
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Real estate investors are buying a larger share of U.S. homes as high prices and borrowing costs deter traditional buyers. A report by BatchData shows investors purchased nearly 27% of homes sold in the first quarter of the year, the highest in five years. This marks a rise from the 18.5% average share between 2020 and 2023. The housing market has slowed since early 2022 due to rising mortgage rates, leaving more inventory for cash-ready investors. While most investor-owned homes belong to small-scale owners, large institutional investors are scaling back purchases, with many selling more homes than they buy.
(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)