Trump Wants to Ban Big Investors From Buying Homes

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a major new housing policy move aimed at large institutional investors in the U.S. housing market. He said his administration will take steps to ban firms like Blackstone and other Wall Street investors from buying single-family homes, a bid he says will help make homeownership more attainable for everyday Americans. (Reuters)

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said:

“For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans. It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations. I will discuss this topic, including further Housing and Affordability proposals, and more, at my speech in Davos in two weeks.”

The President tied the move to broader concerns about inflation and affordability. He plans to outline additional housing and cost-of-living proposals during an upcoming speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump’s statement did not go into detail on how the ban would be implemented or on what legal authority the administration would rely. He said the measure would curb what he and supporters describe as “corporate competition” that reduces housing availability for first-time buyers.

Market reaction was immediate. Shares of major real estate investment firms saw notable declines following the announcement, with Blackstone and related housing stocks dropping sharply in trading.

Critics of the plan — including some economists and housing experts — argue the policy may not meaningfully lower home prices. Institutional investors account for a small share of the single-family housing stock nationally, and experts say the larger issue for affordability is a shortage of available homes and new construction.

Support for curbing large investors has emerged from both sides of the political aisle, though methods and goals differ. Some lawmakers have pursued legislation to restrict corporate purchases of homes, and Trump’s announcement adds fresh momentum to that debate ahead of key midterm elections.