Can You Buy A Home Featured On HGTV's The Flipping El Moussas?
Home renovators and design aficionados fell for Tarek El Moussa's flips on HGTV's "Flip or Flop" and "Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa." Now, with his Wife Heather Rae El Moussa, the real estate power couple are teaming up to take on some of their most ambitious flips yet. On HGTV's "The Flipping El Moussas," fans have seen impressive makeovers from the investor and his real estate agent partner. Since the series premiered in 2023, the El Moussas have had successful flips and lost money with a flop. But if there's one thing we've learned, "The Flipping El Moussas" are not afraid of taking risks and going big with their design choices in hopes of profiting big.
After watching those massive purchases, renovations, and listing price tags on HGTV, fans may wonder how the El Moussas turn a profit on their investments and if anyone can buy an El Moussa flip. Luckily, the homes seen on "The Flipping El Moussas" are fair game for any buyer, as they're often sold on the open market. In theory, anyone can buy a home flipped by the El Moussas and enjoy bragging rights, plus the fruits of their labor. But, if you fall in love with a house from the HGTV series, you'll have to have a good realtor and at least half a million and change to spare.
Finding a finished El Moussa flip
Unlike many investors, who work behind the scenes to find buyers without ever listing homes, "The Flipping El Moussas" list their flips with agents on the open market. This means that any interested buyer can attend open houses, place a bid through an agent, and hopefully secure the house of their dreams. Unfortunately for "Selling Sunset" fans, Heather hasn't been a listing agent yet. One flip, a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home on a three-quarter-acre lot, sold for $610,000 in 2023. That same year, a more grandiose flip with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms sold for $2.3 million, which is $300,000 more than what the home is valued at today.
Although the second season hasn't premiered yet, the couple often announce their flips' market debuts on Instagram. "House 1 out of 14 from season 2 of Flipping El Moussas is finally completed and for sale for $1,299,900," announced Tarek El Moussa, via Instagram. "Can't wait to see how quickly this house will go." He didn't have to very long, as the home closed for its asking price two months after it hit the market. One of the latest El Moussa flips closed over their listing price in under a week, which is the ideal scenario for real estate investors. So, if you want an El Moussa home, you'll have to have cash, an agent who moves fast, be able to put in a competitive offer, and potentially be ready to get into a bidding war.
You could, but should you?
Theoretically, you could make a house from HGTV's "The Flipping El Moussas" your own, but before you make an offer, there are a few things you should consider. Flips are all about buying low, spending no more than necessary on improvements, and maximizing the investor's profit. Even when your dream house has been designed by celebrity flippers, you'll still want to consider whether it's a wise investment or if it's better to buy a new build, a fixer-upper, or flip a home yourself.
As mentioned, many of "The Flipping El Moussas" homes sell over their asking price and are valued below their selling price. This isn't good for resale value, and from an investment point of view, it isn't a good move. If you have enough money to buy an El Moussa flip, you can likely afford a new build, which may be a better investment. There are many benefits to buying a new construction home, including better resale value, less maintenance, and no headaches from the upkeep that comes with older properties.
Alternatively, take Tarek El Moussa's tips for adding value to a home, lessons on what not to do when renovating a home, then flip it yourself. This way, you can find your diamond in the rough investment, oversee all the contractor work, and customize it exactly to your liking. Flip it for profit, or make it your abode. Sure, it's ambitious, but every real estate empire has to start somewhere.