Institutional real estate investors currently own about 7,000 Columbus area homes. As reported previously in the Columbus Dispatch, approximately 7% of all homes sold during the first quarter of 2025 were purchased by investors.
To understand how we’ve arrived at Wall Street ownership of single-family homes, we must recall the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and its aftermath. An estimated 9 million U.S. homes went into foreclosure, creating a backlog of bank-owned real estate. These properties were usually in poor condition. The longer they stood vacant, the more they lost value. It was detrimental to the banks – and to the communities where these homes were located.
To solve the problem, banks welcomed institutional investors. Instead of selling homes one and two at a time, banks sold properties by the dozens, or even the hundreds, to investment companies who purchased them sight-unseen. It was a win-win; banks cut their losses quickly, and investors found profit in repairing, renting and reselling the foreclosed homes.
It worked so well for investors that single-family home acquisitions became a permanent business strategy. Today, the Columbus area remains a sweet spot for institutional investors, who purchased over 600 homes in a recent 3-month period.
Columbus home buyers will be competing with investors for the foreseeable future. The good news: a well-written, well-presented offer can still beat an investor’s cash offer. Investors seek to purchase homes using below-market offers, with a “fast closing” as the incentive to sellers. Not every seller finds this trade-off acceptable. Those who do may have homes requiring significant repairs.
As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest, at all times.
Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!
Contact us with your home buying questions! Remember, we are with you every step of the way…all the way home!
Andrew Show
Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, CEBA-M, MCNE, CSP, PSA,e-PRO, CREM, ABRM, AHWD
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services www.BuyersHome.com
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax
