Where I can search foreclosure and investment properties only

Houston has a lot of investor groups you might want to visit. Most \"good deals\" are bought and sold before getting on the local MLS. I\'ve been working with investors for 20yrs now. Unless it\'s a short sale, foreclosure, estate sale, or \"investor special\", it may not make the MLS.

In terms of net profit, is a seller better off selling as is for a lower price, or remodeling and updating house? How much more does a seller get back after spending on home improvements? The house will sell faster but will the profits be greater?

Each situation is different. Key areas of improvements will help increase your appraisal. Note I said appraisal. What you spend for renovating may not get you to the numbers you want. Spending $5K-8K on int/ext paint, won\'t get you that kinda increase. It\'s not a direct correlation. However homes typically sell much lower than you\'d like if they need updating and fixup. The average homeowner doesn\'t want to spend time and money havimg to fix up a house they just spent thousands on before they can move into it. Why do that when for a little more, they can buy new for a little more and get a 10yr warranty. Fix it up. Make it the best house on the block and sell it at the right price, and it will go quick.

What area of a home remodel would add value to your sales price?

A couple of things I\'ll add to the already big list. \n\nMake sure you a remodeling to be the best home in the neighborhood, but don\'t over spend. Putting in a brand new gold tub doesn\'t bring you any more value. You just overspent on what you thought would be best. \n\nItems like roofs, flooring, HVAC, new appliances, countertops, are all great. But don\'t forget about the routine maintenance items that should have been updated anyway. Replace the old iron water pipes. Make sure your house is well insulated. Efficient HVAC (14+ seer) but not one too big in capacity. Electrical box? Driveway? \n\nThink about the new homes you\'d compete against. No matter how well the renovations go, if the public doesn\'t like and the appraiser doesn\'t like it, it won\'t get you over the top. But you have to stay within your neighborhood values too. Don\'t look to get $50k to $100k more than what everything in the neighborhood is selling for. You might eek out $20k-$30k, but that\'s for the buyer and the lender to decide.