# Cemetery plots are the new house flips

> Plot prices jumped 65% since 2018, sparking a niche market where people buy and resell burial spots for profit.
- Title: Cemetery plots are the new house flips · Yahoo Finance
- Summary: Plot prices jumped 65% since 2018, sparking a niche market where people buy and resell burial spots for profit. Cemetery plot flipping is technically…
- Keywords: cemetery plots, real estate flipping, burial industry, property investment, secondary market, price appreciation, commodification, niche market, state regulations, cemetery brokers, business, finance
- Source: Yahoo Finance — https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/cemetery-plot-prices-jumped-65-113500939.html
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:35:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cemetery plots, real estate flipping, burial industry, property investment, secondary market, price appreciation, commodification, niche market, state regulations, cemetery brokers, business, finance
## House flipping finds a new frontier
After the 2008 housing crash, flipping homes made a COVID-era comeback. Now some investors are applying the same strategy to an unexpected asset: cemetery plots.
## Why cemetery plots make sense
Demand for burial plots stays steady regardless of economic conditions, supply is extremely limited, and no renovation is needed. About 33% of Americans choose traditional burial.
## The price surge is real
Cemetery plot prices jumped 65% between 2018 and 2024, far outpacing the 25% general inflation rate. Premium plots can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

> Cemeteries are just another real estate use, right?
## A $4 billion industry emerges
Private cemeteries and crematories form a $4 billion industry. Cemetery brokerages now market plots as long-term investment assets, highlighting their scarcity and appreciation potential.
## What you actually own
Buying a cemetery plot doesn't mean owning the land. You get internment rights on property owned by the cemetery company, church, or government body.
## The flip isn't quick
Cemetery Exchange founder Maureen Walton says classic flipping isn't realistic. Plots can take years to sell, and some listings sit for years waiting for the right buyer.

> It takes too long, as they can take years to sell.
## State laws and bylaws limit profits
Sales must follow state laws and cemetery bylaws that vary widely. Some cemeteries claim first right of refusal, charge transfer fees, or cap resale prices at their original retail price.
## Inherited plots offer better odds
Most cemetery plot profits come from families selling inherited plots acquired decades ago. They typically sell for far more than the original purchase price, especially when heirs didn't know the plots existed.

> Chances are great that what they sell it for is more than what they paid for it.
## Key takeaway

Cemetery plot flipping is technically possible but slow and heavily restricted by state laws and cemetery bylaws, making it far less lucrative than it sounds.