[gatsby]

>If I could downvote the whole concept of this industry, I would.

So, are you the one that downvoted most of the comments in this thread?

>"income properties" and "real estate investment" are horrible things when it comes to residential real estate

Don't confuse flipping houses with actual real estate investment. There are 45m renters in the US, all living in "income properties." Why is this horrible?

[lvs]

> are you the one that downvoted most of the comments in this thread?

Yes, and I said I would.

> Don't confuse flipping houses with actual real estate investment.

I clearly haven't, but why you imagine there's some moral distinction is unknown to me.

[gatsby]

I still don't understand why you think RE investment is morally wrong.

Would also love to know how you came up with, "real estate investment...is THE major driving force for urban cost-of-living increases on both American coasts."

[lvs]

Just read my top comment or talk to any economist. You're gambling with fundamental human assets (as are food speculators), except that in urban real estate, there is very limited elasticity in supply. So your self-interested activity takes profit off of and drives up the cost of living for no gain to anyone but you. The fundamental value of the asset is unchanged for your involvement, but the price is higher.