Short selling is not gaming the market. It's an important part of price discovery which helps with optimal capital allocation.
The laws of supply and demand don’t require short selling to reach equilibrium.
No, it doesn't. Real estate is a great example of a market where you can't short sell, and is also a great example of a market with absolutely horrible price discovery.
You don’t even need access to credit default swaps. REITs are publicly traded and can be shorted as easily as any stock.
If you are talking about price discovery of individual properties—-that stems more from the fact that property is generally illiquid and not fungible. Not from the fact that I can’t take a directional bet on the value of your specific house.
I've never seen this thought put in this way, I'm glad you said it, thank you.