PatientRenter: That is a fair question.
As SDRealtor often cites, people sometimes have to move when their personal situation dictates it, irrespective of where we are in the housing cycle. In our case we were newly empty nesters, sought to escape our busy and noisy street in Scripps Ranch, and fell in love with the perfect house in the perfect setting.
I had long predicted the RE mania would end and had sold a lot of San Diego RE investments accordingly, some with huge gains. I predicted the market would stop rising, but not fall much. I was sooo wrong. Looking back, I should have rented after selling out at the peak. Hindsight is perfect.