Anyone who had good amounts of cash and purchased places from Marin down to Santa Clara in CA from the 80s-90s is sitting on triple or many times profits.
Having parents who did just that, EVERYTHING they purchased is up a lot and like LA and SD, I don’t think you had to be a rocket scientist or anything to make good money.
Back in the 70-80s, real estate wasn’t viewed as much of an investment as it is now and with prop 13, a problem for most every other state making real estate not as profitable, long term leverage gains in the bay area was an awesome asset/income/step off the rat race situation.
This is very different now with global competition and prices being what they are now.
