Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth.

It’s hard to scroll lately without seeing some version of this claim:

“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”

And if you’re a buyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably feels pretty believable. When prices are high and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are swooping in and taking everything off the market.

But here’s the truth: what people think is happening and what the data actually shows aren’t always the same.

So let’s take a deep breath and look at the real numbers behind large institutional investors in today’s housing market—because the story is far less scary than the headlines suggest.

The Number Most People Aren’t Talking About

According to John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC), large institutional investors—those who own 100+ homes—made up just 1.2% of all home purchases in Q3 of 2025.

Let that sink in for a second.

Out of every 100 homes sold, only about one went to a large institutional investor.

Even more important? That number is completely in line with historical norms and is actually well below the recent peak of 3.1% in 2022 (which itself was still a small slice of the market).

So while it may feel like big investors are everywhere, nationally they are actually a very small part of the overall picture.

Why This Narrative Gets So Much Attention

There are two big reasons this topic feels louder than it really is:

1. Investor activity isn’t evenly spread

Some markets do see more investor activity than others, which can make competition feel heavier locally. As Lance Lambert, Co-Founder of ResiClub, explains:

“On a national level, ‘large investors’—those owning at least 100 single-family homes—only own around 1% of total single-family housing stock. That said, in a handful of regional housing markets, institutional and large single-family landlords have a much larger presence.”

Translation? Your experience can vary by area—but nationally, this is not the crisis social media makes it out to be.

2. “Investor” is a broad label

Many headlines lump together:

• Wall Street institutions

• Local landlords

• Small-time investors (like someone who owns one rental property)

Those are very different buyers, but they often get reported as one big scary group. That inflates the numbers and creates unnecessary fear.

The reality? Most investors are local, small-scale owners—not massive corporations dominating the market.

The Real Challenge in Today’s Market

Affordability concerns are real—but they’re driven far more by:

• Low housing supply

• Strong demand

• Years of underbuilding nationwide

Not by large institutional investors.

That’s why good information matters so much—especially when you’re trying to make confident decisions for your future.

Bottom Line

If you’re feeling unsure about what you’re hearing online, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

If you want to talk through what investor activity actually looks like here in our local market—and how it affects your options (or doesn’t)—I’m always happy to connect.

Sometimes a little clarity brings a whole lot of peace of mind.