U.S. cities where house flipping delivers the best returns in 2026

Rising purchase prices, higher borrowing costs, and longer renovation times have reduced profits for home flippers. Location now heavily influences outcomes, with similar budgets yielding different results depending on the area. Nationwide, the average flip profit is $66,000, down from $74,172 last year, with profit margins at 25.4%, below last year's 29.6%. Flips take about 165 days to sell, and over 60% are bought with cash due to financing challenges.