Flip calculator

What an Allegheny County sheriff-sale house costs from your bid to the resale, and what's left. Cash only, no loans. Typical Pittsburgh-area prices are filled in; change any number.

1. Buying

Town Your winning bid ($)The opening bid is announced at the sale and can be higher than the costs & taxes amount. Title search and any liens that stay ($)A title search shows which liens stay with the house.

At an Allegheny County sheriff sale the transfer tax comes out of the sale money, not on top of your bid. You pay the $200 deed recording fee. Sources: conditions of sale, 2026 recording fees.

2. Repairs

Nobody can go inside before a sheriff sale. We ticked a typical cosmetic flip; tick or untick to match the house.

Who does the work? Contractors Mostly ourselves (materials only)

Living area (sq ft) Bathrooms Windows

Extra for surprises

Repairs with the extra: $0

3. Holding

Months until it sells Property taxes per month ($) Insurance per month ($) Utilities per month ($)

Example numbers. Change them to yours.

4. Selling

Price you expect to sell for ($)Not sure? Comparable sales for every house are in Basic. Agent fees% Your share of the transfer tax%Sellers usually pay half of the town's rate. Other closing costs%

What's left

Buying (bid, $200 recording, title): $0
Repairs with the extra: $0
Holding: $0
Cash you need: $0
Selling costs: $0
What's left before income tax: Enter the sale price
Return on your cash: —

Typical price ranges, checked Oct 23, 2026. They are not quotes: get local quotes and a title search before bidding. Public data and your own numbers, not advice.

Where these prices come from

Do-it-yourself prices are materials, from our own 2026 repair budget for a Pittsburgh-area house. Contractor prices come from these 2026 cost guides, Pittsburgh where available. Transfer tax rates are the county's table by town and school district plus the 1% state share.