The allure is undeniable. You’ve binged the home renovation shows, calculated potential profits on the back of napkins, and mentally rehearsed your own dramatic reveal moment when the dusty eyesore transforms into a magazine-worthy masterpiece. House flipping seems like the fast track to real estate riches—until you’re knee-deep in unexpected structural issues, contractor delays, and budget overruns. For first-time real estate investors, flipping houses often represents the exciting, adrenaline-pumping side of property investment. However, according to a National Association of Realtors study, nearly 42% of novice flippers either lose money or make substantially less than projected on their initial