The big banks that traditionally exist to service our needs are heavily invested in new schemes to sell us products related to housing. With mortgage interest rates at all time lows, big banks are heavily investing in real estate, with the goal of becoming landlords so they can establish a monthly revenue stream that is not tied to interest rates. Banks of all kinds are buying up real estate properties and removing properties from the market, which reduces selection for buyers, creates artificial demand for housing, and pushes the cost of real estate up in any particular area, further excluding people from buying real estate. This is not limited to the traditionally “most popular” cities, but also extends into markets where the cost of property is still affordable for many.