Investors Own Nearly 20% Homes California, U.S. Market Corporate Growth

Investment properties constitute a significant portion of the housing market in both Australia and the United States. In Australia, about 22% of households hold investment properties, with a notable concentration among older age groups and higher income quintiles, and 41% of these properties are not rented out. In California, investors own nearly 20% of homes statewide, with rural counties seeing much higher rates, though this percentage is relatively low compared to other states like Hawaii, Alaska, and Vermont; California ranks second nationwide in the total number of investor-owned homes. The U.S. housing market is facing affordability challenges due to a national housing shortage, rising construction costs, and high mortgage rates, prompting increased activity from corporate investors who see residential real estate as a stable investment, although corporate ownership remains a minority overall. Baby boomers in the U.S. hold nearly half of the nation’s real estate wealth, particularly concentrated in metro areas in Florida, California, and New England, underscoring generational shifts in housing wealth distribution. These trends highlight a complex dynamic of investor influence, housing affordability, and demographic shifts shaping the real estate landscape in 2025.