Peter Quinones, founder of Investor Trustee Services, has joined the National Association for Housing Revitalization (NAHR) as a founding Charter Member. The national trade association focuses on returning aged, distressed, and vacant homes to the market as attainable housing. As a Charter Member, Quinones will engage with the association and contribute an operator's perspective from the Florida market, though official NAHR positions are determined by the association.
Investor Trustee Services buys distressed single-family homes across Florida and places them with a network of local rehabbers who restore them and return them to the market. As an approved bidder in HUD's single-family loan sales, the company plans to begin acquiring pools of HUD-held mortgages on vacant and distressed properties, starting with HUD's HVLS 2027-1 sale.
"These houses already exist, they already have utilities at the street, and they already sit in neighborhoods people want to live in," said Quinones. "They are empty because of condition and title, not because nobody wants them. When a national fund owns the asset, the return leaves town. When a local operator does the work, it stays."
The announcement comes as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which takes effect January 7, 2027, bars large institutional investors—defined as entities controlling 350 or more single-family homes—from purchasing single-family homes, subject to stated exceptions. This legislative change is expected to significantly alter the landscape of single-family home investment, potentially reducing competition from large funds and creating opportunities for smaller, local operators.
"When the largest buyers step back, somebody still has to take on the houses that need work," said Quinones. "Local operators are the ones who can fix them and hand them to a family in livable condition."
The implications of this shift are profound for the housing market. With large institutional investors restricted, the burden of revitalizing distressed properties falls more heavily on local operators and community-focused organizations. NAHR's mission to convert vacant and distressed homes into attainable housing aligns with the goal of increasing housing supply in areas where it is most needed. By joining as a Charter Member, Quinones brings practical experience from the Florida market, where Investor Trustee Services has been active since 2005. His insights could help shape NAHR's strategies and advocacy efforts.
For real estate investors, rehabbers, and industry professionals, NAHR's Charter Membership period offers a chance to participate in shaping the association's direction. Quinones is offering a promotional membership code to those interested in joining. Additionally, Florida members who join through Quinones will be invited to a private network of Florida operators for networking and business opportunities. This network could foster collaboration and resource sharing among local professionals, enhancing their ability to tackle distressed properties.
As the housing market adapts to new regulations, the role of local operators in revitalizing communities becomes increasingly critical. The partnership between Investor Trustee Services and NAHR underscores a growing movement to prioritize local, sustainable solutions to the housing crisis. By focusing on existing homes that need rehabilitation, these efforts aim to create attainable housing without displacing residents or contributing to urban sprawl. The success of such initiatives could serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.
