On The Captain Curt Show, host Curt Marker asks a big question: Is flipping houses dead in today’s market? To unpack it, he’s joined by Austin Cole, a San Diego real estate investor who has flipped 75+ houses with his father while also building rentals and Airbnb income streams.
This episode dives into:
- Is flipping still profitable in 2025? The truth about margins, ARVs, and market timing
- Contractor challenges: what to do when GCs run off with funds, and why site walks matter
- Buy & hold vs. flipping: why San Diego doesn’t cash flow, but West Virginia rentals do
- Airbnb playbook: how a cash-out refi + cost segregation created tax savings & steady revenue
- Investor trust: turning a $25K gap loan into millions in repeat private money
- Performance habits: why discipline in fitness, sobriety, and time management translate directly into business wins
- Biggest disasters: from a La Jolla nightmare flip to tools “walking off” sites—and the lessons that protect future deals
Whether you’re an investor, flipper, or high earner looking for passive income, this conversation shows what’s changing in real estate—and what fundamentals never die.
00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The Captain Curt Show
01:30 – Meeting Austin Cole (San Diego flipper + fitness focus)
04:45 – Sobriety, fitness, and business discipline
10:25 – First flip story: foundation issues & 3-year process
16:00 – Working with family: father–son partnership
20:50 – Getting burned by contractors & investor lessons
27:40 – Flipping vs. buy & hold in today’s market
34:20 – Airbnb strategy: cash-out refi + cost segregation
40:05 – Biggest disaster flip: La Jolla storm drain mess
46:15 – Fitness discipline & gym habits applied to business
51:50 – Social media, networking, and raising private money
58:30 – Why landscaping ROI beats cutting corners
1:04:10 – Mistakes to avoid when flipping houses
1:09:45 – Is flipping houses dead in 2025?
1:14:20 – Final advice, legacy, and book recommendations
Connect with Austin Cole on Instagram @austinccole
Keywords: Is flipping houses dead, house flipping 2025, real estate investing, ARV, general contractors, private money, Airbnb cash flow, cost segregation, San Diego flips, investor trust, sober entrepreneurship, fitness discipline, father–son real estate team
CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @thecaptaincurt
TikTok: @thecaptaincurt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecaptaincurt_
Website: www.captaincapital.com
Invest With Curt: Start Here: https://www.captaincapital.com/invest
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