I am not a native. I moved to San Diego from the midwest in 1995. All the natives and long-time SD folks told me that real estate sucked then. I ran the numbers and decided to buy a house in Clairemont for 160K. My neighbor said I overpaid by 5K, but said thanks for raising the comps in the neighborhood.

10 years and two houses later I took my 350K of equity and reluctantly moved away (job opportunity).

Still own (well I own about 50% of the house, the bank owns the other half) a coastal rental property that I hope will someday allow me to come back and semi-retire in SD.

Although I have only spent 25% of my life there (so far) I consider San Diego my hometown.