(08-02-2024, 09:44 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: [ -> ] (08-02-2024, 08:25 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: [ -> ]And, again, the best way to increase the supply of houses is to have people, or corporations, make a ton of money owning houses. Everywhere they have put restrictions on the ability to make money owning a house, the cost of housing has gone up, not down, because no one wants to build more houses. Government control of the free market usually leads to unintended consequences. The incentive to build more houses, and thus increase supply, is achieved when people and corporations make money by doing that. Government intervenes, and they no longer make money, so they no longer build houses, and that doesn't do anyone any good.
I completely agree. However, where does it end for corporations? If they’re buying and building up homes by blocks and neighborhoods, what is the tipping point for them to stop. Isn’t it possible they could corner a big chunk of the housing market and keep it artificially high?
The only way any corporation could keep the housing market artificially high is if they could keep other corporations or individuals from building houses. But no one can do that. If the price of houses exceeds the cost of building houses, someone will build houses, because of the money they could make doing that.
Remember "Greed is good?" Much as people make fun of that statement, it's actually true. Money drives almost everything, and if there's a way to make money, people will do it. So, as long as there is money to be made building houses, people will build houses.
(08-02-2024, 11:40 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: [ -> ] (08-02-2024, 09:44 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: [ -> ]I completely agree. However, where does it end for corporations? If they’re buying and building up homes by blocks and neighborhoods, what is the tipping point for them to stop. Isn’t it possible they could corner a big chunk of the housing market and keep it artificially high?
The only way any corporation could keep the housing market artificially high is if they could keep other corporations or individuals from building houses. But no one can do that. If the price of houses exceeds the cost of building houses, someone will build houses, because of the money they could make doing that.
Remember "Greed is good?" Much as people make fun of that statement, it's actually true. Money drives almost everything, and if there's a way to make money, people will do it. So, as long as there is money to be made building houses, people will build houses.
It's called market collusion and price fixing, Marty. It's happening in the open and it's taking years to even bring lawsuits. The biggest culprit is a company called RealPage.
(08-02-2024, 12:31 PM)mikesez Wrote: [ -> ] (08-02-2024, 11:40 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: [ -> ]The only way any corporation could keep the housing market artificially high is if they could keep other corporations or individuals from building houses. But no one can do that. If the price of houses exceeds the cost of building houses, someone will build houses, because of the money they could make doing that.
Remember "Greed is good?" Much as people make fun of that statement, it's actually true. Money drives almost everything, and if there's a way to make money, people will do it. So, as long as there is money to be made building houses, people will build houses.
It's called market collusion and price fixing, Marty. It's happening in the open and it's taking years to even bring lawsuits. The biggest culprit is a company called RealPage.
Not to mention huge amounts of homes available for lease only.
I agree with Marty’s premise that government meddling too much with free enterprise is counterproductive, but widespread corporate ownership of private homes is not good in any scenario and will be nigh impossible to reverse.
![[Image: premium-barney-fife-nip-it-in-the-bud-th...inh-vu.jpg]](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/premium-barney-fife-nip-it-in-the-bud-the-andy-griffith-show-binh-vu.jpg)
(08-02-2024, 12:41 PM)homebiscuit Wrote: [ -> ] (08-02-2024, 12:31 PM)mikesez Wrote: [ -> ]It's called market collusion and price fixing, Marty. It's happening in the open and it's taking years to even bring lawsuits. The biggest culprit is a company called RealPage.
Not to mention huge amounts of homes available for lease only.
I agree with Marty’s premise that government meddling too much with free enterprise is counterproductive, but widespread corporate ownership of private homes is not good in any scenario and will be nigh impossible to reverse.
That is exactly where I stand. I hate government intervention I just don’t know a decent way end this corporate home ownership up.
(08-03-2024, 09:27 PM)americus 2.0 Wrote: [ -> ] (08-03-2024, 09:24 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]Getting closer...
https://x.com/DougAMacgregor/status/1819...Rp8XA&s=19
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Oh joy. Ain't life grand? People need to wake up and realize their lives as they know it are hanging by the most delicate of threads.
Agreed. This will be a different war. Unlike the one we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's legitimate global implications in the mix here between ourselves and the East. We're all going to lose globally once the dust settles.
(08-03-2024, 09:45 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ] (08-03-2024, 09:27 PM)americus 2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]Oh joy. Ain't life grand? People need to wake up and realize their lives as they know it are hanging by the most delicate of threads.
Agreed. This will be a different war. Unlike the one we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's legitimate global implications in the mix here between ourselves and the East. We're all going to lose globally once the dust settles.
It's wonderful to see the leader of the Free World prominently out front charting our path through this crisis. I don't know what we'd do if Donald Trump was in office stopping these things from even getting started!