September 22, 2023

MyDesignDept

Carefully Crafted Home

This Florida Actual-Estate Agent Is Flipping His Possess Property to Get Wealth

  • David Ravitz thinks he’s cracked the code to constructing prosperity with homeownership.
  • Ravitz bought a property in 2021, lived in it all through renovations, and is marketing it two decades later on.
  • The strength of the Boca Raton, Florida, market place supplies a tailwind for his current financial commitment.

This as-instructed-to essay is centered on a discussion with David Ravitz, 31, a millennial authentic-estate agent who is dropping the plan of extensive-term homeownership to accumulate wealth. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up and lived in the identical residence for 18 many years. But most people today will not remain in the exact same house for extra than 10 years anymore —  they are a lot more inclined to move all-around and market. 

That is related to the workforce. You will not see individuals doing work at the identical firm for 25 or 30 many years. Rather, we bounce all over to different providers or industries for improved possibilities.

People today transferring about indicates the American dream of homeownership is shifting, and that is not automatically a poor thing.

I’m giving up on very long-phrase homeownership 

I was in finance for a number of a long time. I went again to school and received my MBA at the University of Miami, and then jumped into serious estate. I am heading on 4 several years now as a real estate agent in South Florida. 

David Ravitz and his wife.

David Ravitz and his wife.

Courtesy of David Ravitz.



Every day, I look at, and obtain and promote homes on behalf of my clientele. So, I am in tune with the sector and have a eager viewpoint on what is going on in housing. 

Around the earlier couple yrs, the South Florida true-estate marketplace has taken off and there has been a flood of people today moving in this article. You listen to about prices leveling out in other parts of the place, but we have not found that at all in this place. 

In 2021, my wife and I purchased our to start with property for $960,000 — a 4-bedroom, three-rest room, ranch style starter-household in Boca Raton. The property experienced actually good bones but was designed in 1996 and essential to be current. 

At 1st, we thought we would renovate the dwelling and reside there for at the very least four yrs before promoting. Having said that, specified the power of the area’s market place, our mentality shifted.

To increase our investment, we moved into the dwelling and renovated it above the class of two yrs, and have now listed the home for sale. We strategy on repeating that method indefinitely.

We are not standard repair and flippers 

My spouse and I are in the prosperity accumulation phase of our existence and believe that this product will generate the most outcomes economically.  

The major gain of this product is from a tax viewpoint. If you happen to be a married few and you personal a house as a principal residence for at minimum two decades, you can have tax-no cost capital gains up to $500,000. If you might be single, that overall is up to $250,000. That tax remedy offers chance for investment decision for the reason that you create equity and the household appreciates as it is renovated.

David Ravitz's renovated kitchen.

David Ravitz’s renovated kitchen.

Courtesy of David Ravitz.



It absolutely depends on the route that you go, but I consider this renovation approach can do the job in any market. 

We think our residence invest in in Boca Raton is a fantastic expenditure thanks to the demand from customers for housing in the spot. Selling prices are elevated even though materials are constrained, and there are tons of persons looking to bounce into the current market. 

We program to repeat this method indefinitely

It took us two many years and $500,000 to totally renovate our property. We expanded flooring ideas and brought in new appliances and home furniture. In June, we place it on the market for just below $2 million. 

We budgeted for the home’s renovation by looking at other reworked households in our space. To make absolutely sure we saved on the challenge, I made use of Excel spreadsheets to continue to keep observe of expenses. Considering that we were being dwelling in the dwelling, I was also ready to observe our contractors and make confident we splurged in which we wished and saved where we necessary. We stayed appropriate on finances nearly to the greenback.

David Ravitz's renovated home.

The renovated dining location in David Ravitz’s dwelling.

Courtesy of David Ravitz.



The household has been shown for a thirty day period but potential buyers have been really energetic — we have gained numerous provides. I anticipate it will market in August or September. But no matter how extended it takes, my wife and I are not in a rush to promote — we love living right here and know our financial investment will shell out off. 

In a couple of a long time, we approach to goal another home and repeat the method all around once again.