Lawmakers are targeting real estate hedge funds, proposing limits on the number of properties they can own in an effort to increase the housing supply and ease the affordability crisis for homebuyers.
On Dec. 5, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) introduced the “End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act of 2023” for consideration by the upper chamber. The proposed law aims to even the playing field between large institutional investors, who buy homes to manage as rentals, and individual homebuyers, who are looking to buy a family home. The bill would force the hedge funds (in this case, corporations, partnerships or real estate investment trusts that manage pooled investor funds) to sell their properties and ban them from managing or owning single-family homes in the future. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
Institutional investors like Blackstone and Invitation Homes have been extremely active in the market for over a decade, buying homes and turning them into rental properties. According to the bill’s supporters, investor activity in the market has contributed to the lack of affordable homes, particularly in neighborhoods with large populations of black families and single parents.
“American families should not have to compete with multi-billion-dollar corporations when purchasing a home,” noted the legislators in a written statement.
If the bill becomes law, the hedge funds would have to sell 10% of their housing stock annually for 10 years, eventually getting rid of all their investment properties. Smaller investors, like home flippers or individual landlords, would be capped at owning 50 properties at any given time. Other provisions include tax penalties for any hedge fund exceeding the number of properties allowed per year.
In its current form, the bill could help increase the number of available homes for sale in cities with a short supply of affordable properties. But it could also have an unintended consequence, Kurt Carlton, president of New Western, a private source of residential investment properties, tells me.
If hedge funds have to sell all their rental properties, that could lead to the displacement of as many as 1.3 million families currently leasing those homes. Some of these renters may be able to buy, but most will likely have to find a new rental. Carlton says the market would be “trading pressure” from buyers to renters, who would be facing a smaller supply of homes.
It's possible this bill will never make it out of the Finance Committee, let alone be approved by both houses. But it is a clear example of how some in Congress have set their sights squarely on pulling back large investors, so it’s possible we may see some restrictions in the future.
As for those who have put money in real estate hedge funds over the past few years, the outcome isn’t very bleak, according to Carlton.
“We’ve had one of the greatest historical bull runs when it comes to home price appreciation,” he says. If all hedge fund assets are sold, “I think they would come out with some serious capital gains.”
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario