Rehabbing & House Flipping
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/hospitable-deef083b895516ce26951b0ca48cf8f170861d742d4a4cb6cf5d19396b5eaac6.png)
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_trust-2bcce80d03411a9e99a3cbcf4201c034562e18a3fc6eecd3fd22ecd5350c3aa5.avif)
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_1031_exchange-96bbcda3f8ad2d724c0ac759709c7e295979badd52e428240d6eaad5c8eff385.avif)
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated over 5 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Dustin Mathenia's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/861815/1621504607-avatar-dustinm35.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
I did what Josh Dorkin warns not to do
So I bought this house in Montgomery Alabama sight unseen on eBay for less than 4k$ it seemed like a good deal not in too bad of shape a previous duplex a few miles from Alabama state. I've worked construction my entire life and done 1 live in flip and one extremely extensive remodel where all we saved in the house was the floor and the exterior walls . So knowing I could easily drive from California where I live to Alabama to fix up this duplex and sell it or rent it seemed to be a no brainer. After I purchased the property it took me about 7 months before I had the time to fly out and see what this place really looks like long story short on the drive there we passed 4 bail bond places going deeper into hood. I wouldn't say I was afraid to be on that street in the daylight mostly because 90% of the houses were completely ABANDONED! By the time I pulled in front of my house I knew no one would ever want to live here. The house wasn't in much worse shape than I thought I could have easily fixed it up but I have since decided to cut my losses and sell it on eBay never buying sight unseen again! I mean unless it looks like a really good deal lol
Most Popular Reply
![Joshua Dorkin's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/9/1621345214-avatar-biggerpo.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/crop=2320x2320@767x0/cover=128x128&v=2)
- BiggerPockets Founder
- Maui, HI
- 5,816
- Votes |
- 16,121
- Posts
Sorry to hear that it turned out that way. If you have a process, this can work, but for the average person -- especially new investors -- I believe this is a bad idea.