they come in sight unseen. as soon as the house hits the market, you get an offer from them, okay? and they re ready to close within a few days. reporter: atlanta real estate agent earline holder says the companies use computer algorithms to identify properties so they can bid quickly. one of them is invitation homes which owns 12,000 single family houses in the atlanta area. nationwide, more than 81,000. the company says it provides choice and flexibility to the growing segment of americans across all generations who are opting to rent instead of own. three other large firms own more than 100,000 homes combined. one of them just announced a $5 billion fund to buy more. the pandemic has really accelerated this business. reporter: ryan has been following this housing trend for years. he says for buyers, there are few legal options when they re