INVESTORS AND CASH BUYERS BACK AWAY FROM U.S. HOUSING

Realty-Trac, a  research firm that tracks national and regional data, has reported that fewer than 25% of single-family home and condominium purchases were all-cash for May, national figures,  the lowest level since November 2009, and down from a peak of 42% of purchases in February 2011. These figures drive home the point that the housing market is standing on its own, with traditional buyers, as investors back away from the "flip" market, of buying, rehabbing and quickly reselling properties for a profit.  This does not mean that there are not some "buy and hold" investors still trolling the market, but for now, the predominant purchaser appears to be the owner occupant, or single investors exchanging and building their investment portfolio.