[hackunomatter]

Just see SF's white-hot realestate market. I can only wonder what the hell is going on: so many houses are going for up to 50% above asking!

[appleiigs]

Maybe I'm reading a bit too much in it, but the top comments seem to have a bit of discriminatory tone: China = pyramid scheme or money laundering. When 1997, 2007, SF real-estate, unicorns with no earnings, all happen(ed/ing) in the US, in addition to Bernie Madoff. The original article topic is industrial companies buying tech and the arbitraging of valuations.

[msie]

Yes, I see it too. On the other hand, the Saudi-Softbank deal is viewed as a way to diversify and not to launder money.

[CodeWriter23]

I think maybe you are reading too much into it. Adding "value" to a company's bottom line by purchasing assets COMPLETELY outside of the core competency of the company tilts the scales toward cooking the books and away from creating actual value.

[sjg007]

Why? Berkshire Hathaway did this in the past. Holding companies can be well diversified.

[rb808]

No, I'm saying is: you're right "1997, 2007, SF real-estate, unicorns with no earnings, all happen(ed/ing) in the US" - and now there is a similar thing happening in China too.

[lmm]

SF is really productive these days (much more than even a few years ago), and, per George, productivity increases are captured in land value.

[convolvatron]

look at all that money flowing into SF, those guys are super productive

how do you measure their productivity?

look at at the money they're bringing in!