I'm not sure why buying is necessary to provide your kids with a "nice environment". In this market, you can afford to rent a much nicer home than you can afford to buy.
John, you make a very good point. Say a solidly middle class family could stretch to buy in Mira Mesa, or Clairemont. They could easily rent in Carmel Valley, La Costa or Rancho Bernardo to provide better schools for their children — if good schools are the consideration.