[quote=EconProf]To both the above posters, I was careful to say (like any CYA economist) that the positives outweigh the negatives, for a net benefit to society. While the scenario portrayed is not perfect, lets remember the horrendus job the government does at holding assets like boarded-up houses. That’s what we need to get away from, and it takes a private-sector, profit-motivated investor to do it.
And, livinincali, if they get burned going this route, as you suggest they will, hey…that’s capitalism. At least its the private sector, not the taxpayer as at present, who loses.[/quote]
The tax payer already lost. And selling these properties in bulk to investors at volume discount pricing means the taxpayers lost even more versus an open market auction.