Exit strategies, side by side
WholeResell is an independent educational site that compares the ways an investor can resell a property bought at a wholesale price. Each exit has different costs, timelines, paperwork and risks. We lay them out side by side so you can choose deliberately.
Independent educational site · Not a real estate broker · We do not buy, sell or list properties
We email when new comparisons and articles are published. No deal lists, no sales calls.
| Exit | How it works | Capital needed | Main risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract assignment | You sell your rights under the purchase contract to an end buyer for a fee. You never take title. | Earnest money only | Contract must allow assignment; fee is visible to all parties; disclosure rules apply. |
| Double close | You buy the property and resell it, usually the same day, in two separate closings. | Purchase funds (often short-term transactional funding) | Two sets of closing costs; some lenders and title companies restrict back-to-back sales. |
| Wholetail | You take title, do minimal cleanup and resell quickly, often to retail buyers. | Full purchase plus light repairs | Holding costs; buyers’ inspections may surface issues. |
| Fix and flip | You buy, renovate and resell at full market value. | Purchase plus renovation budget | Cost overruns, contractor delays, market shifts during the project. |
Costs and rules vary by state, lender and title company. Confirm with a real estate attorney and your title company before choosing an exit.
If the answer is almost none, an assignment is usually the only option. A flip ties up money for months.
In an assignment the end buyer and often the seller see your fee. A double close keeps two separate settlement statements.
Every month adds interest, insurance, taxes and utilities. Shorter exits reduce exposure to price changes.
Major structural or system work favours a full renovation by an experienced buyer rather than a quick resale.
What an assignment is and how the wholesaler is paid.
Read →Clauses every investor should understand before signing.
Read →Compare purchase price, repairs and resale value.
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