President Donald Trump has announced a series of housing proposals aimed at making homes more affordable and expanding access to homeownership. These plans have drawn attention across the country, including in Northern New Jersey, where local housing markets often face unique challenges.
A recent report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, titled “Trends in Investor Acquisition of Residential Properties in New Jersey,” was cited in an analysis of Trump’s proposals. The report finds that while investor activity does affect affordability and housing inventory, large investors are not the main reason for high home prices in the state. This suggests that policy solutions focused only on limiting investor purchases may not address the core issues driving up costs for buyers and renters.
The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University conducts research on community development, transportation, health, workforce development, and energy policy through its specialized centers. The school is part of Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/). It has also received national recognition for its academic programs, with its graduate urban planning program ranked third nationally and its undergraduate public health program ranked fourth (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/).
Stuart Shapiro became dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in 2023 (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/). The school’s mission includes fostering just, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and healthy communities both locally and globally (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/). Since 2013, it has honored distinguished alumni through its Hall of Fame as well as annual achievement awards dating back to 1994 (https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/).
As discussions about federal housing policy continue, local experts point out that understanding regional market dynamics is key to addressing affordability concerns effectively.