The internet is already changing that market by putting retailers out of business and increasing liquidity. Specialized stores are moving online and freeing up real estate at the same time as Redfin and such sites are making purchasing a house slightly cheaper. Redfin charges a 3% comission, half the going rate, and thereby increases liquidity. This makes the number of empty houses at a given time (usually ~1.2 M, now ~2.2 M) fall because it's easier and cheaper to move in and out of them.