Finding a flip is easy. Finding a profitable flip? That’s a different game.

And if you’re using PropStream (or any high-quality property data tool), you're already sitting on gold, you just need the right filter set to dig it up.

In this guide, we’re going to break down how to filter your PropStream lists specifically for high-margin flip opportunities, the kinds that give you the cushion you need to make real money after rehab, holding, and resale costs.

We’re not talking about chasing every vacant house or absentee owner in town. We’re talking about dialing in like a sniper, so every lead you touch has real equity, real condition issues, and a real reason to sell to you instead of listing with an agent.

Let’s go.

Why Filtering for Flip Potential is Different From Wholesaling

Wholesalers can get away with skinny deals. Flippers can’t.

Here’s why:

• You’re fronting more capital. That includes rehab, holding costs, financing, insurance, taxes, utilities, maybe six figures or more.

• You’re taking the market risk. If the ARV shifts or delays hit, your profit gets crushed.

• You need margin. 10–15% profit margin minimum. Ideally 20–25%.

So when you’re filtering in PropStream, you’re not just looking for motivated sellers.
You’re looking for properties that, with the right buy price, can turn a solid profit after all costs are paid.

Here’s how to set that up.

Step 1: Start With Owner Occupancy Filters

Your first job is to narrow down to owners who are either:

• Not living in the property

• Only recently acquired it

• Underwater with work or stress

In PropStream:

Filter → Ownership Info → Occupancy Status

Select:

• Vacant

• Non-owner occupied

Then, under Length of Ownership, set:

• Minimum: 5 years

• Maximum: No limit

Why?
You’re looking for people with equity (5+ years of ownership increases likelihood) but who aren’t emotionally attached to the house.

This alone gets rid of a massive chunk of low-margin, non-motivated owners.

Step 2: Add Estimated Equity Filters

This is one of the most important filters if you want high-margin flips.

In PropStream:

Filter → Valuation & Equity Info → Estimated Equity %

Set to:

• Minimum: 40%

• Maximum: 100%

This ensures you’re only seeing properties with enough built-in margin to support a flip, even if you have to come in with cash.

You can go higher (60–70%) if you’re in competitive or high-priced markets.

Remember: equity = negotiation cushion.

Step 3: Use Property Characteristics to Find “Flip Ready” Inventory

Now it’s time to hunt for properties that are:

• Old enough to need work

• Small enough to flip quickly

• Zoned for residential resale

In PropStream:

Filter → Property Characteristics

Set the following:

• Property Type: Single Family, Multifamily 2–4 Units

• Year Built: Before 1990 (older properties tend to need more work = more upside)

• Square Footage: 800–2,500 (ideal size for faster, manageable rehabs)

You can expand this range based on your personal flip criteria, but these numbers typically represent the sweet spot.

Step 4: Include Property Condition Indicators

You can’t filter directly for “bad roof” or “needs new kitchen,” but PropStream gives you several indirect condition signals.

Here are a few ways to flag them:

A. Pre-Foreclosure or Liens

Under Filter → Quick List Choices, select:

• Pre-Foreclosure

• Lien

• Divorce

• Bankruptcy

These are stress indicators. Many of these homes haven’t been maintained, which could create flip-friendly opportunities.

B. Vacant Properties

You already selected this under Occupancy, but it’s worth reiterating: vacant + old = flip candidate.

Vacant houses often mean:

• Deferred maintenance

• Probate/inheritance

• Abandoned projects

C. MLS Status

Want to avoid competition or find botched retail attempts?

Under MLS Status, select:

• Off Market

• Optionally: “Failed Listings” or “Expired” (to catch listed-and-gave-up owners)

Avoid active listings. If it's on Zillow, you're late.

Step 5: Zip Code or County-Level Sorting for Margin

Here’s where you separate the sharp operators from the guessers.

High-margin flips depend not only on price and equity, but resale potential.

