The CURA Housing Forum is back. This month’s forum will feature CURA researchers Dr. Anthony Damiano and Professor Edward Goetz, who will present their research on the single-family rental market in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

The growth of investor-owned, single-family homes has become a major issue for renters in the Twin Cities and across the country. Private equity firms, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and so-called “rent-to-own” companies have come under scrutiny for their business practices. In March, for example, the Minnesota Attorney General's office reached a multi-million dollar settlement with private equity firm HavenBrook Homes for, among other issues, poor maintenance of their 600 home portfolio in the Twin Cities.

Damiano and Goetz will present their research on where private equity landlords and large local owners have concentrated their investments, and the rate at which investor owners evict tenants compared to landlords with smaller portfolios.

Historically, the CURA Housing Forum has been hosted to stimulate public discussion on housing research and issues. We are glad to announce the return of the forum which will occur monthly during the academic year (September to May) to provide a meeting place for researchers, students, housing practitioners, public officials, and citizens to learn about emerging housing programs and studies and discuss implications for the Twin Cities. The forum is free and open to the public. Make sure you are on our email list to learn about upcoming CURA Housing Forums.

The CURA Housing Forum is sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. CURA aligns University of Minnesota resources to catalyze community-driven change.

Register now!