Why Savvy Real Estate Investors Embrace the Long Game
In recent years, speculation has fueled a rush of rapid property purchases and sales, with investors chasing quick profits as prices climb. For example, U.S. metro area home prices rose 0.7% year-over-year in May 2025, even as active listings jumped nearly 16%—signaling continued upward pressure on prices. Around the same time, San Francisco saw a staggering 51% surge in home listing prices in certain districts over the past year. Yet even as real estate remains a proven path to wealth, it is important to weigh how these choices ripple through local communities and affect housing availability for everyone. Speculation typically involves purchasing properties not to live in, but simply to resell them at a higher price. This can fuel housing shortages and push homeownership further out of reach for first-time buyers and essential workers. However, conscious real estate investment is possible: by being thoughtful and community-minded, investors can help ensure their actions contribute positively rather than making the problem worse.
