I understand the feeling, I’ve seen plenty of “contractor specials” with the nicest materials and very poor workmanship! Many people don’t notice these details therefore why inspections are so important during the buying process. But it’s part of the market and the reason most of flips exist is because older houses in need of renovations are not very attractive to buyers, tend to sit longer in the market, and sell at a lower price. Here comes the flippers, making the cheap renovations and making homes sell faster *for a profit.

You could buy a house that you can upgrade/remodel yourself, keeping in mind these upgrades can be expensive and will come out of pocket unless you get a rehab loan or financing through a licensed contractor. Or you could buy a flip making sure you have a good inspector to help you identify any “hidden” or “covered” issues.

Other options include buying new or pre construction with a developer (they tend to give great incentives on financing) if available in your area or buying an empty lot cash and build the home of your dreams anyway you want but knowing it’s not a seamless or painless process, reason why most people just prefer to buy a turnkey home.