<i>if you live in the bay area and have a normal nuclear family, you need equity if you hope to pay for a house, college, etc.</i><p>Then holy hell am I glad I don&#x27;t live in the Bay area. Because, as the article demonstrates, there is zero guarantee that the equity you have will be worth anything. That you&#x27;d <i>depend</i> on such a thing to pay your mortgage and send your kids to college? Madness.