Attom Data Solutions

Don't believe what you see on the cable shows — home flipping is a tough business.

Rising home prices are likely to constrain affordability for some time to come, with only the current low mortgage interest rate environment softening the blow, Attom Data Solutions said.

The dollar volume of financing to buy fix-and-flip properties increased 31% annually to its highest level since the heights of last decade's real estate boom, according to Attom Data Solutions.

While there was a slight rise in foreclosure filings in August over July, there was a decline when compared with the previous year for the 14th consecutive month, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Most homes located in Opportunity Zones sell for below the national median price.

About 80% of Opportunity Zones had median home prices below the national mark of $266,000 in the second quarter, with 47% of them below $150,000, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Foreclosure activity fell 21% in July compared to a year ago and rose 6% from June after twelve consecutive months of declines, according to Attom Data Solutions.

The share of abandoned homes by their owners continues to drop at a faster pace than the overall foreclosure rate, totaling half of what they were three years ago, Attom Data Solutions said.

Bucking a national trend, the Tampa Bay area saw an increase in new foreclosure filings in the first half of the year.

A more sustainable approach to home flipping is a responsible one that benefits not just real estate investors, but also the neighborhood, local economy and even the eventual resident.