Flipping · Market playbook

How to Flip Houses in Buffalo, NY

Flipping in Buffalo lives or dies on two numbers: median sale price ($231k) and YoY appreciation (+3.7%). The arithmetic of your exit is what those numbers say it is.

DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026

Strong 100/100

Buffalo is in flip-favorable territory — appreciation tailwind, fast exits, buyer competition. Don't dawdle on acquisition.

TL;DR — data signals

→ Median sale $230,750 · YoY +3.7%
→ Median DOM 11 days — fast exit
→ 56.2% sold above list — aggressive pricing pulls offers fast
→ Underwrite to 70-73% of ARV

Buffalo's flip math starts at a median sale price of $230,750 and a YoY trajectory of +3.7%. Appreciation is doing meaningful work here — you can underwrite a flip with the wind at your back, but you'll also pay up at acquisition. The 70% rule still rules, but expect competition.

Your exit speed depends on buyer urgency. Buffalo's median DOM is 11 days against a sale-to-list ratio of 1.008 and 56.2% of sales closing above list. That's a fast market — a well-staged renovation can move in 14-21 days if you list at or just below the comps. Aggressive pricing pulls cash offers fast.

Rehab scope discipline is the other half. At a $231k median sale, Buffalo is a lower-price-point market. The rehab math is unforgiving here — every $5k over budget eats 2-3% of your profit. Standardize finishes (IKEA cabinets, mid-grade LVP, no quartz) and refuse the temptation to "elevate."

Net: the 70% rule (purchase + rehab + carry + closing ≤ 70% of ARV) is the only thing keeping flippers solvent. Buffalo's data is permissive enough to flex to 72-73% on the right comps.

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Buffalo at a glance