Maybe revoke the incentives for those who currently already own multiple properties. No sense in putting an additional financial barrier to people attempting to purchase a home to live in. Investors will be slightly affected by this but it seems like the type of measure that would deter first-time homeowners altogether- therefore exacervating the problem of so many properties being taken by people whose primary interest is profiteering, and leaving those who just want to own the place they live in the dust.

Many incentives are for first time buyers, or single home buyers. Taxes depend on region, but everywhere I see treats primary homes, secondary homes, and rentals as different classes of real estate.

Now that doesn't mean the incentives aren't skewed. But I don't think landlords buying their 20th house are getting the same benefits as a first time buyer.

> In the US there are numerous incentives for buying a home.

The big one being taxpayer funded 30 year fixed rate mortgages, and subsidizing the existence of 0% and 5% downpayment mortgages.

>Your interest on your mortgage is tax free,

Literally 90% of US tax filers do not benefit from this, since it requires itemizing.

>the government offers cash back, etc.

I have not heard of this.

If you rent out the property the interest is a tax deduction as a business expense. The taxes and insurance are also a tax deduction. You can still take the standard deduction at the personal level.

There are a variety of state, local and sometimes federal tax credits or down payment assistance for new home buyers.

Could you expand on your idea of how taxpayers are subsidizing mortgage rates and downpayments?

>Your interest on your mortgage is tax free, the government offers cash back, etc.

I have no idea what "the governments offers cash back" means; but certainly the mortgage interest tax deduction is only available for homes in which you actually live for at least part of the year - it's not available for rental properties.

You can deduct mortgage interest as an expenses if you're renting a property, but that's exactly the same as any other loan used for a business activity and not specific to real-estate.

Mortgage interest is only deductible for your primary residence and one other home. Additionally, if you take out a second mortgage/HELOC, it’s only deductible if you use the money to improve the property.

There may be additional tax benefits that accrue to a business that is paying interest, but that’s separate from personal deductions.

You don't have to take the benefits away. Just tax ad 50% of land value per year for every residence over 1.1th that anyone owns a stake in. Also treat anyone who doesn't live in the region as if they already have 1 house.

Then there'll be plenty of stock.

> make people put down 25-50% as down payments.

I wonder, though, what percentage of buyers this would affect. Lots of houses are behind purchased now with 100% down.

Is this really true? Most incentives I know of are for first time home owners. Most landlords can't take advantage of them.

Not to mention all of the tax kickbacks and money that goes to people who buy and develop houses in poorer areas.