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

If you’ve been house hunting in Massachusetts lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines—or felt the frustration firsthand:

“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”

And if you’ve lost out on a few offers in competitive areas like Greater Boston, the North Shore, MetroWest, or Central MA, that claim can feel very real. With limited inventory and high prices, it’s easy to assume large corporations are outbidding everyday buyers at every turn.

But when you look at the actual data, the story is very different.

Let’s break down what’s really happening with large investors in today’s housing market—and how it impacts buyers and sellers here in Massachusetts.

The Stat Most Headlines Leave Out

According to John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC), large institutional investors—defined as companies that own 100 or more homes—accounted for just 1.2% of all U.S. home purchases in Q3 2025.

That means:

• Out of every 100 homes sold, only about 1 went to a large institutional investor.
  
  
• This level of activity is normal by historical standards.
  
  
• It’s also well below the 2022 peak of 3.1%, which was still a small slice of the overall market.
  
  

Even nationally, big investors are not dominating home sales—and that holds true for most Massachusetts markets as well.

Why It Feels Worse for MA Buyers

So why does it feel like investors are everywhere?

1. Investor Activity Isn’t Evenly Distributed

Some markets attract more investor interest than others. Certain neighborhoods—especially those with strong rental demand—may see more investor offers, which can intensify competition.

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.”

In Massachusetts, competition is usually driven far more by low inventory, high demand, and limited new construction than by institutional investors.

2. “Investor” Is a Broad (and Misleading) Term

Many headlines lump Wall Street firms together with:

• Local landlords
  
  
• Small-scale investors
  
  
• Homeowners who own one or two rental properties
  
  

These buyers are not the same—but when grouped together, it can make investor activity sound far bigger than it really is.

In reality, most investors in Massachusetts are small, local owners, not massive corporations buying homes in bulk.

What’s Actually Driving Affordability Challenges in Massachusetts

The real pressure on MA home prices comes from:

• Years of underbuilding
  
  
• Strong buyer demand
  
  
• Limited housing supply
  
  
• Desirable school districts and job centers
  
  
• High construction and land costs
  
  

Large institutional investors play a very small role compared to these long-standing market forces.

Bottom Line for Massachusetts Buyers and Sellers

Yes, big investors exist.
Yes, they do buy homes.
But they are not buying up all the homes in Massachusetts—not even close.

If you’re wondering how investor activity affects:

• Your specific town or neighborhood
  
  
• Your chances as a buyer
  
  
• Your strategy as a seller
  
  

Let’s talk it through.

Sometimes, having local context makes all the difference when deciding your next move in the Massachusetts housing market. 🏡✨