So the market cycle can in theory change rapidly with new entrants

Note: I'm not making any assumptions of why anyone's doing here, but this is an area we should be helping each other recognize is a rapidly changing space, particularly with things like STIR/SHAKEN (hopefully) on the horizon to help all us better distinguish between legitimate and spoofed Robo-dialers. 

I am really curious how folks in the Bay Area and LA or other areas in the country cope with their rapid raise in housing prices.

Many of the neighborhoods Inside The Perimeter, as it's known have appreciated rapidly in the last few years, so there are fewer deals to be found.If you tell me what you're looking to buy, I can help you narrow down your list and identify some opportunities.

Short sales are tough in central Texas because we don't have wild equity swings and the foreclosure process is rapid.

I am married, live in Grand Rapids Mi, with a fabulous wife and two great kids, one past college and one entering.

If that is the case then Grand Rapids, MI where I live is the best area, consider Fortune, Lonely Planet and nearly ever major outlet has ranked it up top. 

.$73.87Indianapolis INIATransamerica Life Insurance Company$19.04Transamerica Life Insurance Company$23.34Cedar Rapids IAKSSprint Communications Inc.$34.56Koch Industries$115.00Wichita KSKYHumana Inc.$42.31Humana Inc.$48.50Louisville KYLACenturyLink Inc.$18.09CenturyLink Inc.$18.03Monroe LAMEHannaford Bros.

It's nice to see this place grow at a very rapid rate. 

With rents rising as rapidly as they have in both Sacramento and Stockton, there must be some displacement going on (especially at the lower income levels) and maybe calls for rent control in those areas?