Artists from around the United States volunteered time and talent to help a bereaved Lake Elsinore family finish their home to be featured on TLC’s Flip That House. The Fisher family had just begun a major renovation project on a house near downtown Lake Elsinore when Brian Fisher, a former special education teacher who did most of the renovation work himself, became ill and suddenly died. The family felt overwhelmed by this loss and by the project itself—the house still needed walls torn down, plumbing and electrical work, a whole new kitchen, paint, fixtures, flooring, landscaping, pool repair, and more.

Lou was on his way up the corporate ladder until he......

Lou was on his way up the corporate ladder until he......

Even though the real estate market has entered a "correction cycle," there's no need to sit on the sidelines, waiting for the market to rebound. There's still money in flipping houses, even during an economic downturn. Here are a few suggestions:

Are you missing out on a very lucrative niche investment opportunity?

Built for a Hollywood legend, William Boyd (known as Hopalong Cassidy) and his wife, the home features many amenities not usual in a mid-century house.

Are you missing out on a very lucrative niche investment opportunity?

Even thought it has slowed, the U.S. housing market hasn't gone into the swoon predicted by many economists, which is good news for most Americans. The market is still flat and overall home sales haven't been this slow since back in 1991, but there are signs that lower financing costs and falling prices are beginning to lure buyers back.

I'm more concerned with remodeling a home using design psychology and home staging than finding a seller that's so motivated that I can low-ball a house, but people often ask me how they can find motivated sellers in their area. Here are a few ideas I give them along with tips that makes the strategy work:

Real estate investment and flipping houses has become a hot topic on television and in the media these days, but before you get caught up in the investment fervor, you need to provide honest answers to some serious questions.