Let’s have a real conversation.

Have you ever worked with a real estate investor?

If not—this is your sign to start. Because in 2025, over 24.32% of U.S. home purchases are being made in cash, and many of those buyers are investors who are reshaping the housing market as we know it.

This isn’t a niche anymore.
It’s a movement.

What Types of Investors Are Out There?

There are many models of real estate investing, from short-term vacation rentals to commercial development and even land banking. But two remain the most prevalent and active in today’s residential market:

Fix-and-Flip Investors
Buy-and-Hold Investors

Both models offer something golden to agents:
Repeat. Business.

Learn the Language of Money

To work with real investors, you must become more than a property expert—you need to become a deal analyst and strategic partner.

Here’s what that looks like:

Cash Flow Calculation
Understand: Monthly Rent – Expenses – Mortgage = Net Income
Know your rental comps. Be fast and accurate.

Rehab Estimates
Be able to spot: cosmetic vs. structural repairs, value-add opportunities, and high-ROI upgrades.

Neighborhood Metrics
Don’t just talk about “nice schools.”
Talk about historical appreciation, zoning, density laws, walk scores, and job growth nearby.

Investor Communication
They don’t want fluff—they want numbers.
Your listings for them should include ROI analysis, rental potential, and comps for both purchase and lease.

Not All “Investors” Are Worth Your Time

Yes, there are tire-kickers out there.

Some people call themselves “investors” but have never purchased a single property. They try to get deals under contract and assign them without ever putting cash on the table. These are wholesalers—and many of them are not serious buyers.

But the real ones?

The ones attending foreclosure auctions with cashier’s checks in hand…
The ones who lose a bid and still want a deal before noon…
Those are the people you want in your corner.

Where to Find Real Investors in 2025

Foreclosure Auctions
Stand in the back and observe who’s bidding with verified funds. These are real players.

Absentee Owner Campaigns
Mail letters to out-of-state or aging homeowners with equity. Investors love off-market leads.

Local Investor Meetups
Find your REIAs (Real Estate Investor Associations). Every market has them.

Online Forums & Groups
BiggerPockets, Facebook REI groups, LinkedIn threads—your future clients are already asking for agents there.

Why Investors Are a Lifeline—Not a Hassle

They know what they want
They do multiple transactions per year
They value consistency and loyalty
They don’t care about staging—they care about strategy
They often buy with cash and close fast

Here’s the play:
Find the deal → Call your investor → Close quickly → Get the listing when they flip it or lease it → Repeat.

Final Word

The agents who thrive in 2025 will be the ones who think like investors—even if they’re not one yet.

💡 It’s time to learn the language of returns.
💡 It’s time to master the art of numbers.
💡 It’s time to build a business that thrives on repeat relationships, not one-time transactions.

Investors aren’t a shortcut—they’re a lifeline to stability and scale.