Do you really think 500k is a low price? Celine
I think it depends who you ask & when you asked. At the height of the real estate boom, a older 3 br "rambler" w/o a view house in SoCal ( where I think Kerry lives) could sell for close to 500k. Many SoCal residents took advantage of that and moved to areas where they could live "larger" (ie buy a McMansion). I had a friend who bought his 2 br w/o a view condo in Remond WA (by Microsoft HQ) for 120k in 2000 and sold it for 400k in 2006.
We have always been happy in our 3 br/ 1 ba house and have never had a desire to live "larger". Didn't bother us a bit to make the boys share a bedroom until their sister moved out
Additionally what may seem like alot to those of us with families may not to single folks.
It's about priorities for me - not profit.
El