a market like Memphis, is having strong comps. Memphis is very much a street-by-street market, not one where you can just go by zip codes.You’ll probably want to be pretty hands-on with your first few deals, but over time, you’ll start to develop an instinct for it. Eventually, you’ll just plug the numbers into your calculator and instantly know whether a deal makes sense.I know you’re just getting started, and there are so many great cities to invest in across the country, but no matter where you decide to invest, keep that mindset. You can give people an affordable place they can call home.If you ever want to talk more about the Memphis market, I’m here. I'll shoot you over my guide and you just reach out if you have questions.

Tibor T. · Answer

Hi Chris,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed insights. Your list gave me a much clearer picture of the reality behind this idea, and it’s exactly the kind of perspective I’m looking for right now.

I totally understand your hesitation about Memphis for a beginner. I had initially looked into it because of the lower price points. Do you have any recommendations on where someone like me could start?

To your question: why fix & flip from abroad? Honestly, it’s partly because I see it as an active way to grow capital while learning how the U.S. market works. Long term, I’m more interested in buy and hold for passive income. However, in Switzerland, achieving financial freedom through real estate requires a very large portfolio due to the high cost of living, so I saw flipping as a way to build up the necessary capital first.

That said, I’m not fixed on this path. I’m still early in my research and totally open to other strategies that might be more realistic from abroad. What kinds of real estate investments would you recommend for someone in my situation?

Can Fix & Flip Work Remotely From Abroad?

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