Once again, there seems to be no end to the creativity behind highlighting the housing crisis conundrum. Millennials and Gen Z folks are out here trying to crack this homeownership puzzle, only to find that Grandpa and Grandma have all the best pieces. As they say, God works in mysterious ways, but even this latest twist leaves some scratching their heads.

Back in early 2020, when the mention of a new disease started throwing the world into a frenzy, some cheeky souls pointed out that Nature seemed to be lending a hand—albeit a very dark and morbid one. While some were hoping for a change in fortunes, the pandemic was not the real estate miracle it might have seemed. Instead of turning the housing market into a treasure trove for younger generations, many found themselves still on the outside looking in, or, more accurately, wearing masks and staying six feet apart.

The scene in sunny Florida paints an intriguing picture. A land full of swaying palm trees and retirees, where it seems every other boomer has a collection of houses they don’t even use. It’s almost a sport, these homes sitting pretty with no one to open the shutters or water the plants. Meanwhile, the younger crowd is left dreaming about their own patch of sun-soaked paradise.

None of this is to suggest any nefarious plot against the elder crowd, but one does wonder if there might be another path forward. If housing sat idle as we pursued the noble mission to save lives, might there be a way to balance these efforts with opening doors—literally? There’s an irony in staving off disease while facing an economic hurdle of our own creation.

Overall, it’s a tale as old as time, filled with truths that might even make you chuckle if the stakes weren’t quite so high. This is a world where unlikely twists and turns seem destined to color every issue under the sun, but perhaps, with a bit of wit and wisdom, a new solution might still be just around the corner.