Like the other responder, I don't think the 00s and this cycle have much to do with each other. 00s was lots of people who couldn't afford a home being provided

Like the other responder, I don't think the 00s and this cycle have much to do with each other. 00s was lots of people who couldn't afford a home being provided mortgages by banks, and it falling. This is presumably a number of well-financed institutions buying up property to hold or rent. Now, perhaps you're correct that it isn't as bad as it seemed, since Zillow is selling the homes rather than getting into the rental business, but even the header of the article says they are seeking "institutional investors". I also agree that cities should be for those who live in them, and that land is a different type of asset from most others (again, like another responder mentioned). The more I type the more I think we're on the same page, but you seem to think everyone is focused "just on Zillow" while I am thinking more about the long-term opportunities for trillion-dollar megafunds to gain a monopoly on living space and destroying the ability of families to own property in America's cities.