They spent $1 trillion turning homeownership into subscription housing.
They are creating a generation that will own nothing and rent everything.
While families dream of white picket fences, Wall Street dreams of permanent tenants 🧵

They are creating a generation that will own nothing and rent everything.
While families dream of white picket fences, Wall Street dreams of permanent tenants 🧵


These aren't real estate investments.
They're wealth extraction machines.
Invitation Homes: 53,000 houses.
American Campus: 144,000 student beds.
AIR Communities: 27,000 apartments.
Mobile home parks where lot rents tripled overnight.
This is systematic dispossession.


They're wealth extraction machines.
Invitation Homes: 53,000 houses.
American Campus: 144,000 student beds.
AIR Communities: 27,000 apartments.
Mobile home parks where lot rents tripled overnight.
This is systematic dispossession.



The timing isn't coincidental.
As interest rates spike, individual buyers get priced out while Blackstone pays cash - often 30% above asking.
They celebrate declining construction as "good news" because less supply means higher rents.
Scarcity is their business model.
As interest rates spike, individual buyers get priced out while Blackstone pays cash - often 30% above asking.
They celebrate declining construction as "good news" because less supply means higher rents.
Scarcity is their business model.
Each acquisition follows the same playbook:
- Bulk purchases (outbid families with Wall Street money)
- Minimal renovations (lipstick on profitable pigs)
- Algorithmic rent increases (RealPage software sets "market rates")
- Strategic concentration (dominate key zip codes)
This is $1 trillion in housing monopolization.
- Bulk purchases (outbid families with Wall Street money)
- Minimal renovations (lipstick on profitable pigs)
- Algorithmic rent increases (RealPage software sets "market rates")
- Strategic concentration (dominate key zip codes)
This is $1 trillion in housing monopolization.

Blackstone already controls rent prices through AI.
RealPage software coordinates "revenue management" across competitors- the DOJ calls it price-fixing.
Over 30 lawsuits pending.
When algorithms set your rent, you're not in a free market. You're in a rigged game.
RealPage software coordinates "revenue management" across competitors- the DOJ calls it price-fixing.
Over 30 lawsuits pending.
When algorithms set your rent, you're not in a free market. You're in a rigged game.

Local families go bankrupt competing with trillion-dollar funds.
First-time buyers get crushed. Millennials priced out permanently.
But Blackstone keeps buying through cheap debt and investor capital.
Why compete with individuals when you can eliminate them entirely?
First-time buyers get crushed. Millennials priced out permanently.
But Blackstone keeps buying through cheap debt and investor capital.
Why compete with individuals when you can eliminate them entirely?
Wall Street calls it "build-to-rent."
Neighborhoods designed for permanent renters.
No ownership pathway.
No equity building.
No wealth transfer to next generation.
You'll live in their houses, follow their rules, and thank them for the privilege of never building wealth.
Neighborhoods designed for permanent renters.
No ownership pathway.
No equity building.
No wealth transfer to next generation.
You'll live in their houses, follow their rules, and thank them for the privilege of never building wealth.

The math never made sense for families. Now it does for feudal lords.
Corporate investors bought 30% of starter homes in 2024.
Homeownership rates stuck at 65% - down from pre-2008 highs.
Unless you're not building communities.
You're building corporate plantations.
Corporate investors bought 30% of starter homes in 2024.
Homeownership rates stuck at 65% - down from pre-2008 highs.
Unless you're not building communities.
You're building corporate plantations.

America's defense against wealth inequality has always been Homeownership.
Property builds generational wealth.
Creates stable communities.
Gives families skin in the game.
Blackstone needed to capture that wealth transfer.
So they captured the houses themselves.
Property builds generational wealth.
Creates stable communities.
Gives families skin in the game.
Blackstone needed to capture that wealth transfer.
So they captured the houses themselves.
Here's the terrifying part: It's accelerating.
While politicians debate "housing shortages," Blackstone quietly cornered entire metro markets.
800 homes per month in 2025.
The ultimate rent-seeking behavior - literally seeking rent from basic shelter.
While politicians debate "housing shortages," Blackstone quietly cornered entire metro markets.
800 homes per month in 2025.
The ultimate rent-seeking behavior - literally seeking rent from basic shelter.
Every "preserved affordable unit" sits in a portfolio of inflated properties:
- StuyTown (rent caps for PR)
- California buildings (38% rent increases)
- Mobile home parks (tripled lot rents)
- Sun Belt suburbs (pricing out locals)
These aren't random investments. They're systematic extraction.

