This means the lower income folks don't buy in (f. example) Oakland or Silicon Valley.

I know that investor's typically state that they need to buy houses at 60-70% to be able to turn a profit worth their time.However, I question whether or not this applies in California markets such as San Jose, San Francisco or the Silicon Valley.Quick example:If the market value of the house is $520K (low end for this area).60% = $312k70% = $364K80% = $416KThat's a $104k range.

This is exactly someone in Silicon Valley did.

I'm sure we've all read that Austin is now dubbed the "Silicon Hills" with all these big tech companies coming in.

They are more opt to rent for you as they want to be considered the listing agent when time to sell.In Silicon Valley I have seen brand new apt (equivalent $900K as condo) offering 1 month free with 2 year sign up now.

Maybe people were buying in with the speculation that Pittsburgh will be the midwest silicon valley?

I remember from news reports at the time the Mexican Government seized their homes and I made a mental note to myself never to buy a home in Mexico.In another example, I worked for a Silicon Valley chip company in the 1980s that had had its sales offices in France seized (for one French Franc) in the 1970s.

My company is based in Silicon Valley and Wheaton IL. 

Additional caulking, silicone, waterproofing on drywall, baseboards, flooring is unnecessary if you have remedied the problem.

I'm sure at least a few of the high payed silicon wadi types have gotten the real estate bug, I just don't know which ones.