What 50 Flips Taught Adam Kutchuk About Risk, Resilience, and Running the Numbers
There’s a moment in every real estate agent’s journey when the idea of flipping houses starts to creep in. Maybe it’s after your fifth listing presentation in a row. Maybe it's when a friend brags about a six-figure wholesale deal. Or maybe, like Adam Kujath, it hits you after a decade of residential sales that, while easy, weren’t exactly lighting your soul on fire.
In our latest Prosperity Collabs episode, Adam opens up about how he went from reluctantly joining the family real estate business… to betting $60,000 in credit card debt on himself… to building a full-time, high-volume flipping business.
And let me tell you—this is not the HGTV version. It’s better.
From Fighter Pilot Dreams to Flipping Reality
Adam grew up around real estate. His parents were in the business, and success was baked into the DNA of their brokerage. But like a lot of us, Adam didn’t dream of open houses and escrows. He wanted to fly fighter jets. When that plan didn’t pan out (thanks to a 10-year military contract that felt like a lifetime at age 20), he found himself circling back to real estate.
The early 2000s were, in his words, “a golden era.” With minimal effort and the right last name, Adam was pulling in six figures a year, working 10–25 hours a week. But even he’ll tell you—he cruised through that decade without really building anything lasting.
Then came the crash. And that’s where things get interesting.
Adapt or Get Out of the Game
When the market turned in 2007, Adam watched his dad pivot fast—launching a short sale blog every single day, optimizing for SEO before anyone really knew what that was. It was scrappy, it was consistent, and it worked.
They closed over 300 short sales during that time.
That season planted a powerful lesson: when the market shifts, so do you—or you get left behind.
Fast forward to 2019, and Adam’s doing residential sales more selectively—mostly past clients and referrals—while slowly dipping his toes into flipping. His first flip? A manufactured home with chickens roaming the master bedroom and no working bathroom. (You could smell the house before you got to the door.) But he made it work—and netted around $60K.
That’s when everything changed.
The Real Costs of Playing the Flipping Game
Here’s what most people won’t tell you about flipping: it’s not just about the right deal. It’s about having the stomach for risk. And Adam had it in spades.
Fresh off a divorce, with no real cash reserves, he leveraged his good credit to open over $100K in 0% interest credit lines. He poured that into marketing with HomeVestors (yep, the caveman “We Buy Ugly Houses” franchise) and didn’t land a deal until he was already $50K–$60K deep.
That’s not just confidence—that’s commitment.
Why Systems Matter More Than Skill
Flipping isn’t magic. It’s not luck. It’s a business. And like any business, it needs systems.
For the first few years, Adam relied on the HomeVestors engine—they handled marketing, branding, lead gen. But as costs rose and brand recognition waned, he realized something important:
If I’m going to spend $15K a month on leads, I’d rather own the pipeline.
Cue the second reinvention. He left the franchise. Spent $250K on TV ads in San Diego (a little prematurely). Burned some cash. Got humbled. Then found a new coaching group, Results Driven, and started rebuilding—this time with processes he could own.
What Running It Like a Business Really Looks Like
Today, Adam spends $25K–$30K a month on marketing. He closes deals over the phone, sight unseen, and doesn’t step foot in a house until it’s under contract. He has a team, multiple contractors, a CRM, and a trained caller who follows up while he's out walking a property or on a coaching call.
He’s flipped 40–50 properties. He’s done high-end assignments (like a $250K Carlsbad wholesale deal). And he’s learned the hard way that you don’t scale by doing it all yourself.
“If you don’t run it like a business, you’re just creating another job for yourself.”
That stuck with me. Because in a world full of side hustles and part-time investing fantasies, Adam’s doing the real work—and sharing what it actually looks like.
So… Should You Flip Houses?
That depends.
If you hate risk, avoid chaos, and aren’t ready to spend 5 figures a month on marketing, it might not be your lane.
But if you’re coachable, you understand the value of systems, and you’re tired of trading time for money—flipping can be your path out of the rat race.
Just know this: You don’t need to start with a million dollars. But you do need to start with the right mindset—and the right mentors.
Final Thought: You Can’t Skip the Learning Curve
Adam’s story reminded me of something we all need to hear more often:
“Everything is impossible until someone does it. Then it’s just a process.”
He didn’t come into flipping with a background in construction. He didn’t have a ton of capital. He learned by taking risks, listening to mentors, and sticking with it through the messy middle.
And that, my friends, is what separates the people who dream about flipping from the people who actually do it.
Want to connect with Adam?
You can find him on Facebook under Need for Speed Cash Offers or check out CashFastSanDiego.com.
And if you’re on the edge of taking your real estate career in a new direction—watch the full interview.
You’ll see that flipping houses isn’t just about money. It’s about momentum.
If you enjoyed this blog, share it with a friend who’s been thinking about investing—and subscribe to Prosperity Collabs for more thoughtful conversations like this.
