Investors Now Buy 1 in 3 US Homes — Top 20 Cities Ranked

Core Insights - Home prices have surged due to intense competition for a limited supply of available homes, with investors significantly contributing to this demand [1][7] - Investor activity in the housing market remains at historically high levels, with expectations for continued strength in the coming years [2][3] Investor Activity - Investors accounted for 29% of all U.S. single-family homebuyers in Q2 2025, up from 25% a year prior and significantly higher than the less than 15% recorded five years ago [3][6] - Major metro areas are the most active for investor purchases, with cities in the Sunbelt states showing particularly high levels of investor activity [3][4] Top Cities for Investor Purchases - The top cities for investor purchases from January to June 2025 include: 1. Dallas: 21,842 homes bought 2. Houston: 18,324 3. Atlanta: 15,536 4. Phoenix: 12,640 5. Los Angeles: 11,130 6. Chicago: 10,423 7. New York: 9,395 8. Tampa, Florida: 7,400 9. San Antonio: 7,337 10. Philadelphia: 7,239 11. Washington, D.C.: 6,750 12. Riverside, California: 6,749 13. Kansas City, Missouri: 6,334 14. St. Louis, Missouri: 6,076 15. Seattle: 5,930 16. Las Vegas: 5,803 17. Denver: 5,772 18. Detroit: 5,240 19. Charlotte, North Carolina: 5,102 20. Indianapolis: 4,983 [5][8] Investor Types - Small investors (fewer than 10 properties) represent the most common type at a 14% market share, while medium-sized investors (10 to 99 properties) have seen their market share rise to 10% [6] - The increase in investor activity is largely driven by medium-sized investors [6] Market Dynamics - Investors are stepping in to meet strong demand for rental housing, as high home prices and elevated mortgage rates have sidelined first-time homebuyers [7]