Safe, secure housing is unattainable for too many of my neighbors.

Over the past nine years, the Commonwealth’s median home price has increased by more than 117 percent. Access to affordable rental properties remains a persistent challenge for my community. From 2020 to 2026, average rents in Pennsylvania have risen sharply, driven by a limited housing supply, population growth in some areas, and broader national housing market pressures.

In 2020, the average monthly rent in Pennsylvania was $1,185. By the end of 2026, the average rent is projected to be $1,551/month for a one‑bedroom and $1,811/month for a two‑bedroom. This represents an overall increase of 31% for one‑bedroom rents and about 53% for two‑bedroom rents. This is unsustainable.
Housing costs are rising primarily because of a severe housing shortage. Institutional investors, defined as those owning 1,000+ properties, hold roughly 3% of all single-family rentals. These large investors are making it harder for the people I grew up with to achieve the American Dream.

That is why I will introduce legislation to address this issue. Institutional investors are not paying their fair share to our communities. These investors will swoop into a community, buy up the available single-family homes, and then raise rents for existing or new tenants.

My legislation will establish an impact fee that requires institutional investors who own more than 1,000 properties to pay their fair share on single-family homes purchased beyond the 1,000-home threshold. The fee will be reinvested in our committees to create housing opportunities for those seeking to build stability for their families and future generations.