It need not be an either/or choice.

Surely we deserve better than either option you’ve given?

I didn’t have the room to add “but I agree with everything else”.

Land ownership in England (I’m not sure about the rest of the UK) is still embedded in feudal systems and upholds power structures. Keeping the haves enriched whilst the rest of us doff a cap for a few square feet of land.

Chooooons! 👍

To be fair, people aren’t impoverished due to paying for the Royals. Well, not solely anyway. If only it was just down to ensuring the royals are able to maintain their luxurious lifestyle we could grab a pitchfork and be done with it.
Sadly there are other factors. Mostly due to government policies

In London, it is not uncommon to see rooms in a shared house at £1200 pcm. The housing market is broken. You can walk along the river by Nine Elms and there are blocks of new build flats without a single light on at night as they sit empty. Meanwhile folk on a median wage choose between food or heat

In the UK, certainly since Thatcher sought to create a “home owning democracy” through right to buy, property became an asset rather than a home. Whilst property in certain regions of Spain is sought after by foreigners it is mostly for holiday homes rather than an investment (or money laundering!)

Ha! Touché!

Spain, as you know, has many properties used as holiday homes (although since Brexit I believe the number has reduced).

And yes, that will put pressure on the market there. But there is nuance to consider. Generally, property in Europe isn’t seen as an investment.

The Stand. It’s an epic, dystopian and wonderful piece of writing.

That is but one factor. Others, certainly in the UK, include planning regulations, increased building costs, right to buy and buy to let, properties purchased by overseas investors and left empty, low wages, a lack of affordable housing/social housing being developed, land banking, etc etc