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"I'm assuming the job market for non engineers in the Bay area right now is pretty tight, so for them, and assuming they have a mortgage, they might be caught b

"I'm assuming the job market for non engineers in the Bay area right now is pretty tight, so for them, and assuming they have a mortgage, they might be caught between a rock and a hard place." I'm not from/in the bay and not paying attention to it, so will go with your assumptions here. Zooming out a bit on the general topic of high COL markets though, it's interesting talking with people around my high COL community who feel like they deserve to live and stay here regardless of the changing economy. Thinking out loud: Maybe high COL markets are untenable in this economy for a certain percentage of the population? ...if there were no welfare schemes going around wouldn't these high COL areas rebalance faster to some equilibrium in line with broader affordability? Are the handouts just further propagating an attitude of entitlement while also artificially inflating high COL markets otherwise overdue for a reset?

jfim 6y ago
Well, high cost of living markets are basically propped up by the surrounding economy. It's true that the high cost of living areas would rebalance, but that can leave the current homeowners underwater. As for the handouts part of your comment, what do you consider a handout? The stimulus checks? Is QE considered a handout?
- _curious_ 6y ago
  "high cost of living markets are basically propped up by the surrounding economy." Yes - to the extent that surrounding economy can support the general COL. So if/when the surrounding economy can no longer support a relatively high COL (in this example of mortage/rent = housing), why not just let the COL adjust proportionately to the surrounding economy? So in the event the surrounding economy is strong & growing, the COL is also high and rising (as we've experiences over the past ~10 years). But when the surrounding economy is bad and declining, the COL should lower to match, no? "As for the handouts part of your comment, what do you consider a handout? The stimulus checks? Is QE considered a handout? " Yes, among others, these programs and others like it are only artificially propping up high COL areas (housing, for example) that otherwise would experience a correction (down) tied to their respective surrounding economies.

jfim 6y ago

Well, high cost of living markets are basically propped up by the surrounding economy. It's true that the high cost of living areas would rebalance, but that can leave the current homeowners underwater. As for the handouts part of your comment, what do you consider a handout? The stimulus checks? Is QE considered a handout?

_curious_ 6y ago
"high cost of living markets are basically propped up by the surrounding economy." Yes - to the extent that surrounding economy can support the general COL. So if/when the surrounding economy can no longer support a relatively high COL (in this example of mortage/rent = housing), why not just let the COL adjust proportionately to the surrounding economy? So in the event the surrounding economy is strong & growing, the COL is also high and rising (as we've experiences over the past ~10 years). But when the surrounding economy is bad and declining, the COL should lower to match, no? "As for the handouts part of your comment, what do you consider a handout? The stimulus checks? Is QE considered a handout? " Yes, among others, these programs and others like it are only artificially propping up high COL areas (housing, for example) that otherwise would experience a correction (down) tied to their respective surrounding economies.