Hot take: buying a fixer-upper is way overrated in this market

Everyone says to buy the worst house in the best neighborhood and fix it up, but after watching my buddy spend $45k on foundation work in Phoenix over 18 months, I think that advice is outdated. Materials and labor costs have jumped so much since 2020 that you're often better off paying more for a move-in ready place. Has anyone else regretted going the fixer-upper route lately?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_jones211d ago

Watch my buddy sink $28k into a "minor" plumbing issue on his 1950s fixer in Austin and suddenly that overpriced move-in ready house looks like a steal. Plus have you seen lumber prices lately? It's like the Home Depot aisle now charges admission fees.

nathanbennett11d ago

Fixer-uppers still let you build instant equity if you can swing a hammer and shop for deals.