patrick.net

I believe it's a vehicle to turn private land over to central government control, and fleece the masses, again. Otherwise I agree, what's the point?

Have seen several articles about investment firms backed by big banks from Blackstone, to JP Morgan engaged in this form of "investment".

The federal government already has more land than it wants.

Which firms are doing as you claim?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/business/investors-are-looking-to-buy-homes-by-the-thousands.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The one for Blackstone is on Patrick.net

Control of land is one of the oldest forms of power. What central government do you know that doesn't want more power?

Referring again to banks/investment firms who are buying these properties by the hundreds, not individual or small business flippers.

When Warren Buffet publicly declared he wanted to buy thousands of houses, I just understood that it was impossible. I've since thought, "They've figured out how to do it."

I, of course, haven't figured it out. I don't get invited to those parties.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46538421/Warren_Buffett_on_CNBC_I_d_Buy_Up_A_Couple_Hundred_Thousand_Single_Family_Homes_If_I_Could

Probably more like the institutions identified a break even point. On the balance sheet, banks don't want their loan portfolios to reflect depreciated value, they would be on board. It would behoove to buy housing inventories en masse, rent them out, cause market prices to swell, and then try to sell as many as possible to ignorant rubes on an individual basis at the inflated values. Not much different from the Fed buying and selling bonds, or companies buying and selling their own stock.
That would be the incentive to become landlord for institutions that otherwise wouldn't do so, especially if the gov has given them some kind of assurance that they will get another bail if it doesn't work. As conspiracies go, pretty sweet waltzing between Wall Street and Washington.

Of course, this content is very INSTRUCTIVE:
http://patrick.net/?p=1219038
It's OUT OF SIGHT status is testimony to "The big con infests America.".
SO, beware the representations of others, DO YOUR OWN THINKING.

Well shit, who knows. Maybe Blackstone will end up doing a good job of renting the houses out & treat renters decently.

For some reason I just can't see it happening, but you just never know.

Large investment firms/banks are buying up tons of housing as a "rental investment".

It's not just SD but all over the country. Anyone's who has attempted to buy middle to low end real estate in the past 24 months has more than likely felt the fierce competition. And it's no longer who has the highest offer but banks want to close quickly and cash is king (I've been beat out on more than one property over the past year despite having the highest offer). Given the surge we've seen in 2012, I've actually backed off and standing on the sidelines since it's just not as attractive anymore to me as it was 12-24 months ago.

It's pretty sad for the middle to lower class since they don't have a chance in hell. This is a problem that the higher class doesn't face since the rent to buy ratios are too low in high end areas to attract investors (unless those investors are banking on equity return and not rental return, which is rare)

When real estate is bringing bigger ROI than the stock market, CDs, commodity investment, etc, you will see the big bucks head in that direction.

Want to buy a sub $400K house in CA that isn't a complete dump with 20% down and perfect credit? Sorry, you probably can't, at least not today.

Also, I notice you are from Chula Vista. I bought a Cobra Mustang there a couple years back from a military family who was in the midst of foreclosure. The guy indicated to me that every third house in that neighborhood was foreclosed. Place looked like a ghost town.

NuttBoxer says

We've been looking to buy in the San Diego area lately, and I've noticed a disturbing trend.

Large investment firms/banks are buying up tons of housing as a "rental investment". Apart from the logistics nightmare of an investment company trying to schedule a repair man for the busted water heater in house #235 of their portfolio(yes, I suppose they could hire a property manager), this is what I see coming:

Banks buy tons of housing/land as "rental investment".

Banks lose big, fleecing their investors.

Banks are bailed out by the central government.

Central government now owns huge chunks of private land.

Welcome to the United States of Socialism Comrades!

well I guess your market analysis was about as full of shit as your legal analysis!

what has happened since you posted this?
1. prices up. a lot!
2. rents up. a lot1
3. your sub market rental? gone!

Honestly, maybe you should move to the midwest. with a family of 4, and broke economics, Indiana is calling. You can get a nice house, everything else is cheaper too, you won't have to live in Cholla vista.

don't let the "California Dreaming" nonsense hold you. Kid love playing in snow, trust me. The money you save will lead to less stress and more vacations, get a boat take up water skiing or something.