The problem actually goes much further back than the pandemic... The housing bubble/crises lead to a massive supply of homes being foreclosed on and purchased b

The problem actually goes much further back than the pandemic... The housing bubble/crises lead to a massive supply of homes being foreclosed on and purchased by wealthier groups. It also lead to a large exodus of home building professionals as the demand dried up. This resulted in the US building 500,000+ fewer homes per year than the typical demand of the growing population normally demands. The US is now > 7,000,000+ homes behind were we should have been at this point, which means home prices skyrocket making them unavailable to entry level workers. On top of this, it's a common strategy among the wealthy to but a 2nd, 3rd, or more homes, which they rent to rent out at their mortgage rate or higher because the system allows it... So someone who can't get a $1200/month mortgage (for an example) now has a $1200 rent paid to someone for their second home... Though generally they pair up with others or other couples to live together and afford the rent... This also ignores the trend of businesses engaging in the activity.. buying homes in mass for rental properties instead of the typical apartment/townhouse apartment developments.