Getting into real estate investing for beginners can be a daunting process.
Before you jump into investing in real estate for the first time, you’ll want to arm yourself with knowledge, and watching real estate shows is a great way to get it. In addition to stocking up on real estate books and tuning into real estate podcasts, you can pick up on the methods used by successful investors through famous TV series.
As you begin consuming content, you’ll need to decide which real estate investment strategy is right for you. From short term to long term rental properties to flips, new investors have lots of choices. If you aren’t sure which direction to take, learning as much as possible about each strategy can help you determine your path as a real estate investor.
When it comes to real estate investment strategies, flipping homes can be trickier than buying and holding rental property. If you want to learn how to start flipping houses, you’ll want to tap into as many resources as possible. In this article, we’re covering the top 10 house flipping shows that all aspiring or new house flippers should check out.
Best HGTV Show For Real Estate Investors
While HGTV can be known for its drama and fantasy, it does have a few shows that are worth watching regardless. We picked through some of the best house flipping shows on HGTV that actually educate you on different aspects of home flipping.
1. Flip or Flop
This famous couple, Tarek and Christina, flip houses in Southern California. Compared with other shows of this nature, Christina and Tarek actually dive into the financials of purchasing and flipping houses. They discuss the reality of the real estate market in this show, making it an excellent educational choice for real estate investors looking for guidance on how to navigate the US housing market.
2. Property Brothers
Property Brothers is a great show for real estate investors because it provides creative design ideas for home renovating. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to renovate a rental property to the point of increasing its overall value while not breaking the bank, this show is a must-watch.
3. Holmes on Homes
Mike Holmes’ show is one of the best house flipping shows on HGTV for exposing the less glamorous side of the business. He uncovers poorly done renovations and educates his viewers on how to perform them correctly. As a real estate investor focused on fix and flip-style investments, this house flipping show is a must-watch if you want to learn how to hire the right contractors and have work done right.
Related: 9 Top Real Estate Shows to Watch
4. Home Town
Ben and Erin Napier restore old historical homes in Mississippi using up-cycled materials in order to maintain a rustic feel. As far as house flipping shows go, this one is specifically helpful to real estate investors who may be dealing with older homes, which tend to be more challenging to renovate. If you’re handy and want a DIY flip, this show will give you plenty of ideas.
5. Designed To Sell
This house flipping show is amazing for understanding what makes a house sell. Real estate investors can pick up actionable tips that are easy enough to implement on a DIY basis, and don’t necessarily cost a fortune.
6. Divine Design
Need more interior design ideas? Depending on your local market and the expectations of buyers in your area, it may be necessary to kick up your interior design a notch. That’s where Divine Design comes into play. Candice Olson’s designs provide extra inspiration for real estate investors looking to impress a tough crowd.
Best Home Improvement Shows on Netflix
HGTV is a great source of house flipping shows, but it’s not the only one. Netflix has picked up a few excellent series worth checking out. If you prefer to watch house flipping shows on Netflix, here’s our list of the best shows to stream.
7. The Vanilla Ice Project
Famous singer Vanilla Ice takes viewers through his fix and flip projects in Palm Beach, Florida. The reason this show is such an educational asset for real estate investors is that each episode focuses on renovating a specific portion of the foreclosed property. As opposed to other shows which gloss over an entire home renovation in 30 minutes, The Vanilla Ice Project is more detailed and covers all the bases of taking a home, stripping it to the studs, and completely re-doing it from scratch.
Related: Considering a Fix & Flip? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions First
8. Design on a Dime
This show features designers who take a single room and completely renovate it for under $1,000. The idea behind it is that not all beautiful interior design has to be expensive. Out of all the house flipping shows on this list, Design on a Dime can be a great source of creative inspiration for first-time flippers looking for cheap, DIY solutions to finishing a flip that looks attractive to buyers.
9. Stay Here
Genevieve Gorder, a designer, and Peter Lorimer, a broker, team up to flip rentals. They take short term rental properties and renovate them to create highly profitable investments. This is one of those house flipping shows that is both applicable to rental property owners and flippers. You will get an inside look at how to renovate properties in such a way that they retain tenants, which can transfer over into a house flip as well.
10. Genevieve’s Renovation
Genevieve’s Renovation is an interesting take on typical house flipping shows. Designer Genevieve Gorder purchased the unit next door to her own, and you can follow her journey in opening up the small space into a luxurious apartment in New York City.
Related: Home Renovation: A Guide for Fixer-Upper Investments
The Takeaway: Best Home Renovation Shows
What are the most important aspects to look for when choosing which house flipping shows to watch? Truth be told, there’s a lot to get out of watching different house flipping shows, as different shows cover various topics regarding house flips.
When choosing house renovation shows to watch, consider the following:
Is it realistic? Several house flipping shows have come under fire for being misleading or overly staged. Sure, every show will have to be staged to a certain degree to keep the audience engaged, but if it’s over-done, it can kill any value the show has to provide. Aim to watch home improvement shows that come off as real and authentic as possible. You’re looking for industry experts who can educate you on the process of buying, renovating, and selling in the real world.
Likewise, check out this article on the best real estate investing books to learn from.
Investing just half an hour a day in learning about real estate can make all the difference. The more you know, the smoother your house flips will go. With the right education, you’ll be flipping houses profitably on a consistent basis and well on your way to financial freedom.
Ready for your next flip? To start looking for and analyzing the best investment properties in your city and neighborhood of choice, click here.