- StuyTown (rent caps for PR)
- California buildings (38% rent increases)
- Mobile home parks (tripled lot rents)
- Sun Belt suburbs (pricing out locals)
These aren't random investments. They're systematic extraction.


Blackstone learned from tech monopolies.
You don't need 100% market share- just enough to set prices.
3% national ownership becomes 30% local control.
Network effects kick in. Competition dies. Renters become captives.
You don't need 100% market share- just enough to set prices.
3% national ownership becomes 30% local control.
Network effects kick in. Competition dies. Renters become captives.

While we debated inflation, Blackstone built the infrastructure for neo-feudalism.
274,000 homes aren't waiting for buyers.
They're waiting for permanent renters.
The American Dream isn't dead - it's been monetized by people who already own everything.
274,000 homes aren't waiting for buyers.
They're waiting for permanent renters.
The American Dream isn't dead - it's been monetized by people who already own everything.

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Replies
The CEO of Blackstone, Stephen Schwarzman is one of the biggest donors to President Trump and helps make America Great Again. He is on our side big time and I don't think it's right to turn against one of us like that. Remember what it says about a "house divided"?
SORRY PAUL, BUT JEA9 IS RIGHT AND IN A VERY BIG WAY. I AM SORRY THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THAT, BUT IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. MIGHT DOES NOT MAKE RIGHT IN THIS CASE! THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON THE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY, AND THE ONLY PROPERTY THAT THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO BUY IS THEIR HOME. IT IS NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN A GROUP WITH AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF MONEY GETS TO BID AGAINST A FAMILY THAT CAN ONLY AFFORD ONE HOUSE AND CAN, AND WILL, PAY MORE THAN THE ASKING PRICE!
STEPHEN SCHWARZMAN IS NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING BUT WEALTH AND POWER, HE COULD CARE LESS IF HE OWNS EVERY HOUSE IN AMERICA AND WILL ONLY RENT IT, NOT SELL IT! LET THEM EAT CAKE! CAN'T YOU SEE HOW DEVESTATING THAT WILL BE TO PEOPLE THAT WANT AND NEED TO HAVE A HOME, BUT CAN ONLY BUY McMANSIONS (WHICH THEY OBVIOUSLY CANNOT AFFORD) BECAUSE EVERY MIDDLE CLASS HOME IS ALREADY OWNED BY BLACK ROCK, ETAL, AND IS NOT FOR SALE ONLY RENT!
SCHWARZMAN IS NOT A DO GOODER, HE IS A GREEDY SOB, OTHERWISE HE WOULD NOT HAVE NOT HAVE MADE IT IN THE CUT THROAT BUSINESS THAT HE IS THE KING OF! SOME OF THE REASONS HE MADE IT WAS BECAUSE NIXON TOOK THE COUNTRY OFF THE GOLD STANDARD FORCING THE DOLLAR TO LOSE 90% SINCE THAT TIME, INTEREST RATES WERE SO LOW FOR YEARS THAT HE COULD LEVERAGE EVERY DOLLAR HE HAD, HE WAS VERY LUCKY, AND BECAUSE HE IS VERY GOOD AT A BUSINESS THAT WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT YOU CAN MAKE AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF MONEY! NOW HE IS SO RICH HE CAN BULLY EVERY MIDDLE CLASS PERSON IN THE USA. THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IF YOU ARE AN OLIGARCH IN RUSSIA, BUT NOT IN AMERICA!
"Blackstone didn't steal any properties; they bought them in the open market fair and square. Anyone else could have bought them. That's how capitalism works." NO, BR DID NOT STEAL THEM, BUT THEY CERTAINLY DID NOT BUY THEM IN IN THE OPEN MARKET FAIR AND SQUARE! TECHNICALLY IT IS LEGAL, BUT NOT RIGHT AND IT IS ANTI-AMERICAN!
I get your point, Michael.
Wisdom. I could not have said it better.
JOHN, YOU PROBABLY COULD HAVE, BUT THANKS A BUNCH ANYWAY!
Nope! You said it best!
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
You can pay me later, Mike! LOL
JOHN, I AM WRITING THE CHECK NOW! I'LL LEAVE IT IN THE ENTRY HALL, PICK IT UP ANYTIME!
Good information, Michael. Thanks.