Published: August 04, 2025
Flipping houses in Indianapolis looks sexy on Instagram, but if you’re not careful, it’s the fastest way to burn six figures. This episode of the Roots Podcast is a no-BS guide from Tyler and Max on what it actually takes to succeed in Indy’s real estate flipping scene in 2025.
Forget HGTV. Here’s how to avoid the costly middle and build a real flipping business.
The “Messy Middle” Is Where Flippers Die
Tyler calls it the Messy Middle — and it's where most new flippers lose. You use hard money at 12–14%, hire a GC to sub everything out, use a retail agent... and everyone makes money except you.
Margins are gone. Construction costs are up. Lending is expensive. If you’re not bringing equity or systems to the table, you're not flipping — you're funding someone else’s paycheck.
The Only 2 Kinds of Flippers Who Make Money Today
Sweat Equity Operators — They lay the floors, paint the walls, and flip one house a year. Might pocket $60K–100K, but they burn out fast.
Professional Entrepreneurs — People like Dave Short. They’ve got internal crews, acquisition pipelines, maybe even warehouses of cabinets. Flipping is their system — not a side hustle.
How to Find Deals Like Dave Short
Dave isn’t buying lists or running Facebook ads. He has 45+ ways to source deals, but it all boils down to one word: NETWORK.
He’s the guy agents call when grandma’s house is falling apart. Why? Because they know he’ll write a check on the spot — and pay their commission with no drama.
He gives back, teaches, and invites agents into the deal. Some become JV partners. Others become lifelong deal sources.
Takeaway: You want more flips? Get known in your market and reward referrals big time.
The Pre-Market Inspection That Adds $10K in Profit
Dave inspects every flip before he sells — not just when buying.
He finds mold? He handles it for $200. If it comes up in buyer’s inspection, it’s $1,500+. Do that 3x and you’re talking about thousands in saved margin.
Big 3 to check:
Attic
Crawl space/foundation
Sewer scope
You can negotiate better, fix cheaper, and sell faster.
Why Equity Stacks > Hard Money
Most flippers default to hard money lenders — and it eats them alive with interest payments.
Dave’s approach? Equity stack deals. JV with someone who brings the cash and split the profit 60/40. Simple, fair, and no 12% monthly burn rate.
Final Takeaways for Indy Flippers
Don’t flip from the middle. Either go all-in with time or all-in with systems.
Build your network before you build your crew.
Always get a pre-market inspection and fix it right the first time.
Pay your deal finders generously — they’re your pipeline.
Use equity, not just debt.
—
Want to flip in Indy with less stress and more margin?
Tap into the Roots Realty Co. investor network. We’re not just agents — we’re operators. And we’ll help you source, analyze, and scale flips the smart way.
Visit https://rootsrealty.co or sign up for the investor newsletter to get insider deal flow and market updates weekly.
Published: August 04, 2025
Flipping houses in Indianapolis looks sexy on Instagram, but if you’re not careful, it’s the fastest way to burn six figures. This episode of the Roots Podcast is a no-BS guide from Tyler and Max on what it actually takes to succeed in Indy’s real estate flipping scene in 2025.
Forget HGTV. Here’s how to avoid the costly middle and build a real flipping business.
The “Messy Middle” Is Where Flippers Die
Tyler calls it the Messy Middle — and it's where most new flippers lose. You use hard money at 12–14%, hire a GC to sub everything out, use a retail agent... and everyone makes money except you.
Margins are gone. Construction costs are up. Lending is expensive. If you’re not bringing equity or systems to the table, you're not flipping — you're funding someone else’s paycheck.
The Only 2 Kinds of Flippers Who Make Money Today
Sweat Equity Operators — They lay the floors, paint the walls, and flip one house a year. Might pocket $60K–100K, but they burn out fast.
Professional Entrepreneurs — People like Dave Short. They’ve got internal crews, acquisition pipelines, maybe even warehouses of cabinets. Flipping is their system — not a side hustle.
How to Find Deals Like Dave Short
Dave isn’t buying lists or running Facebook ads. He has 45+ ways to source deals, but it all boils down to one word: NETWORK.
He’s the guy agents call when grandma’s house is falling apart. Why? Because they know he’ll write a check on the spot — and pay their commission with no drama.
He gives back, teaches, and invites agents into the deal. Some become JV partners. Others become lifelong deal sources.
Takeaway: You want more flips? Get known in your market and reward referrals big time.
The Pre-Market Inspection That Adds $10K in Profit
Dave inspects every flip before he sells — not just when buying.
He finds mold? He handles it for $200. If it comes up in buyer’s inspection, it’s $1,500+. Do that 3x and you’re talking about thousands in saved margin.
Big 3 to check:
Attic
Crawl space/foundation
Sewer scope
You can negotiate better, fix cheaper, and sell faster.
Why Equity Stacks > Hard Money
Most flippers default to hard money lenders — and it eats them alive with interest payments.
Dave’s approach? Equity stack deals. JV with someone who brings the cash and split the profit 60/40. Simple, fair, and no 12% monthly burn rate.
Final Takeaways for Indy Flippers
Don’t flip from the middle. Either go all-in with time or all-in with systems.
Build your network before you build your crew.
Always get a pre-market inspection and fix it right the first time.
Pay your deal finders generously — they’re your pipeline.
Use equity, not just debt.
—
Want to flip in Indy with less stress and more margin?
Tap into the Roots Realty Co. investor network. We’re not just agents — we’re operators. And we’ll help you source, analyze, and scale flips the smart way.
Visit https://rootsrealty.co or sign up for the investor newsletter to get insider deal flow and market updates weekly.
