A Billion-Dollar Bet on Home Flipping

Amherst Holdings, a large-scale single family landlord, has rolled out a subsidiary to buy and renovate houses for resale.

1 minute read

September 27, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Charlotte Housing Development

American Spirit / Shutterstock

Taking advantage of a tight housing market, Patrick Clark writes, a wide field of companies is trying to make a profit by simplifying the home buying process. One of them, Amherst Holdings LLC, has launched a service called Bungalo Homes, "packaging a series of features it says can improve the experience of buying a home. The company is offering no-haggle pricing, listing homes for sale on its website and promising to sell to the first pre-approved buyer to meet its price."

It's also offering warranties, mortgages, and features to help buyer manage all the moving pieces. Bungalo's business model is essentially home flipping: it acquires and fixes up properties and resells them, betting that its platform will attract buyers who must otherwise "to shoot first and ask questions later."

In its main line of business, Amherst Holdings owns or manages around 20,000 single family rentals. Executives cite that expertise as a selling point for Bungalo, which launched this month with 25 renovated homes listed in Dallas and 10 in Tampa, Florida. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 in Bloomberg

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Two white garbage trucks stopped on New York City street.

How the ‘Direct Vision’ Design Approach Saves Lives

Designing large trucks to ensure better visibility for drivers can reduce fatal crashes and improve workplace safety.

30 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

Rendering of proposed greenway design for downtown San Diego street.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park

The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

April 7 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oil well on hilltop in Los Angeles with city neighborhoods in background.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites

Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

April 7 - LAist