2 FIELDSTONE LANE, Billerica, MA 01821
Single-Family
$785,700
Price
$785,700
Sale Price
Image by JayMantri from Pixabay
Reality TV shows captured the entrepreneurial imaginations of everyday people that anyone with cash and determination can turn a profit remodeling blighted homes. While profitable home-flipping tends to be more difficult than celebrities make it seem, one niche group appears to have a secret recipe for success — Flipsters.
The term “Flipster” is a conflation of “home flipper” and “Hipster.” What has escaped the casual eye of those outside the Hipster community is they are not merely artsy young people embracing the latest counter-culture. In fact, Hipsters tend to have a strong entrepreneurial nature that plays out within the bounds of their neighborhoods. Flipsters are an extension of that spirit who focus on turning a profit flipping homes in these neighborhoods. Of course, this begs the question: How are Flipsters different, and are they good for your property values?
How Flipsters Differ From Home-Flippers
The Flipster recipe for success involves going after downtrodden properties. If you recall a Hipster neighborhood a decade before their arrival, it was probably in decline and rife with crime. Unlike the stars on TV that seek that one bad penny in a jewel neighborhood, Hipsters are all about gentrification. They are inclined to buy depressed single and multifamily properties and renovate.
The initial wave of Hipsters most likely plan on setting down roots among their brethren. Soon after, Flipsters come in to scoop outlying homes knowing Hipster sprawl may be imminent. In this sense, Flipsters work in the opposite direction as traditional home flippers.
But their sense of security comes from being cultural insiders and a willingness to rent or wait for cash-flush community members to buy the property. That may sound like a simple enough way to flip homes for onlookers. However, the Hipster community tends to be tight-knit, and the homes must adhere to a loose ideology.
What You Should Know About Flipster Homes
If you watch Reality TV home-flipping shows, then it’s apparent that trendy, shiny, and new are game-changers. For the Flipster, old and re-purposed are the tricks of the interior design trade. Shopping for items at Good Will, junk stores, or the city landfill are more likely to yield the materials necessary to create a neat interior or exterior.
Smart technology, quirky gadgets, and artsy vintage stuff are also signatures of a retro Hipster living space. If you’re considering mapping out the Flipster method and replicating it, think again. Insiders tend to shy away from non-Hipsters, which could leave you holding on to a property too long and taking a loss.
Are Flipsters Good For Property Values?
The short answer is: That depends. If you own a property in a depressed area that Hipsters have begun to gentrify, chances are you can move it. The Catch 22 is that you would probably need to be an insider to get top dollar. However, it may be in your best interest to hire well-known Flipsters to renovate the property in keeping with the expanding scene. Making a deal could earn you increased resale value or at least a very cool space of your own.
8 Horton Lane, Billerica, MA 01821
Single-Family
$649,900
Price
The home buying process can be long and daunting. From trying to find the right home to facing rejected offers, it can seem endless. Eventually, you will find the right home and get that offer accepted. Now you must face the next phase what’s called “closing” on a home. What exactly happens at the closing table can vary based on your own situation, but the important thing to know is that the closing table is where the deal is sealed and signed. The home of your dreams will finally be yours!
Find The Location
The location of the closing will be determined beforehand. It’s usually at a lawyer’s office but it could be at a realtor’s office. The attorney who has been chosen will be noted on the closing documents you receive before you get there.
Get Ready To Write Large Checks
When you’re closing on a home, this is the time that the downpayment is expected along with all of the lawyer’s fees, taxes, commissions, assessments, and other agreements. This money should be presented at the time of closing and there’s no wiggle room on the timing, so be sure you have the cash handy in your account. Often, a bank check will be required to pay these fees along with the downpayment. Your lender will give a a detailed report of the fees that are required before you even head to the closing table, so you’ll have time to prepare.
Do Some Hand Stretches
There will be plenty of pens available at the closing. You’ll be there for awhile signing many important documents, so bring some water. If you don’t have a safe or file folders, you’ll want to get them as well. Depending on how your closing is conducted, a lawyer or other authorized person will be present to explain the legal jargon to you for every piece of paper that you’re signing. Every document that you sign should be saved for your reference and safe keeping. The proof of insurance and the deed to your property are definitely documents that you’ll want to have handy for a long time to come. Your home is one of the largest purchases that you’ll ever make in your lifetime, so be sure to keep that paperwork in order.
After Closing Ends
After all of the papers are signed and the walkthrough of the home is complete, you’re a homeowner! In most cases, you’ll be able to call the home your own immediately. In some special cases, there are post-closing agreements that include repairs that couldn’t be done ahead of time, or other transactions that the seller may have agreed with you on at an earlier date.
In most cases, everything will be taken care of right at the closing table. One of the most exciting moments is when the keys are handed over to you! After a long time of searching, many phone calls, and a lot of work, now you can start putting that elbow grease into your home!
