...
By Soo Kim
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
New York City, Houston, Texas, and Clarksdale in Mississippi are among the best places to flip houses in the United States in 2025, new research has shown.
House flipping remains one of the most popular real estate investment strategies in the U.S., with savvy investors looking for markets that offer the best combination of affordability, buyer demand, and potential returns.
A new study by ViewHomes has ranked 50 U.S. cities, analyzing each of their real estate markets based on key factors such as property prices, buyer demand, market activity and inventory levels. Each city was assigned a score from 0 to 100, with factors such as price trends and stability carrying a bigger weight on the overall score. The states with the highest scores were considered the best for house flipping. The study highlights both high-demand urban centers and lesser-known markets where investors can find strong returns.
Read More on Home & Garden
Real estate professionals stress that while lists like these can be helpful, investors should still study micro-markets within cities before making a move.
"I believe lists like these are a macro statistic that doesn't matter to local flippers... someone is making a profit in every market, flipping properties," said Jonathan Klemm, a Chicago-based real estate investor and general contractor who is the founder and CEO of Quality Builders. "There are micro markets in every one of these places unless you are a big property fund."
Klemm also pointed out that some high-performing markets are often overlooked in rankings. "Another issue is that lists like these will inevitably leave out certain markets that have performed amazingly well." For example, Buffalo in upstate New York was ranked as the top market in 2025 by Zillow, but came in 45th place in the ranking of the 50 cities by ViewHomes, Klemm noted.
Andy Saintilus, a real estate expert and founder of We Buy Doors, a real estate investment company in South Florida, emphasized the importance of understanding local trends.
"I've seen firsthand how different markets can provide unique opportunities for house flipping," he told Newsweek. "Whether you're flipping properties in a bustling city like Miami or exploring emerging markets like Hobbs, the key to success lies in understanding the local market dynamics."
Despite its high median listing price of $762,375, New York City ranked first on the list, proving that demand often outweighs cost when it comes to flipping houses. The city boasts over 35,000 active listings, 408 price increases, and a pending ratio of 0.51, meaning there are plenty of buyers waiting for a renovated home to hit the market, the study noted.
Houston in Texas, which took the second spot on the list, features 27,000 active listings and 1,026 new listings recently added to the market. The city's median listing price of $369,450 makes it significantly more affordable than New York, while still maintaining a strong pending listings ratio that signals steady buyer interest, the study found.
For investors looking for lower entry costs, Clarksdale in Mississippi, which ranks third, offers a median listing price of just $149,500, making it the most budget-friendly market in the top 10. While it may have fewer listings, Clarksdale has seen a 0.66 percent increase in prices in the past year, showing growth potential, according to the study.
Rochester in New York, ranking fourth, provides a stable market for flippers. The city has over 1,000 active listings and a 0.11 percent increase in home prices, bringing its median listing price to $277,450. For those who prefer predictability over rapid market fluctuations, Rochester offers a solid investment opportunity, the study said.
In fifth place, Arlington in Virginia, sets itself apart with quick selling times, averaging just 34 days on the market. The city has 10,608 active listings and a pending listing count of 7,441, demonstrating strong buyer interest. While Arlington's median listing price of $599,781 remains high, its fast-moving inventory makes it an attractive option for those looking for quick flips.
Some lesser-known markets are also showing promise for house flippers. Hobbs in New Mexico, while not widely recognized as a house-flipping hotspot, ranked high due to its low competition—with just 92 active listings—and a pending ratio of 1.26, indicating strong buyer demand. Its median listing price of $281,125, up 0.25 percent from last year, suggests steady appreciation, according to the study.
In addition to the aforementioned 45th place ranking of Buffalo, other cities at the bottom of the ranking included St. Joseph in Missouri (46th place), Riverside in California (47th), Rockford in Illinois (48th), Wabash in Indiana (49th), and Tampa in Florida in 50th place. The overall scores for the cities in the bottom five of the ranking ranged from 28.86 to 28.98.
Ranking of Top U.S. Cities for Flipping Houses in 2025
- New York, NY
- Houston, TX
- Clarksdale, MS
- Rochester, NY
- Arlington, VA
- Atlanta, GA
- Hobbs, NM
- Miami, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Miami, OK
- Lincoln, IL
- Phoenix, AZ
- Escanaba, MI
- Logansport, IN
- Minot, ND
- Portland, OR
- Bay City, MI
- Pontiac, IL
- Lewistown, PA
- Detroit, MI
- Seneca Falls, NY
- Batavia, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Peru, IN
- Great Bend, KS
- Huron, SD
- Syracuse, NY
- Mansfield, OH
- Norwalk, OH
- Lewisburg, PA
- Sayre, PA
- Nashville, TN
- Moberly, MO
- Macomb, IL
- Pottsville, PA
- Baltimore, MD
- St. Marys, PA
- Los Alamos, NM
- Maysville, KY
- Saginaw, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Carlsbad, NM
- Buffalo, NY
- St. Joseph, MO
- Riverside, CA
- Rockford, IL
- Wabash, IN
- Tampa, FL
Source: A study by ViewHomes analyzed real estate markets based on property prices, buyer demand, market activity, and inventory levels.
Do you have a real estate-related story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines