Most of the landlords I ever rented from sound more like you than some fictionalized Scrooge/owner-class miser.

Caitlin is a great writer but this piece shows a massive hole in her understanding of real estate, finance, and economics in general.

I rented for 10+ years before I could afford to buy a house. I don't know what the alternative would be to renting, and Caitlin doesn't provide one. I don't think eating the few dozen Blackrock execs will suddenly make housing available, common or inexpensive. Destruction of wealth tends to make things more scarce, and more expensive.

Owning and renting out a home requires lots of work. Tenants do not maintain properties - landlords do. Houses are depreciating assets. They require constant maintenance.

Moreover, the trade-off for renters is they aren't on the hook for taxes, upkeep, mortgage interest or a large down payment. If what Caitlin suggest is true, that being a landlord is an easy thing that results in massive wealth, then why wouldn't everyone do it? It's not easy or immensely profitable.

Even the Blackrock's of the world are looking at profiting 2-3% per year on their rentals. That's a razor thin margin and far from usurious.

I think the problem is exacerbated by cantillon effects that benefit blackrock et al at the expense of the 98%, and such problems would end if Caitlin had her way and got rid of the state entirely - but renting a property is not itself the problem. Rent is a boon to the poor and middle class who simply can not afford to buy.