House flipping is the latest “get rich” trend bolstering a bullish real estate market. While the trendy namesake sounds like a dubious pejorative for shoddy craftsmanship, the growing practice of purchasing cheap real estate before renovations and quickly selling it again in a market where housing is scarce is a profitable alternative to building from scratch. Real estate developers often purchase dilapidated or aging single-family structures, such as a mobile home, and refurbish them in under a year. A robust portfolio of flipped homes can net sizable profits for developers stymied by rising building and labor costs. Although the practice might be insensitive or opportunistic during a national affordable housing crisis, house flipping is no different than other refurbishing models and is a resourceful, carbon-friendly endeavor.
House flipping isn’t for casual remodelers or hobbyists. Renovating homes for profit comes with a high entry point and requires cash reserves for the initial purchase and costly ongoing renovations. Many banks and mortgage lenders hesitate to appropriate funds for house flipping, and potential investors could lose money if they sell a home too quickly on borrowed funds. Quonset huts allow house-flipping rookies to get in on the action without begging for startup money from banks. Resourceful contractors or DIY weekend warriors can purchase a corrugated metal shell, the most expensive building component, and finish the interior before selling it to prospective buyers or developers.
How Do You House Flip With a Quonset Hut?
Housing flipping with a Quonset hut falls into a building gray area. It’s perfectly legal but defies conventional building practice and might come off as a construction novelty, but rest assured, the growing practice of prefabricated building is legitimate and growing. Instead of scooping up traditional brick-and-mortar houses that have fallen in disrepair, you can purchase an easy-to-assemble steel Quonset hut that can be assembled in a few short hours. Hired contractors can finish the shell’s interior by adding glass-paned windows on end walls and finish the interior with modern amenities. Prospective Quonset hut flippers will need to secure at least a one-acre lot of land and concrete foundation to build on, but the residual proceeds will outweigh the initial start-up costs, which still come in at a lower price point than traditional home renovation costs.
Quonset Huts vs Stick-Built Homes
“Can you live in a Quonset hut?” We frequently encounter this question when approached by customers looking to build a man cave or guest house. The US military initially developed Quonset huts during WWII as a rapidly deployable forward base of operations for troop barracks and command centers. (If they’re good enough to pass the US Army’s rigorous battle tests, you know they’re up to the task of protecting civilians). Unlike traditional brick homes or stick-built houses, the continuous steel arch curvature provides the roof and sidewalls in one continuous link of steel panels that can be quickly snapped together. The intrinsic steel strength allows Quonset huts to withstand hurricane-force winds and heavy snow loads. Several Steel Arch Building Customers have transformed our Quonset hut kits into breath-taking mountain lodges and vacation homes – you’re only limited by your slumbering mind awaiting a creative spark.
Quonset Huts Are Flipping the Script on Housing and Real Estate
Why should only banks and real estate developers enjoy the cash windfall of flipping houses? Quonset huts allow novice builders and developers an alternative to cost-prohibitive reselling with none of the inherent financial risks. While prospective buyers and renovations aren’t exactly buying an existing house to flip for economic profit, they’re optimizing their chances of lucrative returns by investing in a readily available building kit that can be used for housing, farming, athletics, schools, and community centers.
A real estate agency recently placed a Quonset home with modern luxurious trimmings on the market for $3.9 million. The home sits on 62 acres and is complemented with a three-bedroom guest house and a separate Quonset hut barn. The primary Quonset hut residence is outfitted with large glass panes on the end walls, allowing for ample radiate heating and panoramic views of the storied Texas wilderness. The home’s interior features an open-concept layout with polished concrete floors and a barreled wood ceiling. A floor-to-ceiling electric fireplace and chimney are prominently featured in the lounge area to entertain guests throughout the year.
Creating an Affordable Future With Steel Arch Buildings
Quonset hut residential construction is ideal for prospective developers and first-time homeowners. Most home-sized steel arch kits can be purchased for less than $12,000 and shipped conveniently to your build site. Some assembly is required, although Steel Arch Buildings can provide installation in the southeast. Customers are responsible for all interior construction, including partition walls and heating, electric, and foundation work. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation.
