President Trump has proposed a ban on large investment companies buying single-family homes. A housing expert says the effects would take time in Northeast Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Northeast Florida’s housing market remains stable at the start of 2026, according to local real estate leaders, as a new proposal made by President Donald Trump renews debate over the role of institutional investors in homebuying.

This week, President Trump proposed banning large investment firms from purchasing single-family homes, saying the move could reduce competition and make it easier for first-time buyers to enter the market. 

The proposal would apply to large companies that buy homes at scale, not individual landlords or small investors.

Local real estate leaders say the current market conditions in Northeast Florida suggest the immediate impact of such a proposal would likely be limited.

“We’re really in a stabilized, healthy market right now,” said Kim Knapp, president of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.

Knapp said institutional investors played a significant role in the years following the housing market crash, when excess inventory flooded the market.

“Institutional investors did help stabilize the market in 2012, 2013, and 2014 when we had a glut of inventory,” she said.

According to Knapp, institutional buying activity has slowed considerably in recent years, meaning most large-scale investor purchases have already occurred. 

She also emphasized that investor-owned homes are typically rented, not left vacant, and that rental housing remains an important part of the local housing ecosystem.

Trump has argued that limiting institutional purchases could ease buyer competition and help bring down prices. 

Knapp said fewer buyers generally means less competition, but she cautioned that restricting institutional activity could also have unintended effects, particularly on rental availability.

“I know sellers want a seller’s market and buyers want a buyer’s market,” Knapp said. “But in reality, a healthy market is what’s best for everybody.”

Knapp added that even if the proposal moves forward, changes to home prices or inventory levels would likely take time, as existing investor-owned properties would remain in the market.