Published: August 04, 2025
Flipping houses in Indianapolis looks sexy on Instagram, but if you’re not careful, it’s the fastest way to burn six figures. This episode of the Roots Podcast is a no-BS guide from Tyler and Max on what it actually takes to succeed in Indy’s real estate flipping scene in 2025.
Forget HGTV. Here’s how to avoid the costly middle and build a real flipping business.
The “Messy Middle” Is Where Flippers Die
Tyler calls it the Messy Middle — and it's where most new flippers lose. You use hard money at 12–14%, hire a GC to sub everything out, use a retail agent... and everyone makes money except you.
Margins are gone. Construction costs are up. Lending is expensive. If you’re not bringing equity or systems to the table, you're not flipping — you're funding someone else’s paycheck.
The Only 2 Kinds of Flippers Who Make Money Today
Sweat Equity Operators — They lay the floors, paint the walls, and flip one house a year. Might pocket $60K–100K, but they burn out fast.
Professional Entrepreneurs — People like Dave Short. They’ve got internal crews, acquisition pipelines, maybe even warehouses of cabinets. Flipping is their system — not a side hustle.
How to Find Deals Like Dave Short
Dave isn’t buying lists or running Facebook ads. He has 45+ ways to source deals, but it all boils down to one word: NETWORK.
He’s the guy agents call when grandma’s house is falling apart. Why? Because they know he’ll write a check on the spot — and pay their commission with no drama.
He gives back, teaches, and invites agents into the deal. Some become JV partners. Others become lifelong deal sources.
Takeaway: You want more flips? Get known in your market and reward referrals big time.
The Pre-Market Inspection That Adds $10K in Profit
Dave inspects every flip before he sells — not just when buying.
He finds mold? He handles it for $200. If it comes up in buyer’s inspection, it’s $1,500+. Do that 3x and you’re talking about thousands in saved margin.
Big 3 to check:
Attic
Crawl space/foundation
Sewer scope
You can negotiate better, fix cheaper, and sell faster.
Why Equity Stacks > Hard Money
Most flippers default to hard money lenders — and it eats them alive with interest payments.
Dave’s approach? Equity stack deals. JV with someone who brings the cash and split the profit 60/40. Simple, fair, and no 12% monthly burn rate.
Final Takeaways for Indy Flippers
Don’t flip from the middle. Either go all-in with time or all-in with systems.
Build your network before you build your crew.
Always get a pre-market inspection and fix it right the first time.
Pay your deal finders generously — they’re your pipeline.
Use equity, not just debt.
—
Want to flip in Indy with less stress and more margin?
Tap into the Roots Realty Co. investor network. We’re not just agents — we’re operators. And we’ll help you source, analyze, and scale flips the smart way.
Visit https://rootsrealty.co or sign up for the investor newsletter to get insider deal flow and market updates weekly.
Published: August 04, 2025
Flipping houses in Indianapolis looks sexy on Instagram, but if you’re not careful, it’s the fastest way to burn six figures. This episode of the Roots Podcast is a no-BS guide from Tyler and Max on what it actually takes to succeed in Indy’s real estate flipping scene in 2025.
Forget HGTV. Here’s how to avoid the costly middle and build a real flipping business.
The “Messy Middle” Is Where Flippers Die
Tyler calls it the Messy Middle — and it's where most new flippers lose. You use hard money at 12–14%, hire a GC to sub everything out, use a retail agent... and everyone makes money except you.
Margins are gone. Construction costs are up. Lending is expensive. If you’re not bringing equity or systems to the table, you're not flipping — you're funding someone else’s paycheck.
The Only 2 Kinds of Flippers Who Make Money Today
Sweat Equity Operators — They lay the floors, paint the walls, and flip one house a year. Might pocket $60K–100K, but they burn out fast.
Professional Entrepreneurs — People like Dave Short. They’ve got internal crews, acquisition pipelines, maybe even warehouses of cabinets. Flipping is their system — not a side hustle.
How to Find Deals Like Dave Short
Dave isn’t buying lists or running Facebook ads. He has 45+ ways to source deals, but it all boils down to one word: NETWORK.
He’s the guy agents call when grandma’s house is falling apart. Why? Because they know he’ll write a check on the spot — and pay their commission with no drama.
He gives back, teaches, and invites agents into the deal. Some become JV partners. Others become lifelong deal sources.
Takeaway: You want more flips? Get known in your market and reward referrals big time.
The Pre-Market Inspection That Adds $10K in Profit
Dave inspects every flip before he sells — not just when buying.
He finds mold? He handles it for $200. If it comes up in buyer’s inspection, it’s $1,500+. Do that 3x and you’re talking about thousands in saved margin.
Big 3 to check:
Attic
Crawl space/foundation
Sewer scope
You can negotiate better, fix cheaper, and sell faster.
Why Equity Stacks > Hard Money
Most flippers default to hard money lenders — and it eats them alive with interest payments.
Dave’s approach? Equity stack deals. JV with someone who brings the cash and split the profit 60/40. Simple, fair, and no 12% monthly burn rate.
Final Takeaways for Indy Flippers
Don’t flip from the middle. Either go all-in with time or all-in with systems.
Build your network before you build your crew.
Always get a pre-market inspection and fix it right the first time.
Pay your deal finders generously — they’re your pipeline.
Use equity, not just debt.
—
Want to flip in Indy with less stress and more margin?
Tap into the Roots Realty Co. investor network. We’re not just agents — we’re operators. And we’ll help you source, analyze, and scale flips the smart way.
Visit https://rootsrealty.co or sign up for the investor newsletter to get insider deal flow and market updates weekly.