"Henry Spencer" wrote:
You *just might* be able to attract financing for such a venture once
transport into space is cheap and easy, large-scale infrastructure is
being built, the unknowns of building very large space structures are
largely solved (with the solutions demonstrated at scale in space), and
there is a thriving and rapidly-growing economy out there which is crying
out for an upscale local housing development to convince people to move
there permanently.

You can't get there (quickly) from here. That favorable environment has
to evolve a piece at a time; you can't force-feed confidence to a banker.

I don't see people buying mortgages on unbuilt space colonies
any time soon. But I do think we're about at the stage where
manned spaceflight will be able to pay for itself, and that's
really all you need to get anywhere that can be gotten to.

First, start of with sub-orbital joy rides, fast package
delivery, etc. Then go to orbital tourist flights, then build
a small orbital hotel (which would pretty much just be a
simple station with rather spartan accomodations). Then you're
set up, assuming there is a decent stream of profit, for bigger
space habitats, more robust space operations, etc, scaling up,
eventually, to building permanent living quarters in space.
Even if no one really wanted to live permanently in space, it
would happen eventually anyway. Because people still wan't to
visit, and tourism creates jobs. And where's the best place to
live if you work in orbit? Of course, there are plenty of
people who will want to live permanently in space, but don't
be fooled into thinking they will be the only ones who will end
up doing so.