You seem to have constructed a nice retirement for yourself in N Arizona (which is arguably more beautiful than Joshua Tree) as a contractor and I don't doubt that you have ten lifetimes worth of trials and tribulations we can all learn from but without a bachelors degree you hardly have a shot at a customer service job at any credible corporation that can offer an employee upside, benefits and a respectable culture.

At a certain point, perhaps there is SOME genuine appreciation in value if a home is of historic significance ore desirable BECAUSE of its age... but that's arguable.This is potentially a bit misleading, and is arguably not all "appreciation" at all, because a tremendous amount of work and costs in maintenance and repair must have gone in to making the house a more desirable asset in spite or because of its age.If a house sells at a premium because it's a rarity, in amazing shape for its hundreds of years of age, this was only made possible by tremendous additional costs laid out over the years.

And with that, a panic in tenancy side as there is an arguably even larger supply shortage on tenancy side than ownership, driving prices up and with that, driving up investor interest (speaking on institutional investor side of things) thus driving more purchasing and unit demand. 

You are still (arguably the most) crucial to the operation.

I would expect this trend to continue because the local market (and arguably most of the US) got ahead of itself.

California is arguably the hardest state in the country to evict someone in because of the tenant-friendly laws here.

Note: This profession is great because it involves very little capital to get started, but it is arguably the hardest career in real estate. 

San Diego has arguably the best climate in the continental United States and that is not changing any time soon.

Compared to other lower income and higher crime areas around the nation, San Diego, arguably is actually ok. 

Normal Heights (arguably the most diverse neighborhood in SD, numerous festivals throughout the year)