[apexalpha]

The true cost of something depends on the market, and the market is created and shaped by law. If the law changes to disallow foreign direct investment in residential housing and the prices drop then this IS the new true price.

Not the other way around.

[Retric]

True cost in economic terms is not the market price. It includes negative externalities that are not included in the market price. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/truecosteconomics.asp

[lotsofpulp]

I agree, but my intention was to point out downsides of current US home ownership mechanisms.