Small Investors Take Over as Institutional Buyers Retreat
PR Newswire•21/10/2026•06:00 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤Small investors comprised 66.2% of investor purchases, highest share in at least 15 years
- ➤Investors accounted for 10.7% of home purchases, but volumes hit lowest first-half level since 2020
- ➤Large and mega investors sold more homes than they bought in the first half
- ➤Investor all-cash purchases fell to 55.5%, versus 30.0% marketwide
- ➤Memphis investors represented 20.5% of purchases, the highest share among listed metros
Expert Statements
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“Investor buying eased, but the bigger shift is who is buying”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“Small investors made up 66.2% of investor purchases, while large and mega investors sold more homes than they bought.”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“Cash still sets investor purchases apart, even though its use has eased from recent highs”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“That's one sign the market has moved away from its pandemic-era intensity, even as investors remain an important part of home buying.”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“Investor activity reflects local market conditions.”
Hannah Jones, Senior economist, Realtor.com
“Affordability supports activity in the Midwest, while available inventory and softer prices create opportunities in parts of the Sun Belt.”
Small Investors Take Over as Institutional Buyers Retreat PR Newswire
Investor Activity Cooled in the First Half of 2026, but its Overall Share Changed Little as Buying Shifted Toward Smaller Investors, According to a Realtor.com (®) Report
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