The Rise of Investor-Owned Homes in California: Insights and Trends

Approximately one in six homes in California is owned by someone who does not reside in the property. This significant statistic reveals the growing influence of investors in the state’s housing market, according to a recent BatchData report. The report highlights that investors now own about 1.28 million homes, which accounts for 17% of the overall housing supply in California.

Investor Ownership Across California

Where Investors Are Concentrated

Los Angeles County stands out as the top region for investor-owned homes, boasting 179,294 properties. This trend is primarily observed in Southern California, with the following counties also seeing high numbers of investor ownership:

• San Bernardino: 123,088 homes
• Riverside: 103,183 homes
• San Diego: 79,127 homes
• Orange: 74,663 homes

Conversely, sparsely populated areas like Alpine (423), Inyo (890), and Modoc (958) had the fewest investor-owned homes, highlighting a clear geographical disparity in ownership.

Investor Ownership by Proportion

When analyzing the proportion of homes owned by investors, some of California’s least populated counties feature heavily. Notably:

• Sierra County: 72%
• Mono County: 64%
• Plumas County: 57%
• Modoc County: 51%
• Alpine County: 50%

Many of these properties likely serve as vacation homes or investment rentals. In contrast, investor ownership in metropolitan areas such as San Mateo (11%) and Marin (12%) is notably lower.

Purchasing Trends of Investors

The period between 2020 and the third quarter of 2025 saw a total of 471,500 homes purchased by investors across California. This trend again favors Southern California, with the highest purchase numbers in:

• Los Angeles: 65,496 purchases
• San Bernardino: 48,889 purchases
• Riverside: 45,963 purchases
• San Diego: 30,314 purchases
• Orange: 27,962 purchases

In contrast, rural counties like Alpine (220) and Modoc (374) reported the fewest transactions during this timeframe.

Price Variations Across Counties

Statewide, the average price for investor purchases between 2020 and 2025 stood at $876,000. However, notable discrepancies exist at the county level:

• Highest Prices:

  • San Mateo: $1.74 million
  • Santa Clara: $1.74 million
  • Marin: $1.71 million
  • San Francisco: $1.66 million
  • Orange: $1.4 million

• Lowest Prices:

  • Modoc: $157,000
  • Lassen: $197,000
  • Tehama: $215,000
  • Imperial: $262,000
  • Siskiyou: $277,000

Understanding the pricing trends helps to clarify why certain counties attract more investor interest than others.

Total Investment in California’s Housing Market

Between 2020 and 2025, investors collectively spent around $413 billion on home acquisitions. The largest amounts were allocated in:

• Los Angeles: $82 billion
• Orange: $39 billion
• San Diego: $36 billion
• Riverside: $35 billion
• San Bernardino: $25 billion

In contrast, the counties with the least investment included Modoc ($59 million) and Glenn ($92 million), showcasing a marked divide in investment capacities.

Conclusion

With substantial investor ownership reshaping California’s housing landscape, understanding where and how investors are purchasing properties is crucial. The data indicates a clear trend favoring Southern California’s urban centers, while rural areas remain significantly impacted by vacation home purchases. As the market evolves, continuous monitoring of these trends will provide deeper insights into the future of real estate investment in California.

For a more detailed exploration of these findings, refer to the BatchData report and the embedded visualizations here.