A month ago, Juan Ramirez bought a Diamond Ridge home for $388,000 after the builder offered him a free washer and dryer and $30,000 in incentives, which he used to upgrade the carpeting and tile in the five-bedroom home. Although the juice-bar owner was worried that the home's value would decrease, it was too good of a deal to pass up, he said.

"You've got to take a chance to see what happens," Ramirez, 40, said.

Isn't 388K a lot for a juice-bar owner to afford in Victorville? It is very hot there, but he must have one heck of a traffic and hefty margins. Chance – he is surely taking.