Cash is King: Investors Remain Active in Residential Housing Markets

The December 2011 Realtors Confidence Index survey reports that investors continue to make up a significant share of the existing home sales. Prices in some markets are reported to have declined over the past three years to a point where investors can obtain a positive cash flow after making modest improvements. A number of Realtors® reported that investors are effectively shutting first time buyers out of the market by making all cash offers. This is creating some additional pent-up demand which may become evident later this year.
(SOURCE NAR, see original story)