LA is about same as NYC to me so far, since they are both dense metro areas with mostly inner-city type properties with already inflated prices that someone or the other quickly grabs up. hardly anything sits on either market, as opposed to outer counties in either area where market and rent isnt so prime.

Inflation has only dropped my .1% and Feds are ready to do whatever it takes to drop that.

Anyone want to try to find a market that has appreciated less than inflation that has averaged better ratio for property purchased in 2000 or 2012 than the average for San Diego? 

What is inflation?

You're going to be putting 20% down to purchase the property, if you're buying near a school your costs are going to be inflated and you're going to end up spending $200k minimum on a property. 

My appreciation will probably barely keep pace with inflation. 

Does this change with the possibility of higher inflation?

It wasn't that long ago when the market was more rational and prices were not inflated.

One of my mentors, Jason Hartman, has coined the phrase "inflation induced debt destruction," as one of the main pillars of real estate investing. 

Their personal residence only appreciates at the inflation rate, which has been around 2% for the last decade.