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If by west, you are just referring to the west coast of the US, then yes, home prices are outgrowing inflation. If you mean the entire US, then no, it is not a

• vannevar 7y ago
  From the same article, "If you adjust for inflation, the median income of Americans has only increased by 33%. The median housing prices, however, have increased by 60%." The problem is not limited to the western US.
  • mrep 7y ago
    So did you stop right after that? It literally goes on to explain how that's due to people buying larger homes.
    • vannevar 7y ago
      Larger houses are a symptom, not a cause. Wealthier buyers drive the market, and because of the inelasticities I pointed out earlier, the rest of the market is dragged along. If a builder makes more profit on luxury homes, that's going to affect downmarket buyers as well. It's tempting to imagine that every home purchase is a completely independent event, and buyers have complete freedom to buy per square foot, but in the real world, that is not the case. Your article acknowledges this as well, towards the end: "The good news is you can find some great deals in your area, if you are willing to buy a house the size of your grandparent’s home. The bad news is houses that size or hard to find."