I believe one of the HUGE misconceptions on this site is when people crow about how few people have money on the sidelines. In fact I believe the opposite is true and I feel that right now I have never seen more people who have money parked on the sidelines. The underestimation of the wealth that people in San Diego have is staggering.

There are always people with money parked on the sidelines. Especially at the top end. The question is, how far down the food chain that money extends. A couple with a steady income of 150K would be able to save up for a healthy 20% down payment on a house in Carlsbad in as little as 3 years, even with children. A couple making 80K would have so little disposable income available for savings that saving up 20% down payment on Mira Mesa would prove challenging.

As of 2006, median family income in the county was 69K, there were around 12,000 renter households making 150K or more.