• stebo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 days ago

    The worst thing about this is that housing is essential, while all the other things aren’t. Scalpers only take advantage of other people’s shopping addiction, while these so-called “investors” take advantage of other people’s basic needs.

    • phx@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      I’ll add to that: The PlayStation etc scalpers at least give you a still-new product at the inflated price. The landlords rent it out for additional income and THEN sell it at a profit.

      So it’s more like buying a PS5 for $500, having somebody rent to play it for $100/mo, then selling it for $800 after a year

      • lugal@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        This isn’t even true were I live. Investors will buy new appartments and leave them empty and sell them a few years later. Renting them would decrease the value more than the income is. It’s worse than you thought.