If they buy up enough land quietly they can then spin it out as a REIT and lease it back from themselves, thus writing off capital gains and moving them under o

If they buy up enough land quietly they can then spin it out as a REIT and lease it back from themselves, thus writing off capital gains and moving them under operating expenses as a major tax dodge. If they did it loudly people would start speculating which will present reduced wealth extraction by siphoning off rent. The goal is to avoid letting other people get rich and cornering all the capital for yourself. Stealth is a pirate's best friend.