That means you need to flip in areas where:

• Buyers are actively shopping

• Comps support your ARV

• Days on market is reasonable

In PropStream:

Filter → Location

Choose only zip codes or counties where:

• You know the exit comp strategy

• You’ve seen successful flips before

• The resale price can support a meaningful margin

Use the “Draw Area” tool if you’re hyper-targeted to a few hot blocks.

Step 6: Filter Out Retail-Ready or Already-Renovated Homes

Many flippers waste time chasing properties that are already too nice or already have retail competition.

In PropStream:

Filter → MLS Status

Exclude:

• Active Listings

• Recently Sold in last 6 months

Then go to Property Characteristics and exclude:

• Last Sale Price > 90% of AVM (suggests recent retail price)

• Last Sale Date < 12 months ago (could be an owner who just bought and likely won’t sell at discount)

You want homes that:

• Haven’t sold recently

• Aren’t staged for the market

• Look rough on satellite or street view

Step 7: Layer With Motivation Triggers

Now that you’ve narrowed down by occupancy, equity, property type, and location, add seller stress signals to go deeper.

Use:

• Vacancy + Lien

• Out-of-State Owner + Divorce

• Long-Term Owner + Code Violation (if data available)

• Probate + Non-owner-occupied

These combinations help you:

• Avoid time-wasters

• Increase contact rates

• Get to the decision-maker faster

PropStream lets you build stacked lists with multiple flags. These leads convert better and negotiate better.

Step 8: Export & Tag for Manual Review

Once your list is filtered, tag it before marketing.

Here’s a quick tagging system:

• A = High Equity + Motivation + Ideal Zip

• B = Decent Equity + Mild Motivation

• C = Unclear Equity or Data Gaps (needs manual review)

Use tags in PropStream or once you export to your CRM.

This lets you:

• Prioritize your outreach

• Match flips to your budget and crew availability

• Build a consistent acquisition pipeline

What NOT to Do: Common Filtering Mistakes

Avoid these filtering errors if you want only high-margin leads:

Don’t go too wide. Filtering the whole city gets you junk. Filter for zip codes where you know values.

Don’t ignore equity. Even if the house is ugly, low equity means short margin. Skip it.

Don’t just chase vacancy. Vacancy is one signal, but combine it with condition or ownership filters to make it worth your time.

Don’t assume everything needs a flip. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s profitable. Your exit comp must support a good return.

Example: A High-Margin Filter You Can Use Today

Here’s a real-world filter stack you can try right now:

• Property Type: Single Family

• Year Built: 1940–1985

• Occupancy: Vacant or Non-owner

• Ownership Length: 8+ years

• Estimated Equity: 50–100%

• MLS Status: Off-market

• Distress Flags: Lien or Pre-foreclosure

• Zip Codes: Only where you’ve flipped before or want to flip next

This list will typically be under 500 records per county, and those 500 will be worth chasing.

Final Tips for Using PropStream to Find High-Margin Flips

1. Know Your Numbers First
Before you filter, know your market’s:

• Average flip resale range

• Rehab costs per sq ft

• ARV ceilings by zip code

This helps you reverse-engineer your max acquisition price.

2. Use Photos + Google Street View
Before calling, pull up photos (if listed before) or street view. Look for:

• Boarded windows

• Old roofs or siding

• Abandoned cars or unkempt landscaping

• Signs of prior renovations started but not finished

3. Track Your Lead Source Performance
Over time, tag the deals that close and backtrack:

• What filters did they meet?

• What trigger was most predictive?

Double down on what works.

4. Combine With Phone Append Tools
PropStream lets you skip trace, but combine it with:

• BatchSkipTracing

• REISkip

• TruePeopleSearch (free but lower match rates)

The faster you contact, the faster you win.

PropStream is a Flip Finder, If You Filter Right

PropStream is one of the most powerful tools in your flipping arsenal, but only if you set it up to work for you, not just show you properties.

High-margin flips don’t show up by accident.

They show up when you:

• Filter for the right ownership and equity

• Focus on distressed but flippable condition

• Target proven resale zip codes

• Exclude distractions like turnkey or retail-ready homes

When you get this right, your PropStream list becomes a daily source of flip deals with room to breathe, even after the hammer swings.