How Investors Use Appraisals to Flip Homes in San Francisco (2026)
How Investors Use Appraisals to Flip Homes in San Francisco Author: Ms San Francisco Real Estate | Last Updated: February, 2026 Currently, house flipping is a science. In San Francisco, the stakes are high. Therefore, guessing is dangerous. Instead, smart investors use data. Specifically, they use appraisal logic. Basically, you must know the value before buying. Otherwise, you risk your cash. Fortunately, Ms. San Francisco Real Estate helps. We crunch the numbers. Below is your guide for 2026. 📐 1. The Magic Number: ARV First, calculate the ARV. Simply, this is “After Repair Value.” Crucially, it predicts the future price. Investors use ARV to decide: Price: Exactly what to pay today. Budget: How much to spend on repairs. Profit: What is left over. To find this, we look at “comps.” Specifically, we find renovated homes nearby. Then, we compare them to your project. If you skip this...