Treasury Unveils Rules for Big Investor Homebuyers After Congress Set Limits

The Department of the Treasury released its long-awaited guidance on how it plans to restrict institutional investors in the housing market.

Treasury unveiled the proposed rule that establishes standards for large institutional investors in the housing market. It follows a January executive order from President Donald Trump meant to discourage investors from benefiting from federal assistance in home purchases.

That led to some large investors to pull back, Realtor.com found in its own data. Small investors tend to have a far larger presence in the housing market, and they have been less scarce in the meantime.

“Treasury is working to ensure American families and workers have a fair shot at purchasing homes in their communities by increasing housing supply and limiting large institutional investors’ role in the market, while supporting a strong, stable housing market and avoiding unnecessary disruption,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

The new rules help define what makes a large instututional investor and creates carve-outs to the rules. In particular, for renovate-to-rent businesses. Often these companies purchase homes that require more work than an average homebuyer can afford, and then flip them.

The rules also clarify proposed penalties against real estate investors, which could reach up to $1 million, or three times the purchase price of a property. The rules are open for public comment for 30 days.

Congress codified further limitations in the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which became law in July. That bill targets investors who own more than 350 properties. After some wrangling, it excludes the build-to-rent industry.

Large investors are concentrated in some large markets where they account for a significant share of the housing stock.

This story will be updated.