If you’ve been scrolling through real estate news or social media lately, you’ve probably seen headlines like this:
“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”
And if you’re a buyer who’s lost out on a couple of offers, that idea might feel all too real. When home prices are high and inventory is tight, it’s easy to picture large investment firms quietly snapping up every available listing from behind the scenes.
But here’s the thing: what feels true in the moment and what’s actually happening in the market are often two very different stories.
As local REALTORS® working every day with buyers and sellers along the New Hampshire Seacoast—especially in towns like Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, Hampton, Dover, Exeter, and Durham—we’re always digging into the data to understand what’s really going on. And when it comes to big investors taking over the housing market, the numbers tell a very different story than the headlines.
The Data Most People Don’t See
Let’s start with the real numbers. According to a recent report from John Burns Research & Consulting, large institutional investors—those that own 100 or more homes—accounted for just 1.2% of all home purchases nationwide in Q3 of 2025.
Let that sink in: out of every 100 homes sold, only about one went to a large-scale investor.
And that’s not an unusual spike. That 1.2% figure is actually in line with what we’ve seen historically. Even at its peak in 2022, institutional investor activity only reached 3.1%—still a very small slice of the market.
So despite the headlines, large investors are not buying up the Seacoast—or anywhere else—at alarming rates.
Why It Feels Like Investors Are Everywhere
There are a couple of reasons this topic is getting so much attention right now, especially around places like Portsmouth and Southern Maine:
1. Investor Activity Isn’t Evenly Spread Out
In some areas of the country, large investors are more active. That can create real challenges in those specific markets. But nationally—and especially here in the Seacoast region—their footprint remains small. As Lance Lambert of ResiClub notes:
“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.”
2. The Term “Investor” Gets Thrown Around Loosely
Another reason the numbers can sound scary? Most media outlets lump all “investors” together—whether it’s a Wall Street firm or your neighbor who owns a couple of rentals.
The reality? Most real estate investors are small-scale, local owners, not giant corporations. But when everyone is grouped into one bucket, the numbers look much more dramatic than they really are.
So, What’s Really Driving Competition?
Yes, big investors exist—and yes, they do purchase homes. But they’re not the ones driving affordability challenges here in Portsmouth, Rye, Exeter, or Hampton.
What’s really behind the tough competition? It’s a classic case of supply and demand. Years of underbuilding, fewer homes on the market, and high buyer demand are creating pressure, not institutional investors outbidding everyday buyers.
The Bottom Line
If you’re thinking about buying or selling along the New Hampshire Seacoast and you’re unsure how headlines about investors apply to our local market, let’s talk.
Sometimes, a little clarity goes a long way.
We’re happy to walk you through what’s really happening here in Portsmouth, Dover, New Castle, Durham, Hampton, and beyond—and help you make confident decisions in today’s market.
Reach out to us anytime at 603.436.1221
And be sure to visit www.NewHampshireMaineRealEstate.com to explore current listings, price adjustments, and insights about life along the Seacoast.
Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, or selling your coastal property, we’re here to help every step of the way.
– Jim Lee & Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Shoreline | Portsmouth, NH