Are Big Investors Buying All the Homes in Portland & Vancouver? (The Truth)

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

It’s hard to scroll through social media in Portland or Vancouver without seeing some version of this claim:

“Wall Street is buying up all the starter homes, and regular people can't compete.”

If you are a homebuyer who has lost out on an offer in Beaverton or Hazel Dell, that idea feels incredibly believable. When inventory is tight and prices remain steady, it is easy to assume giant hedge funds are scooping everything up behind the scenes.

But here is the thing: What people assume is happening and what the 2025 data actually shows are two very different things.

Let’s look at what is really happening with large institutional investors in the Pacific Northwest housing market, because the numbers tell a much different (and more hopeful) story than the headlines.

The Number Most People Won’t See Online

Let’s start with the most important stat. According to John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC), large institutional investors, those that own 100 or more homes, made up just 1.2% of all home purchases in Q3 of 2025.

That’s it. Out of every 100 homes sold, only about one went to a large institutional investor.

In fact, recent data from BatchData shows that large institutional investors (those with 1,000+ properties) have actually been net sellers for seven consecutive quarters. That means they are selling more homes than they are buying.

Local Reality Check: In Oregon and Washington, we see even less of this "mega-corporate" activity than places like Phoenix or Atlanta. The "investors" buying homes in Clark County or Multnomah County are rarely Wall Street giants; they are usually local individuals buying a rental property or a fixer-upper.

Why It Feels Like Investors Are Everywhere

If the numbers are so low, why does it feel like you are competing against cash-heavy giants?

There are two main reasons:

1. "Investor" is a Broad Term Headlines often lump everyone together. If your neighbor in Camas buys a second home to rent out, they count as an "investor." If a local contractor buys a fixer-upper in Gresham to renovate, they count as an "investor."

• The Stat: Small investors (owners of 1–5 properties) account for nearly 92% of investor activity. These aren't faceless corporations; they are often people living right here in our community.

2. Competition is Focused Investors (both big and small) tend to target the same "starter homes" that first-time buyers want. In neighborhoods like St. Johns or Fourth Plain Village, competition can feel intense because everyone is chasing the same affordable inventory. But it’s usually largely due to a lack of supply, not a corporate conspiracy.

The Real Challenge: Supply, Not Conspiracy

Yes, big investors exist. But nationally, they are responsible for a tiny fraction of total purchases.

The bigger challenge in the Portland and Vancouver market isn't BlackRock—it's that we simply haven't built enough homes for the people who want to live here. Years of underbuilding in the PNW have created a supply shortage that keeps competition high.

Bottom Line

Don't let the headlines scare you out of the market.

• Fact: Big institutional buyers are a tiny 1.2% of the market.
• Fact: Many large funds are currently selling off inventory, not buying.
• Fact: You are mostly competing against other regular homebuyers and small local investors.

If you want to talk through what the competition actually looks like in your specific neighborhood and how to beat them let’s connect. Sometimes a little context makes all the difference.

Connect With A Fox Real Estate Expert Today

Call: (503) 300-6614