I asked SoCal Real Estate Group members for their opinion of the top 6 ways to add value to their fix and flip properties. The group is made up of local Southern California real estate investors that primarily focus on purchasing and repairing properties that have been neglected. Here is what they came up with:

California is a great environment for real estate rehabbers. Few statistics are available, but real estate specialists have made billions of dollars by buying homes in need of repair, sprucing them up, and reselling them.

The practice of flipping homes is gaining steam across the state of California and the United States. Prior to flipping your first, or your next project, there are a few things to consider. That’s why we have come up with seven reasons to use a small local contractor.

While recent market trends and media coverage have made fix and flip investing a more visible option for those looking to make money in the housing market, buy and hold strategies are a time-honored way of amassing wealth. If you are thinking of trying your hand at real estate investment, you may be wondering if a buy and hold strategy is right for you.

Before we even begin, a facing-facts session is necessary. The prime days of fix and flip may be behind us. A decision needs to be made. Do you want put down anchor and wait for the next cycle to begin? Or do you want to rev your engine and search out unexplored territory? If you favor the second choice, come aboard, but keep it hush. You're about to learn of 5 less-traveled tips to find hot real estate deals before your competition.

When you first begin to plan a fix and flip investment strategy, it is likely that you will be looking for a lender to help with financing. While more traditional banking institutions may be an option, it is often the case that a better fit for fix and flips is a hard money lender. Because hard money lenders fund loans faster and base their lending decisions on the merits of the property more than your own credit-worthiness, they have more flexibility than do traditional lenders.

As the Federal Reserve sends out signals that interest rates may soon be on the rise, many real estate investors are preparing to take advantage of the fix and flip opportunities that will inevitably follow. While the rate rise is expected to be minimal, it may be enough to cause a corresponding rise in foreclosure rates across the nation. That being the case, how best may real estate investors proceed? What are the steps to take to benefit from current market conditions? What is the best advice for fix and flip financing today?

Flipping a house is a very profitable endeavor if you know what you are doing. As with most highly lucrative opportunities, it is also risky. Being well-informed is the best way to ensure success. One wrong decision can lead to a break even situation, or worse, leave you with a loss. Here are a few surefire ways for your fix and flip project to fail.

Both first time and experience home flippers, can find useful information on the internet, but where to look? If you start with a search engine, who knows where you will end up? Go ahead and try it. Type in "house flipping" and see what happens. Something like thirty-three million results. How do you sift through all that? For those who are seeking advice, tips, and tricks for the do-it-yourself home flip, here are three of the best house flipping blogs to lend you a helping hand.

Realistically, there are more than four tools to building and boosting your business, however, these are the ones we will currently be focusing on. From finding the right property for your goals, to making certain that your business gets the public's attention, these tools can make a genuine impact. Wholesale buyers, Rehab Flippers or Rental Investors should consider putting these practices in place. Whether you are new to the profession and just getting started, or are a veteran, these concepts should be part of your personal portfolio.