REITs are fine, but they do need strong regulation. They're best when targeted at building high density housing, but can be used to develop single family suburbs.
The key is that you have to time limit their ownership of single family homes, and require the sale to individuals. That forces them to build and sell, they make money, the market expands, houses stay affordable. For high density buildings they have to be limited to a portion of the area market, including all corporate owners. Which again forces them to build and sell, and also keeps competition in the market, to avoid price fixing.
I use autopilot all the time on my boat. No way in hell I'd trust it in a car. They all occasionally get suicidal. Mine likes to lull you into a sense of false security, then take a sharp turn into a channel marker or cargo ship at the last second.