Our local paper took a look and it's large companies paying cash for houses. They buy, fix 'em up and rent 'em out...
My guess is they're buying on the oft chance the housing market will explode up in value... or the dollar will crash or something will happen that will make them a bundle of money. Because renting out individual homes is not an easy way to make money. They must know something I don't...
I think hedge funds realize eventually all these Baraqqi/Bernanke minibucks being created are going to cause massive inflation. From what I’ve seen they buy smaller newer homes in good school districts - desireable to renters.
It’s a way to spread out their exposure beyond stocks and commodities.