Parent investors nab college town pads

With prices down across the country, a new breed of buyer known as the “parent investor” is emerging, according to Housing Watch. These buyers snap up real estate for their college-bound kids, providing a home-away-from-home that will (hopefully) appreciate in value long after the diplomas are dispersed. While not all college towns are ideal investment sites, experts say that the down market has created a prime opportunity for buyers who would otherwise be paying thousands of dollars a year for a rowdy dorm. “It all fell into place,” said buyer Gloria Curtis, whose daughter attended Southern Methodist University. “All the parents wanted the kids to be safe and secure.” [Housing Watch]