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>> “ They have those big salaries in the Bay area and the LA basin and they fool themselves they make a lot of money. Their mortgages, taxes and cost of everything makes it all artificial.” <<
I have to agree, but I beat it by not moving very often.
Houses in our neighborhood sell for 20 times what I paid for ours in 1983.
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My brother has had his in the Bay area for almost 30 years. If the economy up there was not such a roller coaster he would have had it paid for and be in hog heaven. He might still cash out with a 500% bounty but he has to stay in the harness longer than he wants.