TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State Rep. Berny Jacques is raising alarm over the increasing number of corporate entities buying up homes across the state, warning that the trend is making homeownership increasingly unattainable for working Floridians.
“It’s real, to the tune of almost 120,000 homes statewide, and almost 30,000 homes in the Tampa Bay area, where I represent the great people of House District 59,” Jacques said during an interview on Florida’s Voice Radio with Drew Steele. “If we don’t get a handle on this, it’s going to blow out of proportion to the point where an ordinary, hard-working Floridian who is doing all the right things is not going to have a realistic shot at homeownership.”
WATCH: Rep. @BernyJacques warns of corporate buy-up capturing over 100,000 homes statewide, and making it more difficult for Floridians to achieve homeownership pic.twitter.com/9tD2DGa8IV
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Jacques emphasized that homeownership is a critical pathway to the American dream and building generational wealth.
He is now advocating for the Strengthening Home Ownership in Florida Act—HB 401—legislation that would create a new zoning category distinguishing corporate-owned rental properties from owner-occupied homes.
“If passed into law, this bill will treat this for what it is—it’s not owner-occupied, it’s a corporate buy-up used for rent perpetually, never put back on the market for purchase,” Jacques explained. “That limits supply and drives up housing costs.”
The lawmaker highlighted that the issue particularly affects young professionals and families trying to establish roots in Florida communities.
“A lot of parts of the state are becoming less attainable, and we have to reverse that trend,” he said.
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