> It's important to note that investments can lose money. It's a risk one should understand. If you think this sucks, this is just capitalism. There are winners and there are losers.

Yeahhhhhh....and many of these are people's homes. I don't have a good solution without a socioeconomic reboot, but I do have sympathy for individuals whose primary reason for purchasing a home is to live in it. That houses have turned into an Investment Asset has a lot of knock-on effects, many of which are negative for the non-wealthy.

Banks and funds can deal with losses. It's their job.

And capital gains on houses are tax-free for a certain amount, but you cannot deduct a capital loss on a primary residence; fun times, eh?