← Back to BlogMay 20267 minDan White
House Flipping in St. Louis: 2026 Market Guide
St. Louis is a high-volume flip market with some of the lowest entry prices among major US metros. The large supply of distressed brick homes, consistent rental demand from a major university population, and improving neighborhoods create a reliable investor environment.
Market Context
Live Market Data
Washington, DC Housing Market
Cool Market
Data through Mar 2026
Median Sale Price
$590,000
+0.8% YoY
Median Days on Market
44 days
lower = faster market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.7%
buyers' market
Homes Sold
4,457
last reported month
Source: Redfin Data Center. Updated monthly. Data reflects Washington, DC residential sales.
redfin.comThe St. Louis Opportunity
St. Louis has a clear split between appreciating inner-ring neighborhoods close to Forest Park, Washington University, and Cortex — and outer neighborhoods with lower demand. The inner ring offers consistent flip exits. Buy in the path of improvement and your ARV thesis is sound.
Best Neighborhoods for Flippers
- Tower Grove South — strong millennial demand, ARVs $200k–$300k
- Benton Park — renovated brick row homes, ARVs $220k–$320k
- Fox Park — transitional, ARVs $180k–$260k, good upside
- Shaw — stable demand, ARVs $240k–$340k, family buyers
- Dutchtown — higher risk, affordable entry, ARVs $140k–$220k
Brick Home Rehab
St. Louis is a brick city. Tuckpointing, lintel replacement, and brick repair are standard line items that many out-of-market investors underestimate. Budget $5k–$15k for tuckpointing on older brick homes depending on condition. Interior plaster walls are common — skim coat repair is less expensive than full drywall replacement and preserves period character that buyers value.
Typical Flip Numbers
Entry-level St. Louis flips run $50k–$90k purchase, $45k–$70k rehab, ARVs of $180k–$280k. Net profit after all costs runs $25k–$50k. Volume is the key — many St. Louis flippers do 8–15 deals per year because the lower ARVs reward throughput more than holding for maximum margin.
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Analyze My St. Louis Deal →Dan White is a licensed Virginia real estate agent at Pearson Smith Realty and founder of FreeDealCalc.com. He has been investing in Northern Virginia real estate for 20+ years.