Will Trump’s Corporate Home-Buying Ban Affect the Berkshires?

Every President has left their mark or some influence on the housing market - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and now Trump.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he's moving to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, sparking a national debate about housing affordability. But what does it mean for the Berkshires?

Local real estate professional Peter West joined Slater & Marjo Friday morning to discuss the proposal, which targets companies like Blackstone and other private equity firms that have been buying up homes across the country since the 2008 financial crisis.

"It's a bold move, I think it's a good move, and it's gonna help the economy in general," West said. "We are not seeing them come in and buy in the Berkshires, but it is gonna help the whole real estate movement and housing and all of that, so I'm in favor of it."

Corporate investors don't really own any single family homes here

West's observation highlights a key point: while corporate investors have dominated markets in Sun Belt cities like Atlanta and Jacksonville - where they control over 15% of single-family homes - the Berkshires haven't experienced the same phenomenon.

Nationally, investors purchased about 1 in 3 single-family homes in the second quarter of 2025, often outbidding individual families with all-cash offers. Trump's announcement sent housing sector stocks plummeting, with companies like Blackstone dropping 9%.

"People live in homes, not corporations," Trump said in his Truth Social post announcing the policy.

While the Berkshires may not see direct local impact from the ban, West believes the ripple effects will benefit the broader real estate market and economy. The policy aims to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers and younger Americans who've been priced out.

Trump plans to provide more details at the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month. Congress will need to act to codify any ban into law.