Investment Real Estate Value Draws Big New Players

     Observers of residential real estate nation-wide have started sounding a new upbeat note. It has to do with the effect of recent shifts in buying and selling — some of which may well affect investment real estate in Middle GA, too.


     Warner Robins investment real estate has always drawn area residents seeking to profit by owning investment property close to home: properties they can monitor conveniently and with confidence. The one negative has been the assumed general neighborhood effect of widespread rental ownership. When rental home proportions rise within a community, there can be a gradual decline in the area. The reason: residents who own their homes are more careful about upkeep. Renters have less at stake.

     Now comes the well-documented increase in investor interest in housing. “Investors Pile Into Housing,” according to The Wall Street Journal last week. In addition to the traditional landlords of the past — the retirees, real-estate brokers, doctors and other professionals who still do dominate the market — there are new eager investors: large private equity firms. According to the WSJ, over the past year they have spent billions of dollars buying up single-family homes.


     It may have been inevitable due to the same factors that appeal to traditional local real estate investment customers — namely, home prices that are still relatively low accompanied by rental rates that remain healthy.


     And here’s the new upbeat note: evidence of a subtle but welcome side effect.


     Some residential pockets which had shown visible neglect as a result of foreclosures and the previous home value decline are beginning to look up. One owner of a realty advisory firm noted the change. In areas where the larger investors are buying, “you’re no longer seeing shabby homes that have grass growing up to the doorknob.” So investment real estate owned by big budget firms may be benefitting neighborhood homeowners and tenants alike.

     If you are eyeing Mid GA investment real estate, your fellow investors and the large investment firms haven’t cornered the market yet — there are still good bargains out there. Give me a call: let’s arrange for you to see what’s available in Warner Robins right now!

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com