Amherst Holdings, a large-scale single family landlord, has rolled out a subsidiary to buy and renovate houses for resale.

Taking advantage of a tight housing market, Patrick Clark writes, a wide field of companies is trying to make a profit by simplifying the home buying process. One of them, Amherst Holdings LLC, has launched a service called Bungalo Homes, "packaging a series of features it says can improve the experience of buying a home. The company is offering no-haggle pricing, listing homes for sale on its website and promising to sell to the first pre-approved buyer to meet its price."
It's also offering warranties, mortgages, and features to help buyer manage all the moving pieces. Bungalo's business model is essentially home flipping: it acquires and fixes up properties and resells them, betting that its platform will attract buyers who must otherwise "to shoot first and ask questions later."
In its main line of business, Amherst Holdings owns or manages around 20,000 single family rentals. Executives cite that expertise as a selling point for Bungalo, which launched this month with 25 renovated homes listed in Dallas and 10 in Tampa, Florida.
FULL STORY: Big Single-Family Landlord Bets $1 Billion on the Home-Flipping Business

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
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