New Jersey Senate Bill S4615

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/19/25
• Refer: 6/19/25

Caption

"Protection of Homeownership and Limiting Institutional Investor Acquisition Act"; imposes limitations and establishes certain incentives and disincentives concerning acquisition of single-family residences.

Impact

The legislation significantly alters the landscape of homeownership in New Jersey by ensuring that first-time homebuyers receive the necessary support through down payment assistance and favorable tax incentives. The bill further addresses the pressing issue of rising housing costs attributed to institutional investments, thereby empowering individual homebuyers while promoting the construction of affordable starter homes. By expediting the approval for development applications that prioritize these starter homes, the bill supports increased housing availability.

Summary

Senate Bill 4615, known as the 'Protection of Homeownership and Limiting Institutional Investor Acquisition Act,' aims to protect family homeownership by imposing restrictions on institutional investors looking to purchase single-family residences. The bill prohibits institutional investors from making bids on or purchasing a home within the first 90 days of it being on the market and imposes a substantial annual tax on those holdings to discourage their influence in the residential market. Additionally, it restricts the ability of such investors to lease these homes for five years post-acquisition.

Contention

Among notable points of contention, the bill’s critics argue that it may stifle economic growth and investment in the housing sector by imposing excessive regulations on institutional players. Supporters, on the other hand, highlight the need for such measures to prevent the monopolization of the housing market by large investors, which they believe has resulted in a detrimental impact on affordable housing availability. The balance between investment and homebuyer access remains a central theme of debate surrounding the bill.