After 18 months of stakeholder meetings with local governments, real estate developers and consumer advocates, the Colorado Task Force to Study Corporate Housing Ownership is expected to release a report later this month recommending legislation for transparency and disclosure of corporate ownership of single-family residences.
Although it is estimated that large institutional investors own no more than 2%–3% of single-family homes, House Bill 23-1253 established the task force to assess the impact of institutional investment on local housing markets, particularly tracking patterns affecting housing accessibility and affordability.
Instead of recommending immediate regulation, the task force has identified three potential policy goals: (1) improving public understanding of corporate ownership patterns and their impacts on different communities; (2) developing better systems for tracking ultimate beneficial ownership in high-concentration areas; and (3) identifying emerging trends affecting neighborhood stability and homeownership. In addition, the Task Force appears sensitive in wanting to approach these goals through collaborative state-local policy recommendations that respect local home-rule authority while addressing statewide housing concerns.
During last week’s task force meeting, members agreed that ultimate beneficial ownership is currently obscured. While property records are publicly available, many counties struggle with outdated systems and inconsistent data collection, making it difficult to track ownership patterns or identify trends. The Task Force agreed that the reporting should be standardized at the state level and that support for local governments, especially in rural areas or with legacy systems, would be needed for local data collection. Some members suggested focusing instead on high-concentration areas or on piloting voluntary partnerships with interested local jurisdictions.
When it releases its report later this month, the task force is likely to recommend legislation for transparency to support local jurisdictions studying ownership patterns and effects. This could include state funding for pilot programs in areas with high corporate ownership, technical assistance for modernizing local property data systems, or development of tools to help local officials monitor market changes.
Businesses with real estate holdings in Colorado should monitor the task force’s forthcoming report and subsequent legislative proposals. While immediate regulation is not expected, the push for increased transparency and standardized reporting could affect corporate property ownership structures and reporting requirements. Local governments may also receive new tools and resources to track ownership patterns, potentially leading to jurisdiction-specific policies. We will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as the legislative process unfolds.
