system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Residential Real Estate Holding groups need to be banned.

I understand that housing supply and city planning can be quite a complicated mess and at the end of the day is a necessary evil. However the amount of properties being purchased and rented at exorbitant rates is ridiculous. This is only works because of the artificial scarcity in most areas. 

For example about 5 out of every 6 rentals in our area is owned by a company. Some of these have even gotten the reputation of application fee scams due to the fact that they are empty year round despite this being a pretty hot renters market.

I support free business but this is slowly leading to a housing price out issue. Almost $3,000/mo for a 3bd home is ridiculous. However since most of the properties around here are owned by these companies there really isn't much else to do if you want to live in this area unless you pay $2,000+ for an apartment and deal with apartment living. (Don't even get me started on apartments.)

Can someone CMV and show me if I'm viewing this wrong?
gpt
I don't think you're wrong, but I'd say the core issue is the shortage of housing being exploited by these REITs, rather than the REITs themselves.

We should make it easy to build dense housing: no more single family detached only zoning. All residential housing can be dense residential. Also get rid of things like architectural style review; we're building housing not a sculpture park. Finally, impose a tax on unoccupied dwellings. 

This should lessen the shortage being exploited.