Inside The Viral Fear and Scant Data Of Anti-Squatting Legislation

• Amounts to squat: There may be more fear than data in the recent war against squatters.

• Trade warehouse: The trade war has not slowed down the economy as predicted but it has resulted in a warehouse market downturn.

• YIMBY aesthetic: Pro-housing policies are opening up regulations for more architectural uniqueness.

• Tomorrow’s webinar: How leading real estate teams are doubling down on data for mixed-use projects. Sign up

Multifamily

Inside The Viral Fear and Scant Data Of Anti-Squatting Legislation

In March 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 621 into law, giving property owners a powerful new tool to combat unauthorized occupants. The law allows owners to file a sworn affidavit and request sheriff-assisted removal of alleged squatters—bypassing the traditional, often lengthy, court eviction process.

Despite the political turbulence and viral anecdotal accounts, experts warn that actual squatting remains rare. Data is limited, but a National Rental Home Council (NRHC) survey of institutional single-family rental owners identified around 1,200 alleged incidents in the Atlanta metro area, 475 in Dallas–Fort Worth, and 125 in Orange County, FL. Still, for affected owners, the financial and emotional toll of losing control of their property can be severe.

Critics of the legislation—including housing scholars and tenant‑advocacy groups—argue that this wave of anti-squatting legislation is based more on sensational anecdotes than on measurable trends. They caution that broadly defining squatting and fast‑tracking evictions could undermine tenant rights, particularly for informal renters, without addressing underlying affordability issues.

Overheard

Technology

Warehouses Are the First Casualty of the Trade War

So far, there has not been a significant economic downturn from the new tariffs that the Trump administration has enacted. But one sector is already starting to see the chilling effects of a trade war: warehousing. In the second quarter of 2025, industrial real estate deal volume remained flat at $22.87 billion compared to the previous year, signaling a sharp slowdown after prior growth.

Factors contributing to this stagnation include uncertainty in trade policy driven by the Trump administration's inconsistent tariff announcements, a cautious economic outlook, and an oversupply of warehouse space. Leasing activity has slowed as tenants adopt a more conservative stance following rapid expansion during the pandemic. As a result, U.S. warehouse vacancy rates rose to 7.1%, the highest since 2014, making it challenging for investors to forecast lease-up timelines for vacant properties.

The drop in demand has also impacted new construction. The number of new warehouses has dropped significantly, with completions down 47% year-over-year in Q2 2025, reaching the lowest level since early 2019. Despite the decline in new developments, demand remains subdued, keeping investor enthusiasm in check. Rent growth, which surged during the pandemic, has also decelerated. The average asking rent rose marginally to $10.06 per square foot in Q2, reflecting market uncertainty and weakened investor demand. This confluence of policy unpredictability, economic caution, and market oversupply has created a challenging environment for the warehouse market, prompting stakeholders to navigate with increased prudence.

Will YIMBYs Make Buildings Beautiful Again?

Cities nationwide are proving that pro‑housing policies can yield not just density but more engaging, architecturally expressive developments. A recent Minneapolis-designed building is a perfect example. The five-over-one residential building feels more bespoke than generic. It’s proof that when the regulatory barriers lift, design ingenuity can thrive alongside housing volume.

The YIMBY movement has expanded from just housing-oriented goals, things like upzoning, ADU legalization, and parking minimum repeal, to now acknowledging that form matters. Activists and legislators are looking past just unit counts and considering the character of the neighborhood as well. There is a growing understanding of the need to embed design principles—façade articulation, variation in scale, street activation—into the very codes that enable new housing.

Architects have long understood the connection between aesthetics and placemaking. Now, policy makers are starting to understand it as well. On the surface, more architectural requirements might make it more expensive to build. But when you consider the intrinsic value of a unique living space, the benefits might outweigh the costs.

Are You Enjoying This Newsletter?

Propmodo Daily is written and edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

📧 Forward it to a friend and suggest they check it out.

🔗 Share a link to this post on social media.

🗣 Have ideas for future topics (or just want to say hello)? Share your feedback and tips at [email protected] or connect with us on X through @propmodo.

✅ Not subscribed yet? Sign up for this newsletter here.

📫️ Please add our newsletter email, [email protected], to your contacts to make sure you don’t miss any updates.

Enjoy reading about trends and innovation in commercial real estate? Subscribe to Propmodo.com for unrestricted access to reliable, data-driven journalism and exclusive insights available only to subscribers.