Jo's little sister Mary Kay—"who we lovingly refer to as 'Mikey,'" Jo said—is coming back to Waco after nine long years away. She and her husband, David, need a home for their large (and growing) family, and Joanna knows her latest flip, a spacious house that can be customized to her sister's taste, fits the bill beautifully. "I knew Mikey would like it, which is the whole reason I got excited about it to begin with," she said. "It's one of those things where it's perfect timing."

Built in 1978, this 2,672 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom house looks great on paper, if not quite so great in person. It's ripe for renovation: "It's in a great neighborhood, the best school district you can imagine, and I think if we took a bet on this house, I don't even think it's a gamble," Chip said. "It's a, 'where's my money?!'"

Jo took a bite out of the expansive front yard to create a private dining area behind a wall of breeze blocks with the retro feel her sister loves. Floor-to-ceiling windows let the Texas sun spill in, and painted white brick, a striking front door, new wooden siding and iron sconces give this 40-year-old home a fresh new face.

Upholstered bench seating and an all-weather dining set give the McCalls' new front patio the feel of an intimate café.