Section Scalpers

[TheLiberalLeft]

I guess anyone who buys up large numbers of Chch sections in the new subdivisions and then offloads them to the highest bidder by carefully timing the release of only a few at a time will be about as popular as Susan, the chlamydia-riddled biker who wants to date your daughter.

[lukasr]

... or a very savvy entrepreneur depending on your moral views. I wonder though - aren't they putting any restrictions in on who's allowed to buy for those new subdivisions? Was this land not specifically released as a strategy for rebuild after the quake damage assessment - or were these parts of Christchurch always up for development?

[ream]

I think one has been fast-tracked because of the red zone payout thing, but the others were ready or about ready for sale anyway.

[damage]

With a bit of luck people will act with their feet and cheque books and not buy from property speculators and scalpers.
I hope that CERA makes sure the sections are sold at cost.

[TheLiberalLeft]

Wow, that's very nanny-state, damage. We'll make a socialist of you yet.

[One]

Come off it. It's not unreasonable to let the developers make a living!

[damage]

Normally I have no problem with developers making money off punters.
But these are not normal circumstances and as such it should be done at cost. Developer all of people should not be profiting from the Earthquake.

[TheLiberalLeft]

Why not? All those tradies are profiting. Should they be all working at cost too?

[lukasr]

Damn right! - Like undertakers in their mortuaries - how dare they profit from people's unfortunate circumstance!

[damage]

Not at all, but for the most part people will have a choice as to which Tradie they use, where as with the sections, they have little choice.

[DazRaz]

Yet to expect years of work and risk to return nothing? Wow!

[damage]

No, the state sponsors and pays for it.
The developer should make a working profit but that is it

[halfempty]

So developers are free to go bust if things go bad and nobody gives a toss, but if they risk their skin to bring a development to market during a recession and fluke a sellers market then they need to be controlled?

What a load.

[damage]

They are not risking their skin as they will have firm sales.

[halfempty]

Yes but they took a big risk in doing the development many months ago if they have sections for sale at the moment.