Fixer Upper Potential or Money Pit?

Renovating a fixer-upper is not for the faint of heart. It takes patience, sweat equity and deep pockets. Thanks to a limited inventory of affordable entry-level homes and the aging of America’s housing stock, a growing number of home buyers are considering fixer-uppers. While a fixer-upper might have an appealing price tag, the markdown might not make up for basic renovation costs. Do the math. It can be an overwhelming process if you don’t really know what you’re doing. You have to be careful that you don’t get in over your head.

10 Warning Signs That House Might be a Money Pit Bob Vila

Remodeling Industry Picks Up Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies

Your Fixer Upper May be a Money Pit MoneyCrashers.com

Share this:
Mark Danforth Lomas

Recent Posts

Weekend Open Houses May 16th & May 17th, 2026

Explore this weekend’s featured open houses across the South Coast. From coastal retreats to hillside…

4 days ago

Market Trends

The Volume Surge: Total sales in April jumped 22% year-over-year. After a slow start to…

5 days ago

Housing

We’ve all seen the headlines. The "1%," the billionaires, the exploding cost of living—and right…

1 week ago

Santa Barbara’s State Street

The Santa Barbara’s State Street Blues. It’s the first time in history a city might spend…

3 weeks ago

Private Listings vs. Pocket Listings

There's been a massive shift in the industry. As of early 2026, Compass has become a true…

3 weeks ago

Santa Barbara Real Estate Trends April 2026

Spring has officially arrived in South Santa Barbara County, and the March data suggests a…

4 weeks ago