Directing The Department Of Finance To Prepare A Report On Entities Buying Delawares Housing Stock.
Summary
Senate Resolution 13 directs the Delaware Department of Finance to prepare a report on the extent to which business entities have purchased residential housing stock in Delaware over the past five years. The resolution is focused on identifying how many residential sales involved business entities versus individual buyers, what types of housing were purchased, and where those sales occurred by county. It also asks for recommendations to improve how this data is collected and made available.
The resolution is framed as a response to concerns that purchases by LLCs, corporations, and private equity firms may be affecting housing affordability, availability, and neighborhood stability. It does not change property law or regulate purchases directly; instead, it creates a reporting requirement and a fact-finding process intended to support future policy decisions. The report is due to the Senate President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the Senate by December 31, 2025, and the Department of Finance is expected to work with counties and other relevant stakeholders.
Impact
SR 13 does not amend Delaware’s housing, property, or tax statutes directly. Its legal effect is to require the Department of Finance to compile and submit a report on residential real estate purchases by business entities, including statewide sales totals, purchaser type, housing type, and county-level distribution. The resolution also encourages improved data collection practices, which could influence future administrative reporting or legislative action on housing market transparency.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment around the resolution appears supportive and informational rather than controversial. The bill passed Senate Third Reading unanimously, 20-0, indicating broad agreement with the need for more data on business entity ownership of housing. The sponsors’ framing emphasizes affordability, access, and market transparency, suggesting the measure was viewed as a prudent first step toward understanding a housing issue of growing concern.
Contention
There is little visible opposition in the available record, and no committee transcript is provided showing debate. The main point of policy concern embedded in the resolution is the broader issue of institutional or business entity ownership of homes, which the bill suggests may contribute to higher prices and reduced owner-occupant availability. Any contention would likely center on whether such ownership is actually driving housing problems in Delaware and whether better data collection is sufficient or should be followed by stronger regulation, but those disagreements are not reflected in the vote record.
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