[QUOTE=Gianni;279066]That's the problem with real estate bubbles. Your house may be worth a half million, but if you want to sell it and move into something nicer, it will be $750,000. You can't really profit while maintaining the lifestyle that you decided to become accustomed to unless you significantly downsize by renting or moving to somewhere where the bubble already burst, or somewhere a lot cheaper [[like Detroit).

Yes, and that is why I say the problem with the Vancouver market is people who already have a good lifestyle elsewhere cant afford to move to an average income city with outrageous real estate prices. At least Detroit offers promise for first time buyers, artists with uncertain revenue, startups, and developers who want to test novel projects. The metro region is wealthy, the equation will yield something interesting if the center gets some sweet love from the periphery.
An artist in Detroit for instance can find a wealthy pool of clients in the metro from individuals to corporate giants.