Homeownership has long been central to building stability and generational wealth, yet in many parts of the country it is becoming increasingly out of reach for working families. In Georgia, large institutional investors and corporations are buying up single-family homes in bulk—often with all-cash, sight-unseen offers—before local families have a chance to compete. In fact, nearly 20% of all homes purchased in Georgia last year were bought by institutional investors, and over 75,000 homes in metro Atlanta have been taken off the market this way.
They’re only looking to profit – turning homes into investment products and entire neighborhoods into rental zones. In metro areas and rural counties alike, this practice removes homes from the market, drives up prices and rents, increases eviction rates, and destabilizes communities.
The “Protect the Dream Act” – a bipartisan bill that places commonsense limits on the number of single-family homes a corporation or investment trust can purchase in a single county. Specifically, the bill would cap ownership at 25 homes or $6.25 million in property value per county.
It’s about putting families before hedge funds, and restoring access to something that should be a basic part of life – not a commodity for speculation. This bill won’t solve every challenge, but it’s a critical step toward protecting homeownership, stabilizing neighborhoods, and keeping the dream alive for more Georgia families.
Impact or how it will be measured:
The impact will be measured by tracking:
Changes in corporate ownership of single-family homes
Trends in home prices and rental rates
Increases in local homeownership rates in affected counties
Success will be reflected in increased homeownership opportunities for Georgia families and greater housing market stability, especially in communities currently dominated by large institutional investors.