A recent study led by Stephen Billings, associate professor of finance at the Leeds School of Business and IBS fellow, examines the impact of institutional investors converting single-family homes into rental properties. Focusing on Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the research found that such investor activity leads to declines in property values by up to 2%, reduced property maintenance, lower voter engagement, and increased crime rates. Billings notes that as neighborhoods see an influx of rental properties, the transient nature of tenants can erode community cohesion and long-term investment in the area’s well-being. Read more about the study on CU Boulder Today:
