From what I’ve seen, if a house is priced very reasonably, especially if it’s a fixer (and priced accordingly), it seems there is an ample number of investors who are looking to buy rentals, or flip — very often with cash.

This is why I really have a problem with “investors” in the housing market. I’m a proponent of the “Ownership Society,” but want to see an environment where houses are bought for living in, not as “investments” for the rich. It’s the investment mentality that helped drive prices up to the crazy heights we’ve seen during the bubble. It raises housing costs for regular, working families, which is a drag on the economy over the long-term.

From what I’ve seen, if a house is priced very reasonably, especially if it’s a fixer (and priced accordingly), it seems there is an ample number of investors who are looking to buy rentals, or flip — very often with cash.

This is why I really have a problem with “investors” in the housing market. I’m a proponent of the “Ownership Society,” but want to see an environment where houses are bought for living in, not as “investments” for the rich. It’s the investment mentality that helped drive prices up to the crazy heights we’ve seen during the bubble. It raises housing costs for regular, working families, which is a drag on the economy over the long-term.

From what I’ve seen, if a house is priced very reasonably, especially if it’s a fixer (and priced accordingly), it seems there is an ample number of investors who are looking to buy rentals, or flip — very often with cash.

This is why I really have a problem with “investors” in the housing market. I’m a proponent of the “Ownership Society,” but want to see an environment where houses are bought for living in, not as “investments” for the rich. It’s the investment mentality that helped drive prices up to the crazy heights we’ve seen during the bubble. It raises housing costs for regular, working families, which is a drag on the economy over the long-term.

Of course if it’s a good deal, cash investors will get first choice. Why deal with 20 percent when you can deal with 100 percent down?

Of course if it’s a good deal, cash investors will get first choice. Why deal with 20 percent when you can deal with 100 percent down?

CAR, in a way, I think “cash” investors are a good thing in this market. Many potential buyers looking for a principal residence have neither the money nor expertise to fix up some of these beaters to be “habitable” again. Especially if the potential buyers have kids and thus most or all their discretionary income is pledged to kid(s) needs.

With so many homeowners losing their properties in recent years, it stands to reason that not only could they NOT make their payments, they couldn’t maintain or repair their properties either. Many, many properties that lenders have or will market in the future need(ed) substantial work.

In driving around my daily haunts, I’m always gratified to see a long beaten-up property close escrow and get the chain-link treatment around it and porta-potties out the next day/week. This can only be good for an area’s property-value stabilization.

I don’t want to see any more buyer-families take title to marginal or run-down properties by the skin of their teeth that they will never be able to afford to repair. I’d rather see the “deep pockets” obtain them and fix them up quickly, even if intending to “flip.”

It’s a free country out there and may the highest/best and/or easiest-to-close bid win :=]

CAR, in a way, I think “cash” investors are a good thing in this market. Many potential buyers looking for a principal residence have neither the money nor expertise to fix up some of these beaters to be “habitable” again. Especially if the potential buyers have kids and thus most or all their discretionary income is pledged to kid(s) needs.

With so many homeowners losing their properties in recent years, it stands to reason that not only could they NOT make their payments, they couldn’t maintain or repair their properties either. Many, many properties that lenders have or will market in the future need(ed) substantial work.

In driving around my daily haunts, I’m always gratified to see a long beaten-up property close escrow and get the chain-link treatment around it and porta-potties out the next day/week. This can only be good for an area’s property-value stabilization.

I don’t want to see any more buyer-families take title to marginal or run-down properties by the skin of their teeth that they will never be able to afford to repair. I’d rather see the “deep pockets” obtain them and fix them up quickly, even if intending to “flip.”

It’s a free country out there and may the highest/best and/or easiest-to-close bid win :=]