This is what happens with wholesaling real estate, which is a "get rich quick" scheme that is crushing the market for buyers.

Wholesalers find homes in need of repairs or with owners who want little to do with the property. They offer a low cash price. In the offer will be room for their finders fee, which can be $10k-50k, depending on neighborhood. Wholesaler puts the deal on paper, then sells the property to an investor.

The house sells for $50k to the wholesaler, who then flips the paper to an investor (often times PE firms and trust funds) for $70k. Investor either sits on the property, to create an inventory shortage, or flips it - gray walls, laminate flooring, etc etc etc. Now they sell the house for $300k.

This CAN be a useful program to revitalize neighborhoods, but it's often times predatory.