Oh boy, yet another article claiming that if only private investors were regulated less then "all of our problems would be solved". These will never get old. >

Oh boy, yet another article claiming that if only private investors were regulated less then "all of our problems would be solved". These will never get old. >The only way to fix it is through a radical change in our housing policy: a change that encourages (a lot of) building. No, the only way to fix it is to actually build a lot of housing. If you have trouble imagining what that would look at, take one look at Singapore. To make this happen requires pitchforks, eminent domain, and political will not economic tweaks to building policy. >Incorrect claim 2: Investment capital will never build affordable housing Not incorrect at all. Affordable housing meets the demand for a place to live by the middle class but it doesn't meet the demand of the ultra wealthy for a yield bearing asset. The "lack of demand" for affordable housing is a facet of massive wealth inequality and the treatment of living places as yield bearing assets. >The forces behind those aren't singular movements or collectively one movement alone. ZIRP is pretty much behind most of it. If you want somebody to point a pitchfork at, Ben Bernanke or Janet Yellen are as good a target as any. They are largely responsible for homes being transformed into mostly investment vehicles that provide living space from vice versa.