Real Estate News and Market Moves Week 106

I remember when investor clients were seen as niche in the real estate industry—maybe even risky. But the game has changed. Today, if you’re not working with investors, you’re leaving an opportunity on the table. And not just any opportunity, strategic, repeatable, scalable opportunities. 

The latest data from Redfin and the Globe St. market reports confirm what many of us on the ground already feel: small investors are shaping the market’s next chapter (article link here). So, whether you’re an agent who’s never closed an investment deal or someone who’s already got a few under your belt, here are five reasons now is the time to double down. 

1. Small Investors Are Stepping Up—and Buying Big
   In 2024, small investors (those with fewer than 10 properties) purchased nearly 362,000 homes—accounting for a record-breaking 59.2% of all investor buys. That’s not a fluke; it’s a shift. More everyday investors are entering the game, and they need strategic agents to help them play it well.

2. The Big Guys Are Pulling Back
   Institutional investors—those acquiring 50+ properties—dropped their purchases by nearly 9%, down to their lowest level since 2018. That’s opened the field wide for smaller investors and the agents who serve them. Less competition from Wall Street means more room for smart, nimble buyers—and the professionals guiding them.

3. Investors Are Driving the Market, Not Just Participating
   Investor purchases now represent 13% of all U.S. homebuyers, and investor-driven sales are hitting all-time highs. It’s not just a wave—it’s a trend with legs. If you’re an agent who wants consistent closings, investors are the clients who come back again and again.

4. More Deals Are Being Financed—That’s Good for Agents
   Here’s the quiet trend no one’s talking about: all-cash investor deals are down. In fact, small investors paying cash dropped from 66% to 62% in just one year. That means more financed deals, and more opportunities for agents to advise, negotiate, and guide transactions—not just hand off keys.
5. Hotbeds Aren’t Just Headlines—They’re Our Backyards
   I’ve walked the neighborhood streets of Kansas City, Chattanooga, Columbia, and Greenville with my team—and I can tell you, these markets aren’t just under the radar. They’re brimming with opportunities.

• Kansas City continues to attract small and midsize investors looking for strong rent-to-price ratios and undervalued neighborhoods on the rise. 

• Chattanooga, with its mix of affordability and growing tech presence, has quietly become a Southeastern investment favorite. 

• And in South Carolina, markets like Columbia and Greenville are heating up thanks to steady population growth, a strong base of work force residents, and better-than-average returns on single-family rentals. 

These are all Auben markets—meaning we don’t just talk about them, we’re operating in them daily. 

Why This Matters for Agents 

• You’re not just chasing hype—you’re working in markets that are already producing real investor results, with data to back it up. 

• Our on-the-ground presence in nine markets (and growing!) gives investor agents a unique edge—local insights, proven property management support, and smarter acquisition paths. 

• Whether it’s a cash-flowing SFR in KC or a rehab-ready duplex in Columbia, Bold St AI equips our agents with investor-defined buy boxes and built-in underwriting tools—so you can analyze deals faster, align with strategy, and move from lead to close with confidence. 

Bottom Line: You Bring the Expertise. We Bring the Tools. 

The investor landscape is shifting fast, but it’s full of possibilities. And the agents who embrace it now won’t just ride the wave, they’ll help shape it! 

If you’re ready to work smarter, win more deals, and grow your investor book, Auben is ready to back you—with tech, tools, and a team that’s walked the walk. 

Let’s close the next one together!