Flipping a house successfully requires a very detailed scope of work. Some people choose to do a very general scope to determine if the flip will be profitable or if the house is a money pit. However, the problem with an overly general scope is that there are a lot of variables. Contractors may give you estimated quotes that turn out to be much higher when they find bigger problems upon closer inspection. You might think a roof replacement is all you need, only to find out later that the gutters and chimney need work as well. Take the extra time to examine the details, and check out these tips about how to put together a complete scope of work for your next flip:

A California hard money lender has a slightly different approach to issuing loans than other sources of debt capital. Understanding what a typical private lender wants can help you to not only send the right deals their way, but also to better package what assets you send to them.

The California real estate market is one of the most active and lucrative markets in the country. Velocities are high, large numbers of both bank and hard money lenders provide capital, and some markets offer significant opportunities for appreciation. However, the unique nature of real estate in the Golden State also poses some challenges. Here are some tips to help you close the right deals:

Hard money lenders ask different questions from traditional lenders. You can't approach one simply expecting that a high credit score will be enough to get a loan. Instead, they look at you, your proposed purchase, and your equity to answer one basic question: Are you motivated to repay the loan? To this end, here are five of the most common questions that you can expect to be asked:

A hard money loan is a tool to help you invest in property and make a profit. As such, planning your exit strategy for the loan is an important part of your overall plans for property investment. Paying off a loan is often one of the significant expenses involved in rehabbing a property, which means a good loan exit strategy can make the difference between making a great profit or simply breaking even. Here are 3 strategies for paying off your hard money loan.

There is no doubt that when looking to make a real estate investment, choosing a hard money loan is a great option. However, many people do not get approved for the loan because they were caught off guard with the loan application requirements. To ensure a better chance of having the loan approved, check out The Hard Money Loan Application Checklist.

Real estate investment is an exciting field, with many opportunities to gain a hefty profit. However, as with all transactions, there are many risks involved. Careful consideration of all details will help you make profitable investments and avoid making potentially disastrous decisions. In particular, take note of the 5 most common mistakes real estate investors make:

While many real estate investors like to rely on their own intuition and experience, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion when buying a property. For this task, there is no one more qualified than a reputable real estate appraiser. Equipped with the right tools and expertise, they can confirm or negate your impression of a property. Here is what they typically look for when determining the value of a property:

The world of hard money lending is a tight knit one, but one that plays fair with those who act honorably. Still, each lender is trying to maximize their own gains while providing the necessary funding to borrowers. With those two facts in mind, here's what to expect when dealing with a hard money lender:

With property values on the rise in California, this is an excellent time to be in the real estate market. There are large numbers of distressed properties available with great potential for profit. Buying, renovating and flipping properties is a lucrative approach to real estate, as long as the investor avoids three common mistakes.