Number of homes sold to investors doubles.

The number of homes sold to investors more than doubled last year, as rising rents and low-priced distressed properties fueled demand. Investors, half of them using no mortgage, bought 1.23 million homes in 2011, a 65% jump from 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors. Half of the homes purchased were distressed properties. 41% of investment buyers purchased more than one property.