> you are building home equity. The interest portion is the price you pay to be able to purchase that equity. Compare how much does get thrown away, and the va

> you are building home equity. The interest portion is the price you pay to be able to purchase that equity. Compare how much does get thrown away, and the value of that tiny slice of equity relative to other investments. Maybe Big city real estate is really that good (it seems better to me than anywhere else). Furthermore a 30 year mortgage in the Bay Area locks you into a high earning life style These are somewhat stressful jobs with market ups and downs. It almost becomes impossible to pursue an alternative, like a career change. What about selling and moving out? You can, but if you're forced to that situation is also where you incur the most real estate risk (high transaction costs, forced to sell underwater, etc).