That risk is not as evident in the Chicago area as in many of the areas studied by RealtyTrac. Home prices have appreciated slowly in Chicago compared with other parts of the country, and that has left discounts on homes that appeal to flippers. In the Chicago area, the average discount enjoyed by flippers had been 36 percent below the estimated market value of the home. Nationally, the average discount has been 27 percent, according to RealtyTrac.