Welcome back to another episode of Raising the Flipping Bar!

If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there — we covered John Paul and Carrie Maxfield's backgrounds, their design philosophy, and the real story behind their second deal ever: a seven-figure flip at Boulder Country Club.

🔗 Listen to Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5JGh8zxIE0

In Part 2, we get into the nitty-gritty: the actual numbers behind the deal, a smart tax-timing decision that could have gone very differently, what it's really like running a business as husband and wife, and how mentorship through the ELEVATION Academy gave them the confidence to move fast on a project most people wouldn't touch as their second deal ever.

Here's what we dive into:

• Real estate project timelines and numbers: what a 12-month timeline and a 1.3-1.5x cash-on-cash return actually looked like on this deal
• Lessons learned from their initial projects, and what they'd do differently
• The importance of trust in partnerships — both business partners and marriage partners
• The community impact of property redevelopment, and what it means to bring a home "back to life"
• Market timing and tax implications: the decision they faced 16 days shy of the 366-day capital gains mark
• Pivoting strategies in development, including the story behind their Park Hill "pop-top" decision
• Building a community of investors and developers — and why mentorship is "standing on the shoulders of giants"
• Their vision for future growth and impact, including a goal of $100M in assets under management

If you've ever wondered whether mentorship actually moves the needle, or what it takes to go from ELEVATION Academy student to closing seven-figure deals with confidence, this episode gives you the real answer, straight from two people who've done it.

I'd love to hear from you guys — whether you're an ELEVATION Academy student, an investor, or just someone building something with a partner, what's one piece of advice you'd give someone about to take on a project that scares them a little? Get in touch via the show notes, or send us a DM on Instagram @elevationinvest.

🚨 We're Hiring a Real Estate Agent 🚨

I'm looking for one more agent to join our team — someone who's a beast on the MLS, great at writing offers, and skilled at building relationships with other agents. If that's you, email me at info@elevationinvest.com or text 720-545-0490.

📘 Want Our New Investor Ebook? Be on the list to get our latest investor ebook. DM "EBOOK" or email: info@elevationinvest.com

Thank you for tuning in to this two-part conversation with John Paul and Carrie Maxfield. If you found value in it, don't forget to leave a review and share it with someone who's serious about real estate investing.

Keep fighting the good fight, and I'll catch you on the flip side.

Connect with Derek Marlin and ELEVATION Investment Properties:

Derek on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/derekmarlin

ELEVATION's website: https://elevationinvest.com/

ELEVATION on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevationinvest/

ELEVATION on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevationinvestmentproperties

Connect with John Paul & Carrie Maxfield: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/living_place_landscapes/

Living Place: https://livingplace.co

Subscribe & Listen to "Raising the Flipping Bar" on your favorite podcast player!

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ByYmxv

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3WbUCeQ

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevationRealEstateInvesting

#RaisingTheFlippingBar #RealEstateInvesting #FixAndFlip #DenverRealEstate #PropertyRedevelopment #RealEstateNumbers #BoulderColorado #RealEstateEducation #ElevationRealEstate #ElevationAcademy

Everybody's focused on finding a good deal — and that's step one. But as margins get tighter and the market gets more challenging, the real difference-maker is what happens after you're under contract. In this episode, I sit down with our Senior Project Manager, Travis Masse, to break down what's actually driving rehab budgets in 2026 and how great project management can make or break a flip.

Here's what we dive into:

• Why material costs aren't coming back down, even after COVID and tariffs
• The biggest rehab budgeting mistakes new investors make (and why the lowest bid is often the most expensive one)
• Why contingency budgets exist — and why you should never spend them upfront
• The "Frankenstein house" problem: why buyers today want pieces of 20 different homes
• GC vs. self-managing: how to decide which one is right for your project
• The real pros, cons, and hidden markups of hiring a general contractor
• ELEVATION's hybrid model — how we buy fixtures and finishes direct to avoid markups
• Inside our "Big Four" of project management and the 107-step system we use to run every job
• Where we actually source materials (Floor & Decor, Wayfair, Amazon, and a few others)
• Rapid fire: Travis's favorite project, the most overrated upgrade, and the biggest surprise we've hit during demo
• What AI is going to change about rehab budgeting and project management in the next 5 years

If you've ever wondered why two contractors can quote wildly different prices for the "same" job, or how to keep a project from falling apart in the middle, this episode will change how you think about the construction side of flipping.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 – Introduction and Market Overview

1:02 – Market Challenges: Higher Interest Rates and Tight Margins

2:02 – Material Cost Increases and Tariffs Impact

5:18 – Common Mistakes New Investors Make

7:10 – Contingency Planning and Unexpected Costs

11:47 – GC vs. Self-Managed Projects

17:56 – Ideal Investor Profiles for Self-Managing

20:45 – Hybrid Approach to Material Purchasing

24:34 – The 107-Step Project Management System

36:55 – Rapid Fire: Best Projects, Overrated Upgrades & Demo Surprises

42:40 – The Future of AI in Project Management

🎉 Quick shoutout: Travis is celebrating his 5-year anniversary with ELEVATION next month — and he's about to go fully offline for a one-month sabbatical. Congrats, Travis, and enjoy the disconnect!

🚨 We're still hiring a real estate agent 🚨 If you're interested in joining our investor-focused team, DM us or email info@elevationinvest.com.

Thank you for tuning in to Raising the Flipping Bar. If you found value in this episode, don't forget to leave a review and share it with someone who's serious about real estate investing.

Keep fighting the good fight, and I'll catch you on the flip side.

Connect with Derek Marlin and ELEVATION Investment Properties:

Derek on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/derekmarlin

ELEVATION's website: https://elevationinvest.com/

ELEVATION on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevationinvest/

ELEVATION on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevationinvestmentproperties

Subscribe & Listen to "Raising the Flipping Bar" on your favorite podcast player!

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3ByYmxv

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3WbUCeQ

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevationRealEstateInvesting

#RaisingTheFlippingBar #RealEstateInvesting #FixAndFlip #DenverRealEstate #RehabBudgeting #ProjectManagement #GeneralContractor #RealEstateTips #ConstructionManagement #RealEstateEducation #ElevationRealEstate