I totally agree with you. If I was in the position to be able to purchase a 2nd home for income and/or vacation I most definitely would be trying to find a distressed property on the island. It is just the way it is. In 2008 when the real estate market tanked here in the states, many underwater/foreclosed homes were bought by investors/flippers, rented or renovated and now being sold at a nice profit. That's just the way it goes however the difference is when the people have been displaced because their home was destroyed by an act of God and now their livelihood is gone too. I hope those folks can get low cost loans from the government.