Survey shows distrust of real estate investors in housing market

"Trump also signed an executive order on Tuesday restricting federal financing and approval pathways used by institutional investors to acquire single-family homes, following a Jan. 7 statement that he was moving to halt such purchases. In tandem, Clever Offers' survey found that 32% of recent home sellers consider real estate investors untrustworthy. While administration officials argue that reducing investor competition could make more homes available to individual buyers, some say that institutional investors control a relatively small share of single-family housing nationally."

"Over half (60%) of respondents say they distrust cash-buying companies, and 51% say the same about iBuyers, tech-enabled instant offer platforms. Due to large distrust of real estate investors, about half of home sellers (44%) said they would not knowingly sell to a real estate investor, up from 38% in 2024. Nearly six in ten respondents (59%) labeled cash-buying companies scams."

"The research echoes frustration with investor influence on housing availability and cost at a time when national housing affordability continues to challenge many prospective buyers. More than 79% of Americans said they support regulating the housing market to rein in price increases. When asked what change they would prioritize, 12% of Americans said they would impose tighter rules on investors and corporations, ranking third behind lowering home prices (35%) and reducing mortgage rates (25%)."

An executive order restricts federal financing and approval pathways for institutional investors acquiring single-family homes. Thirty-two percent of recent home sellers consider real estate investors untrustworthy. Sixty percent distrust cash-buying companies and 51% distrust iBuyers, tech-enabled instant offer platforms. Forty-four percent of home sellers would not knowingly sell to a real estate investor, up from 38% in 2024. Fifty-nine percent labeled cash-buying companies scams. Institutional investors control a relatively small share of single-family housing nationally, though ownership is higher in some metropolitan areas. More than 79% of Americans support regulating the housing market to rein in price increases.

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