2519 Levante in Carlsbad is 4110 sqft and just closed for $800,000. Assuming 20% down of $160k, the mortgage on the $640k at the current 4.5% would be $3200/month.

Back in 2000, its neighbor on 2343 Levante at 4400 sqft sold for $495,000. assuming 20% down, the mortgage would have been $396,000 at 8%, or $2900/month.

Now what about the opportunity cost of the respective down payments? Currently, the CD Index rate is 0.28%, by dropping $160k as the downpayment, the buyer is forgoing $448 in lost interest rate.

In 2000, the CD Index rate was 5.5%, so by dropping that $99k for the downpayment, the buyer was giving up $450 in interest payment per month.

essentially, the cost of buying now and back in 2000 are the same. and this is not even adjusting for inflation.