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

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