(Courtesy of AJC): The vast majority of Americans still want to own a home, according to a recent survey, and they still think it's a good financial investment, despite foreclosures that hit the market during the recession.  But it's more difficult for many people, from the first-time buyer to the family that wants more space, to get the house they're dreaming of.  In Atlanta, investor groups are buying many of the cheaper homes that first-time buyers desire, beating them to the closing table with all-cash offers. While homebuilding is picking up, the houses being built are largely at the more profitable higher end of the market, instead of for first-time buyers. MORE  (Subscription Required)

(Courtesy of Realtor Magazine): When large investors began buying up single-family homes in 2011, most observers considered the acquisition a short-term play. Now, although acquisition has slowed, the successful securitization of SFH rental income by Invitation Homes (a Blackstone subsidiary), the transformation into REITs of large single-family owners, and the creation of the National Rental Home Council, a group that includes most of these new mega-investors, all indicate large investors are in it for a longer haul. How will their business models change the dynamics of the rental marketplace?  REALTOR Magazine interviews Center for Community Progress Fellow Allan Mallach.  MORE

(Courtesy of Housing Matters): Although investor activity peaked in 2012, it's still abnormally high and with rental demand rising and supply dwindling, investors will continue to snap up distressed properties and existing homes. Further, homeownership has slipped and will continue to decline because of a combination of factors including the still high inventory of foreclosures. MORE

(Courtesy of Atlantic Magazine): MARTA is quietly becoming a player in the real estate world, and it has its excess parking to thank. In the past few months, the agency has pushed forward with plans to develop under-used parking lots at three stations-King Memorial, Avondale, and Edgewood/Candler Park-into mixed-use commercial and residential buildings. And MARTA expects to secure at least two more such deals by early next year. MORE

The National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud, a Piece by Piece partner, just released a new book that answers the questions homeowners have about how to select, evaluate, hire, oversee and pay contractors.  For homeowners purchasing REO properties requiring rehab, this is a very helpful tool.   For more information visit about the book, please visit www.PreventContractorFraud.org.

Now through the end of September, ARC is reaching out to the public and many organizations throughout the Atlanta region to share the aspirational vision developed by the ARC Board and to get feedback and opinions about actions to achieve these goals.  One of the ways that they are soliciting this feedback is through an online survey available HERE. This is the first of several surveys that they will be conducting over the next year as we update our Regional Plan.  Make your voice heard.