In a socialist country, you would have a government entity building various qualities of housing. The best houses in the best locations go to the nomenklatura,

In a socialist country, you would have a government entity building various qualities of housing. The best houses in the best locations go to the nomenklatura, to the governor's cousin, to the nephew of the town party boss, and to black market operators who are capable of providing large bribes to those who decide housing allocations. Normal people live three hours outside the city center in a low quality concrete highrise.